If you have been working in Canada on a work permit and thought about going back to school, the window just closed. On June 27, 2026, a temporary IRCC policy that let work permit holders study without applying for a separate study permit officially expired. That means if you want to enroll in a degree, diploma, or certificate program after that date, you need a study permit.
This was not some obscure policy buried in the fine print. This was a big deal for hundreds of thousands of temporary workers across Canada who had been told they could take classes while keeping their jobs. The government introduced it as a relief measure during the pandemic, made it permanent in August 2024, and then let it lapse without warning. Here is what you need to know about where things stand now and what your options are.
The Timeline: How We Got Here
Let me walk you through the dates because they matter.
In September 2020, IRCC announced a temporary measure. If you held a valid work permit and were already in Canada, you could study at a Designated Learning Institution without needing a separate study permit. The idea was simple: the pandemic had disrupted education for international students, and many workers wanted to upskill while they worked. IRCC said this was temporary.
Then, on August 1, 2024, IRCC made the policy permanent. They extended it to June 27, 2026. That was the new expiry date written into the regulation. If you held a work permit on or after August 1, 2024, and before June 28, 2026, you could study without a study permit under the old rules.
June 27 passed. No extension was announced. The policy is gone.
If you want context on how this fits into the broader immigration landscape, check out our coverage of Canada Immigration Changes in July 2026. The study permit cap changes and other reforms happening right now all connect to this same push from IRCC to tighten control over international education.
Who Was Covered by the Old Policy?
The exemption applied to people who met all of these conditions:
- You held a valid work permit (or had applied for one and were waiting for approval) as of August 1, 2024
- You were physically in Canada when you started studying
- Your program was at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI)
That covered a wide range of people. Foreign workers in the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, holders of Open Work Permits (including those with spouses who have study permits), workers under international experience classes, and many more.
Here is the catch: the exemption was never meant to be a backdoor into the Canadian education system. IRCC always said it was temporary relief. The August 2024 decision to extend it gave people two years to plan. Those two years just ran out.
What Changes After June 27, 2026?
After the expiry date, the rules reverted to standard study permit requirements. This means:
- Any work permit holder who wants to study in a degree, diploma, or certificate program must apply for and receive an approved study permit before starting classes
- The exemption no longer applies to anyone, regardless of when their work permit expires
- If you started a program under the exemption before June 27 and are still enrolled, your enrollment is not automatically invalidated. But if you need to re-enroll or start a new program, you need the permit
This is not about people being kicked out of their programs. It is about the requirement to have proper authorization before you begin studying.
What Should You Do Right Now?
If you are a work permit holder who wants to study, here is the practical path forward.
Step 1: Confirm your DLI status
Your school must be a Designated Learning Institution. You can check the DLI list on the IRCC website. If your school is not designated, you cannot get a study permit for it regardless of any other factors.
Step 2: Gather your documents
You will need the standard study permit package. Acceptance letter from a DLI, proof of financial support showing you can cover tuition and living expenses, your current work permit as proof of legal status in Canada, a valid passport, and if applicable, a letter explaining your change of purpose from worker to student.
The financial proof is where a lot of people get stuck. IRCC wants to see that you can afford tuition, rent, food, and transportation for yourself (and any dependents) without working. For 2026, the minimum proof of funds for a single applicant is around $20,635 CAD per year in living expenses, plus tuition. This number changes periodically, so verify the current amount on the IRCC website.
For a deeper look at the numbers, read our article on Minimum Proof of Funds for Canada Study Permit 2026: The Brutal Math. It breaks down exactly what IRCC expects and where people commonly fall short.
Step 3: Submit your application
You can apply from inside Canada. You do not need to leave the country just because you are currently on a work permit. Submit online through your IRCC account. Processing times from inside Canada currently range from 8 to 16 weeks depending on your country of origin.
Keep working on your work permit while the study permit application is processing. Do not quit your job or stop paying rent based on the hope that a study permit will come through.
Common Mistakes People Make
I have seen the same errors show up again and again in study permit applications. Here are the ones that matter most right now.
Mistake 1: Assuming the exemption still applies because your work permit is valid
This is the most common misconception. The study exemption was tied to a specific policy window that closed on June 27. It does not matter if your work permit is valid until December 2027 or beyond. The exemption is gone.
Mistake 2: Applying for a study permit without checking DLI status first
IRCC will reject your application if the school is not designated. Do not waste money on an application fee and waiting weeks only to find out your program was never eligible.
Mistake 3: Underestimating the financial requirement
Showing $5,000 in a bank account will not cut it. IRCC looks at the full picture: tuition, living expenses for you and your family, return transportation if applicable. If you are supporting a spouse or children, the amount goes up significantly.
Mistake 4: Starting classes before the study permit is approved
Studying without a valid work authorization is a violation of immigration conditions. If IRCC finds out you started classes before your study permit was approved, they can cancel the application and flag your record. That affects future applications.
Mistake 5: Confusing short courses with degree programs
There is still an exemption for studying in programs that last six months or less. If you want to take a short certificate course, a language program under six months, or a weekend workshop, you may not need a study permit. But this does not apply to full-time diploma or degree programs that run for a year or longer.
Alternative Paths to Consider
If a study permit is not in the cards right now, there are other options worth exploring.
Option 1: Stay on your work permit and upskill remotely
Many universities offer online degrees and certificates that you can pursue while working. These do not require a study permit because you are not physically attending classes in Canada. You can still gain credentials that help your career or immigration profile.
Option 2: Explore provincial nominee programs
If your goal is permanent residency, studying is not the only path. Provincial nominee programs like Ontario PNP offer streams specifically for workers already in Canada. The Ontario PNP New Stream 2026 overhauled their pathways and introduced three new streams targeting in-demand occupations. If you are working in a qualifying field, this might be faster and cheaper than going back to school.
Option 3: Look at the PGWP route if you have not yet used it
If you completed a program of study at a Canadian DLI in the past and have not yet applied for a Post-Graduation Work Permit, you may still be eligible. The PGWP allows you to work in Canada for up to three years after graduation, and it can be a stepping stone toward permanent residence. Check the PGWP Ending Soon in Canada guide if this applies to you.
Option 4: Express Entry and category-based selection
The Express Entry system changed significantly in 2026. IRCC now runs category-based draws that target specific occupations and language abilities. If your job falls into a priority category like healthcare, transportation, or STEM, you might qualify for an invitation without needing additional education. See our analysis of Express Entry Reform 2026 for details on how the new system works.
The Bigger Picture: Why This Matters Beyond Individual Cases
This policy expiration does not happen in a vacuum. Canada is under pressure to manage the growth of international students and temporary workers. The government introduced a study permit cap starting in 2024, and those caps are tightening. IRCC is signaling that temporary immigration will be more selective going forward.
The study exemption for work permit holders was always a temporary bridge. Now that it has collapsed, workers who wanted to study need to navigate the standard system: apply for a study permit, prove financial capacity, meet language requirements, and hope processing times stay reasonable.
For people already in the system working on their PR applications, this adds a layer of complexity. If your path to permanent residence involved studying in Canada, the new rules mean you need a study permit first. That means more paperwork, more cost, and potentially longer timelines.
But it is not hopeless. Canada still needs skilled workers, and the immigration system still has pathways for people already contributing to the economy through work. The key is planning ahead and not waiting until policies change to figure out your next move.
Bottom Line
The June 27 expiry is real. The exemption that let work permit holders study without a separate study permit no longer exists. If you want to go back to school, apply for a study permit now. Check your DLI status, prepare your financial documents, and submit your application before you commit to any classes.
If studying is not the right path for you at this moment, look into provincial nominee programs or Express Entry category-based draws. There are multiple routes to permanent residence in Canada, and studying is just one of them.
The immigration system moves fast. Policies change, deadlines pass, and people get left behind because they assumed things would stay the same. Do not let that be you. Get informed, get organized, and take action while there is still time.