Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has revived and expanded a temporary public policy that lets foreign workers already in Canada pursue short-term studies without the extra cost and delay of applying for a separate study permit. In force since 4 September 2026, the measure was formally published on 8 October and will run until 31 December 2027 unless it is cancelled earlier. Any foreign national who holds a valid open or employer-specific work permit can now enrol in full-time or part-time programs that are six months or less in length, anywhere in Canada, without needing a Quebec Acceptance Certificate or other provincial authorisation. The policy answers years of complaints from employers and temporary residents who said the dual-permit requirement forced workers to choose between up-skilling and keeping their jobs. Ottawa’s own labour-force projections show that nearly half of vacancies through 2030 will require some form of post-secondary credential. By removing an administrative hurdle, IRCC hopes to channel experienced workers into short occupational-licensing courses, language upgrades and micro-credentials that qualify them for higher-skilled positions or for provincial nomination. Eligibility is tightly defined. The course must finish within six months—or by the date the work permit expires, whichever comes first—and the worker must remain in valid status the entire time. Time spent in full-time study does **not** count toward Canadian work-experience points under Express Entry, a caveat that advisors say applicants planning to file permanent-residence applications must weigh carefully. Workers in Quebec are also exempt from the province’s CAQ requirement for these short courses. For businesses, the immediate impact is a larger pool of employees who can obtain Canadian or provincial credentials—such as Red Seal trades certification or specialised IT certificates—without leaving the workplace. Sectors expected to benefit most include health care, skilled trades and hospitality, all of which face acute shortages. Colleges and private designated learning institutions are already marketing six-month “bridge” programs to existing foreign workers. The move fits Ottawa’s broader strategy of using temporary resident policies to address skills gaps while permanent-residence quotas remain relatively flat. If the pilot succeeds, stakeholder groups expect the exemption to become permanent, mirroring the trajectory of other once-temporary facilitative measures.
Source: IRCC.com
