Study Without a Study Permit: This Policy Ends June 27, 2026

When does the study-without-a-study-permit policy expire, and what ends it?

The policy expires on June 27, 2026, or earlier if IRCC revokes it. Your own ability to study without a study permit can also end before that date. The exemption applies only until the earliest of three events: the day your work permit application is refused, the day your work permit expires, or the day the policy expires or is revoked on June 27, 2026. So the June 27, 2026 date is the outside limit, not a guarantee. If your work permit expires in March 2026, for example, your study exemption ends then, not in June.

Does studying on a work permit lead to a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)?

No. Studying under this policy does not make you eligible for a PGWP. To qualify for a PGWP, you need a study permit, and you must meet every PGWP requirement, including studying in an eligible program at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI). If a PGWP is part of your plan, studying on your work permit alone will not get you there. You would first need to apply for and hold a study permit, then complete a qualifying program, before a PGWP becomes possible.

Can I still take a short course without a study permit after June 27, 2026?

Yes. A separate and ongoing rule lets anyone take a short course of six months or less in Canada without a study permit, and that rule continues after June 27, 2026. It is independent of the temporary policy that is ending. So if your course or program is six months or shorter, the end of the policy changes nothing for you. The deadline only matters for studies that run longer than six months and that rely on the temporary work permit policy to proceed without a study permit.

What should you do before the June 27, 2026 deadline?

If you want to keep studying a program longer than six months after June 27, 2026, apply for a study permit before the policy ends. You can hold a work permit and a study permit at the same time, as long as you meet the requirements for each. Applying early matters, because processing takes time and a gap could interrupt your studies. Gather your acceptance letter from a Designated Learning Institution, proof of funds, and the other documents the study permit application asks for, then file before the deadline rather than after it.

You can begin an application on the Government of Canada page for how to apply for a study permit.

How can Go Far Global help if you study on a work permit?

Go Far Global, a Toronto Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) firm, can review your work permit, your study plans, and this deadline, then tell you whether you need a study permit and when to file. We check your work permit expiry against your program length, confirm whether the ending policy applies to you, and prepare a study permit application that lets you keep studying without a break. If a PGWP is part of your longer term plan, we map the study permit steps that make it possible. Booking early leaves time to file before June 27, 2026.

To get a clear read on your situation, book a consultation and we will check your dates and documents against the deadline.

What do work permit holders ask about studying in Canada?

The questions below come up most often from foreign workers who are studying, or plan to study, in Canada before the June 27, 2026 deadline. The short answers summarize the temporary policy and the separate short course rule. Your own case depends on the type of work permit you hold and how long your program runs, so treat these as a starting point and confirm the details against the Government of Canada pages in the sources, or with a licensed representative.

Can I use my work permit to study in Canada?

Until June 27, 2026, yes, if you qualify for the temporary policy. You must be authorized to work and either hold a work permit you applied for on or before June 7, 2023, or hold a letter to work under paragraph 186(u) of the IRPR while IRCC processes an extension you filed by that date. After June 27, 2026, a program longer than six months will require a study permit.

How long can you study on a work permit?

Under the temporary policy, your study exemption lasts until the earliest of three points: your work permit application is refused, your work permit expires, or the policy expires or is revoked on June 27, 2026. There is no fixed study length attached to the policy itself. Once any of those events happens, the exemption ends, and you would need a study permit to continue a program longer than six months.

Can I do a 6 month course on a work permit?

Yes. A separate rule lets anyone study a short course of six months or less without a study permit, and it continues after June 27, 2026. This applies whether or not you hold a work permit. If your course is six months or shorter, the end of the temporary policy does not affect you.

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 your work permit, and you can hold both at the same time if you meet the requirements for each. If you plan to study a program longer than six months past June 27, 2026, apply for the study permit before the policy ends so your studies are not interrupted.

Can I have a study permit and work permit at the same time?

Yes. You can hold a work permit and a study permit at the same time, provided you meet the conditions of each document. This is the route for workers who want to keep studying a longer program after the temporary policy ends. Applying for the study permit ahead of the deadline avoids a gap between the two.

Sources

The pages below are the Government of Canada sources for this article. Each one was checked and returned a live page at the time of writing. Policy details can change after publication, and these official pages are updated first, so check them for the current wording before you act.

• Government of Canada, workers who can study without a study permit
• Government of Canada, public policy on studying without a study permit
• Government of Canada, study permit: how to apply

Only a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC), a Canadian immigration lawyer, or a Quebec notary may be paid to represent you to IRCC. Go Far Global is a Toronto RCIC firm. This is general information, not legal advice.