A new temporary public policy effective September 4, 2026 lets eligible work permit holders — including many who got their current permit through an extension, not just at entry — study for six months or less without a separate study permit.
IRCC has begun sending some work permit holders in Canada a notice about a new temporary public policy: as of September 4, 2026, they may be able to study for a program of six months or less without a separate study permit. If you did not receive this particular notice, that does not necessarily mean you are ineligible — the policy is based on the type of permit you hold, not on whether IRCC happened to email you. Here is what the measure actually changes, who it reaches, and what it does not cover.
The existing rule: studying without a permit "upon entry" (R188(1)(c))
Canadian immigration regulations have long allowed some temporary residents to study for six months or less without a separate study permit under paragraph R188(1)(c) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations. In practice, this authorization was most reliably available to work permit holders at the time they were first authorized to enter Canada — for example, on a work permit issued at a port of entry or through their initial approval. If your authorization to work arose later, through a different kind of permit action, it was less clear that the same exemption applied to you.
What the new temporary public policy adds
The new measure is a temporary public policy — signed in Ottawa on August 5, 2026 under section 25.2 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act — not a change to the Regulations themselves. It exempts eligible foreign nationals from the specific part of paragraph R188(1)(c) that ties the six-month study allowance to "the period for stay that was authorized upon entry into Canada." Because the sole eligibility condition it states is holding a valid work permit — full stop, with no condition on how or when that permit was issued — the practical effect is that work permit holders whose current authorization to work came from a subsequent permit action, such as a work permit extension, are now covered too, alongside those authorized to study at entry.
- Effective date: September 4, 2026 (30 days after the policy was signed)
- Maximum program length: 6 months or less — anything longer still requires a full study permit application
- No application is required to use this measure; it is an automatic authorization tied to your existing valid work permit
Who this applies to, and when the policy itself ends
Per the text of the public policy, the core test is simple: you must hold a valid work permit, and your program of study must be six months or less. The policy itself is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2027, but your own authorization to study under it can end earlier — it lasts only until the earlier of your work permit expiring or the policy being revoked before its scheduled expiry.
A notice from IRCC is helpful confirmation, but it is not the only source of eligibility. If you hold a valid work permit and did not receive a notice, ask your RCIC or contact IRCC directly to confirm whether the policy applies to your specific permit before you rely on it.
What it does not do
This measure is narrow by design. A few limits matter in practice:
- It does not cover programs longer than six months — you still need to apply for and obtain a full study permit before starting a longer program
- Your authorization to study ends when your current work permit expires, even if you have maintained status while a new application is pending — the notice IRCC has been sending is explicit that this measure does not extend past your work permit’s own expiry
- It does not replace or extend your work permit itself — renewing your work permit is still a separate process on its own timeline
- It does not guarantee admission to any program — that decision belongs to the educational institution
A caution for anyone planning permanent residence around this
If you plan to study full-time under this measure while also working, confirm with your RCIC whether that period counts toward Express Entry’s Canadian Experience Class or "Canadian work experience" points before you rely on it for a permanent residence strategy. IRCC’s general guidance on studying without a study permit has previously flagged that full-time study periods can affect how that work experience is credited — the details depend on your specific program, your hours, and the pathway you are pursuing, so this needs a case-by-case check rather than a general assumption.
If you plan to study
A few practical steps before you enroll:
- Keep any notice IRCC sends you, and keep a copy of your valid work permit — an institution may ask for it as confirmation that you can study without a separate permit
- Confirm your program’s exact length before enrolling — six months is measured from the start to the end of the program, not the number of courses
- If you want to study longer than six months, apply for a full study permit before your program starts — do not begin a longer program relying on this measure
- Track your work permit’s expiry date closely; your authorization to study ends automatically when it does, regardless of how much of your program remains
This is a temporary measure, currently scheduled to expire December 31, 2027, and IRCC can revoke or replace it before then. If studying in Canada is part of your plan — whether now, under this policy, or later, under a full study permit — it is worth confirming exactly where you stand before you enroll, especially if a permanent residence pathway depends on the outcome. Our office can review your specific work permit and study plans against the current policy.
