6 Months of Study, No Study Permit: Canada Changes the Rules for Temporary Workers 

Canada has introduced a new policy affecting temporary foreign workers who want to pursue education or training while working in the country. The change is intended to give eligible workers more room to take a short course, complete training or meet a professional requirement without going through the usual study-permit process. 

Effective September 4, 2026, eligible temporary workers can study for up to six months without a separate study permit. They must have a valid work permit and choose a program that lasts six months or less. The permission to study ends when the course reaches six months or the worker’s work permit expires, whichever comes first. 

The change could be useful for workers who need a short course to improve their skills or meet a job-related requirement. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) says the policy covers licensing, education and training, with workers in fields such as trades, nursing and laboratory technology among those who may benefit. 

There is an important limit: the course cannot be longer than six months. Anyone planning to take a longer program will still need a study permit. The new policy also does not change the conditions of a worker’s job. If a course requires changes to working hours or other arrangements, those changes still need to be agreed with the employer. 

The rule also applies to eligible temporary workers in Quebec. Workers covered by the policy can take qualifying courses without a study permit and do not need a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) for those studies. 

The temporary policy is scheduled to remain in place until December 31, 2027. It does not create a new way to come to Canada or change a worker’s immigration status. It applies to people who already have a valid work permit and meet the policy’s conditions. 

For temporary workers who have been considering a short course alongside their job, the change removes one extra step. They can now keep working and take qualifying short-term studies at the same time, provided they meet the policy requirements. 

Short description: Canada’s September 2026 policy allows eligible temporary workers to take qualifying courses of up to six months without a separate study permit. 

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/special-instructions/workers-study-without-study-permit.html

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/study/canada-eases-study-rules-for-foreign-workers-permits-short-courses-without-study-permit/articleshow/133997473.cms?from=mdr

https://www.hindustantimes.com/nri/canada-to-allow-temporary-workers-to-study-for-6-months-without-permit-heres-how-indians-can-benefit-from-new-rule-101789018400380.html

https://www.hindustantimes.com/nri/canada-to-allow-temporary-workers-to-study-for-6-months-without-permit-heres-how-indians-can-benefit-from-new-rule-101789018400380.html