Canada Announces Study Permit Exemption for Foreign Workers

Canada has expanded rules allowing foreign workers to study in the country without obtaining a separate study permit.

Key points

• The new policy took effect on September 4, 2026, and will remain in place until December 31, 2027.
• According to the latest federal administration data available, Canada had 1.5 million foreign nationals holding only work permits as of June 30, 2026.
• This requirement is set out under Section 188(1)(c) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.
• The measure replaces an earlier policy of the same name that expired on June 27, 2026.
• Add ProPakistani to Preferred Sources and see more of our stories in Google Search and Top Stories.

Under a new temporary public policy, foreign nationals with a valid Canadian work permit can take a study program lasting six months or less, even if the program extends beyond the period of stay they were initially granted when entering Canada. Unified GCC Tourist Visa to Launch Shortly.

Previously, foreign nationals could study without a permit for programs of six months or less only if they were able to complete the program before the end of their originally authorized stay in Canada. This requirement is set out under Section 188(1)(c) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.

For context, the new policy took effect on September 4, 2026, and will remain in place until December 31, 2027. Nevertheless, the Canadian administration can revoke the temporary policy at any time without prior notice.

In practice, the exemption will remain available to an eligible foreign worker until their work permit expires or until the temporary policy expires or is revoked, whichever comes first.

Canada's immigration department published the policy on September 9, 2026. It was signed on August 5 and is officially titled "Temporary public policy to allow foreign nationals with valid work permits to study without a study permit." Pakistani Asylum Claims in UK Fall by Almost 16%.

For context, the measure replaces an earlier policy of the same name that expired on June 27, 2026. That policy had been in effect since June 27, 2023, and provided expanded study authorization to foreign nationals who had applied for work permits before June 7, 2023.

It additionally covered workers who did not have valid work permits but were allowed to remain in Canada under maintained status.

Temporary residents in Canada can apply to renew their permits and extend their authorization to remain in the country. Consequently, some work permit holders may have valid authorization to stay in Canada well beyond the period they were originally granted when they first entered the country.

According to the latest federal administration data available, Canada had 1.5 million foreign nationals holding only work permits as of June 30, 2026. The country additionally had 630, 000 study permit holders, some of whom additionally held work permits. Stay Connected with ProPakistani. Obtain the latest international news and global stories wherever you prefer. Follow on Google Discover.

Add as a preferredSource on Google Follow on Google News Join WhatsApp.

In short, canada Announces Study Permit Exemption for Foreign Workers is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.