Canada Ends Work Permit Study Policy June 27, 2026: What Foreign Workers Must Do Now refers to the expiry of IRCC’s temporary public policy that allowed eligible work permit holders to study in Canada without a separate study permit, and the actions foreign workers must take to maintain their legal status.

The Policy That Changed Everything — and Its End Date

On June 27, 2023, IRCC introduced a temporary public policy allowing most work permit holders in Canada to enroll in full-time or part-time study programs without needing a separate study permit. The goal was to help temporary foreign workers upskill and integrate into the Canadian economy.

That policy was always time-limited to three years. It expires June 27, 2026.

As of this date, if you are a work permit holder studying in Canada without a study permit, your legal authorization to study has ended.

Who Was Affected

The policy covered work permit holders who:

• Applied for their work permit on or before June 7, 2023
• Or submitted a work permit extension application on or before June 7, 2023

This included:

• Open work permit holders
• Employer-specific work permit holders
• PGWP holders taking additional courses
• Spouses on open work permits

Who Is Affected Now

As of June 27, 2026, any work permit holder who was studying without a study permit must either:

1. Stop studying if their program is longer than 6 months
2. Apply for a study permit to continue their program legally

What You Need to Do Right Now

If Your Program Will Finish Soon

If your course or program was scheduled to complete on or before June 27, you are fine — no action needed for that program.

If Your Program Continues Beyond June 27

Apply for a study permit from inside Canada immediately. IRCC processing times for inland study permit applications have been running between 6 and 18 weeks in 2026. While you wait for a decision, you may be able to continue studying under maintained status if you applied before the policy expiry.

If You Are Considering PGWP

Critical warning: Time spent studying under this public policy does not count toward PGWP eligibility. To qualify for a Post-Graduation Work Permit, your entire program must have been studied under a valid study permit. If you started under the work permit study policy, you will need to obtain a study permit now — and you cannot retroactively qualify the portion studied without one.

Study Exemptions That Remain After June 27

Even without the temporary policy, you can still study without a permit if:

• Your program is 6 months or less and finishes before your authorized stay expires
• You are taking free online courses that do not lead to a formal credential
• The study is workplace training as part of your authorized job duties

Consequences of Non-Compliance

If you continue studying after June 27 without a valid study permit:

• You breach your work permit conditions
• Future work permit renewals or PGWP applications may be refused
• PR applications may be affected
• It may be flagged as misrepresentation on future applications
• IRCC does not send individual reminders — you are responsible for knowing your conditions

Key Dates Summary (2026)

Crucial Strategic Insights for 2026

The end of this policy aligns with Canada’s broader tightening of temporary residence rules. If you are a work permit holder who started studying under this policy, your most important action is to get a study permit application filed immediately. Do not wait for IRCC to contact you — they will not. Remember that time spent studying under this policy does not count toward PGWP, so if you planned to transition to a work permit after graduation, consult an immigration professional about your options before proceeding.

Final Thoughts

The June 27 deadline has arrived. If you act now, you still have options. Apply for a study permit, switch to a program under 6 months, or adjust your plans. The one thing you should not do is continue studying without authorization.

Need personalized guidance? Contact our team for a confidential review of your situation.