Study Without a Study Permit Policy Ended June 27, 2026
As of September 10, 2026. The temporary public policy that let some work permit holders study without a study permit expired on June 27, 2026. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) replaced it on September 4, 2026. This page is the old rule. Current rules: Work Permit Holders Can Study Without a Study Permit (2026).
This is a historical record of the June 27, 2023 to June 27, 2026 policy. Do not use it to decide whether you can study today.
TL;DR
The 2023 policy expired June 27, 2026 and is archived | It only covered work permit files IRCC received on or before June 7, 2023 | IRCC replaced it on September 4, 2026 | The new policy covers any valid work permit, but only for programs of 6 months or less | It runs until December 31, 2027 unless revoked
What expired on June 27, 2026?
Short answer: IRCC’s first temporary public policy that let eligible work permit holders study without a study permit came into force on June 27, 2023 and expired on June 27, 2026. Canada.ca now marks that instrument archived. It is not in force. Anyone still citing the June 7, 2023 application-date cutoff, or telling workers they can take a program longer than six months on a work permit alone, is describing a rule that ended. If you are choosing a course today, use the September 2026 successor, not this page.
Who did the expired policy cover?
Short answer: Only a narrow cohort. The archived instrument required that IRCC had received the foreign national’s work permit application on or before June 7, 2023, and that the person either held a valid work permit or was authorized to work under paragraph 186(u) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) while an extension filed by that date was in process. Later work permit applicants were never in that policy. In exchange, the old instrument waived all of IRPR 188(1)(a) through (d), so longer programs were possible for that group. That waiver ended with the policy.
| Your situation in 2023-2026 | Covered by the expired policy? |
|---|
| Valid work permit, application received on or before June 7, 2023 | Yes, until June 27, 2026 or until the permit expired |
| Extension filed on or before June 7, 2023, working under IRPR 186(u) | Yes, until a refusal, permit expiry, or June 27, 2026 |
| Work permit applied for after June 7, 2023 | No |
| Studying after June 27, 2026 under that instrument | No. The instrument is archived |
What replaced it on September 4, 2026?
Short answer: A new temporary public policy, signed August 5, 2026, took effect 30 days later on September 4, 2026. IRCC’s worker instructions now describe that successor. Any valid work permit holder may study a course or program of six months or less without a study permit, including when the course runs past the stay authorized on first entry. The exemption lasts until the work permit expires, or until December 31, 2027, or until IRCC revokes the policy, whichever comes first. Full detail, Quebec CAQ rules, co-op, and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) warnings are on Work Permit Holders Can Study Without a Study Permit (2026).
| Expired 2023 policy | Current 2026 policy |
|---|
| Who | Work permit filed on or before June 7, 2023 | Any valid work permit |
| Program length | Not capped at 6 months in the instrument | 6 months or less |
| What was waived | IRPR 188(1)(a) to (d) | Original-entry timing in 188(1)(c) only |
| Dates | June 27, 2023 to June 27, 2026 | September 4, 2026 to December 31, 2027 |
Can I still take a short course without a study permit?
Short answer: Yes, on two separate tracks. Standing IRPR paragraph 188(1)(c) still lets a foreign national study a course or program of six months or less without a study permit if it will be completed within the stay authorized upon entry. The September 2026 public policy then lets a valid work permit holder take that same six-month cap even when the course runs past the original entry stamp, until the current permit expires. A program longer than six months still needs a study permit. Check processing times before you enrol if you need that permit.
Does studying on a work permit lead to a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)?
Short answer: No. It did not under the expired policy, and it does not under the new one. A Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) is for people who held a study permit and completed an eligible program at a designated learning institution. IRCC’s PGWP eligibility page treats the study permit as the starting document. Short training taken on a work permit is for the job you already have. If a PGWP is part of the plan, apply for the study permit first and confirm the program qualifies.
What should you do now if you were studying under the old policy?
Short answer: Stop treating June 27, 2026 as a future deadline. That date has passed. If your program is six months or less and you still hold a valid work permit, the September 2026 policy is the instrument that may cover you now, with no June 7, 2023 cutoff. If the program is longer than six months, you need a study permit. You can hold a work permit and a study permit at the same time if you meet both. Apply on IRCC’s study permit page rather than stretching an archived public policy.
| Situation now | What to use |
|---|
| Valid work permit, course 6 months or less | Current 2026 public policy |
| Course longer than 6 months | Study permit |
| Old June 7, 2023 cohort cutoff | Dead. Do not use it |
| PGWP after studying on a work permit only | Not available |
How can a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) help?
Short answer: Go Far Global, a Toronto Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) firm, can tell you whether your course fits the current six-month work permit exemption or whether you need a study permit. We do not advise from the expired June 2023 instrument. If you started a longer program under that old policy and kept studying after June 27, 2026 without a study permit, get the file reviewed before the next IRCC touch. Book a consultation. Other updates: news. Related pathways: Express Entry, provincial nominee, family immigration.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my work permit to study in Canada?
Not under the expired 2023 policy. That instrument ended June 27, 2026. Under the replacement policy in force September 4, 2026, yes if you hold a valid work permit and the program is six months or less. Read the current article.
How long can you study on a work permit?
Under the current policy, six months or until the work permit expires, whichever comes first. The expired policy had no six-month cap in the instrument, but that waiver is gone.
Can I do a 6 month course on a work permit?
Yes, if you hold a valid work permit. That is exactly what the September 2026 policy covers. IRPR 188(1)(c) also still covers short courses that finish within the stay authorized on first entry.
Can I convert my work permit to a study permit in Canada?
You do not convert one document into the other. You apply for a study permit while keeping the work permit. Use that route for any program longer than six months.
Can I have a study permit and work permit at the same time?
Yes, if you meet the conditions of each. That is the route for a program the six-month exemption does not cover.
Sources
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice specific to your situation, book a consultation with a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) at gofarglobal.com.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute immigration or legal advice. Immigration laws and policies change frequently. Each case is unique and outcomes depend on individual circumstances. Consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) before making immigration decisions.
