New public policy on study permit exemption

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently announced a new temporary public policy which allows eligible foreign workers to study without a study permit.

Eligibility

You may be eligible to study without a study permit while you work if you are authorized to work in Canada with either of the following:

• a valid work permit that was issued on or before June 7, 2023, or
• a letter authorizing you to work while we process your work permit extension application. The letter must have been issued on or before June 7, 2023.

If you applied for a work permit after June 7, 2023, you’re not eligible for these measures.

For more information on the policy and to see if you meet the eligibility requirements, please see the policy page and the news release page.

Additional notes

Post-graduation work permit: Please note that you must hold a valid study permit for the duration of your program to be eligible for the post-graduation work permit.

Co-op work permit holders: If you hold a co-op work permit, and you received an email from IRCC stating that you are eligible to study without a study permit, please disregard the email as it was sent in error. Co-op work permit holders do not fall under this policy and still require a study permit to study in Canada.