Study Without Study Permit Canada: June 27, 2026 Policy Expiry and What Work Permit Holders Must Do Now
- Ansari Immigration
- 8 hours ago
- 5 min read
If you study without a study permit in Canada under the 2023 IRCC public policy, your authorization ends in 18 days. The policy expires June 27, 2026, and any work permit holder still enrolled in a program after that date must hold a valid study permit or face consequences including loss of status, work permit refusal, and PGWP ineligibility.
Here is what is happening, who is affected, and what to do before the window closes.
What is the work permit holders study without study permit Canada policy?
On June 27, 2023, IRCC introduced a three-year temporary public policy allowing certain work permit holders to study full-time or part-time without obtaining a separate study permit. The goal was to give temporary foreign workers flexibility to upgrade their skills, earn credentials, or meet licensing requirements while continuing to contribute to Canada's economy.
To be eligible, you needed:
A valid work permit applied for on or before June 7, 2023, OR
A letter authorizing you to work while your extension was being processed, submitted on or before June 7, 2023
If you received your work permit after June 7, 2023, you were never covered by this policy. If you have been studying without a study permit since receiving a post-June-2023 permit, your study activity is already unauthorized and you should consult a regulated immigration professional immediately.
What happens when the policy ends on June 27, 2026
After June 27, studying in Canada without a valid study permit is a violation of your conditions of stay. Three immediate risks follow:
You fall out of status for your studies. IRCC can take enforcement action.
Your work permit renewal could be refused. Officers review compliance history, and unauthorized study activity is flagged.
You become ineligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). IRCC requires that you hold a valid study permit for the duration of your qualifying program. Any gap after June 27 without a study permit on file puts your PGWP application at serious risk of refusal.
The PGWP consequence is the one most people miss. Clients completing two-year or three-year diploma programs at a designated learning institution who have been relying on this policy have assumed the PGWP clock starts on graduation. It does not. IRCC looks back at the entire study period to confirm continuous valid study permit coverage. A gap of even a few weeks can result in a refused PGWP.
If you want to understand how implied status and work permits interact with your current situation, those pages are a useful starting point before booking a consultation.
If your program ends before June 27, 2026, no action is required for this policy. You are not affected. This applies only if you are still enrolled after the deadline.
What to do before June 27, 2026: a step-by-step checklist
Confirm you are enrolled at a designated learning institution (DLI). Only programs at DLIs qualify for a study permit. The full DLI list is on canada.ca. If your institution is not on the list, a study permit application will not be possible and your options are different.
Contact your school's international student office today for a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL). Most college and undergraduate study permit applications filed from inside Canada now require a PAL or Territorial Attestation Letter (TAL) from the province where your institution is located. This is where clients lose the most time. PAL processing varies by institution and province. Do not wait until next week.
Gather your application documents. You will need your letter of acceptance, proof of financial support, identity documents, and potentially a medical examination if you are from a country that requires it.
Apply online from inside Canada before June 27. The study permit application fee is $150 CAD. If your biometrics are expired, add $85 CAD for biometric collection. Budget approximately $235 in total federal fees, plus any provincial PAL fees where applicable.
Rely on implied status to bridge the gap. If you submit a complete application before June 27, implied status protects your right to continue studying under the same conditions while IRCC processes the application. Study permit processing times inside Canada currently average around 56 days. Submit as soon as possible and do not wait until June 26.
The PGWP timing trap: what Amir Ansari RCIC sees at Ansari Immigration
Amir Ansari, RCIC (regulated by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants, licence), works with clients on work permits, study permits, and permanent residence pathways including Express Entry. In practice, the clients most at risk from this policy expiry are those in the final year of a diploma or degree program who assumed the policy would either be renewed or that PGWP rules would accommodate the gap. Neither assumption is safe.
When reviewing these files, the first question is always: is there any period after June 27 where the client will be studying without a valid study permit? Even a short gap creates grounds for IRCC to refuse the PGWP on the basis that the study permit requirement was not met for the full duration.
If you are approaching graduation from a DLI program and have been studying under this policy, the time to act is now, not after June 27.
Book a consultation at Ansari Immigration to review your specific timeline, PAL requirements, and PGWP strategy before the window closes. Amir Ansari, RCIC, handles exactly these crossroads situations where multiple applications interact.
Frequently asked questions about work permit holders studying without a study permit in Canada
Am I eligible for this policy if I got my work permit after June 7, 2023?
No. The policy only covered work permit holders who had applied for their permit on or before June 7, 2023. If you received your work permit after that date, you were never eligible and should already hold a study permit if you are enrolled in a program.
Can I hold a work permit and a study permit at the same time in Canada?
Yes. You can hold both simultaneously. Applying for a study permit does not affect your work authorization or your employer's LMIA where applicable. Your right to work in Canada continues under your existing work permit while the study permit application is processed.
What if I finish my program before June 27, 2026?
If your program ends before June 27, 2026, you are not affected by this deadline. No study permit application is required for the study period already completed under this policy. You may still be eligible for a PGWP depending on your program length and DLI status. Review the PGWP eligibility requirements for your specific situation.
Does the policy affect my PGWP eligibility if my program continues past June 27?
Yes, if you continue studying after June 27 without a valid study permit in place. PGWP eligibility requires you to have held a valid study permit during your program. A gap in study permit coverage after the policy expires may result in IRCC refusing your PGWP application on the basis that you did not meet the study permit requirement for the full duration of your program.
What is a PAL and why does it matter?
A Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) confirms that your study permit application aligns with provincial enrollment limits introduced under Canada's international student cap framework. Most post-secondary study permit applications from inside Canada now require one. Your designated learning institution is your first point of contact. Because PAL processing timelines vary by school and province, this step is often the main bottleneck for clients applying with 18 to 30 days remaining before a deadline.
If you have questions about your situation, whether you are approaching a PGWP application, navigating the PAL process, or simply confirming your compliance status before June 27, reach out to Ansari Immigration. Amir Ansari, RCIC, works directly with clients on work permit, study permit, and permanent residence strategy at every stage of the process. Reserve a consultation at Ansari Immigration.
This article is for general information only. It is not legal advice. Program criteria, requirements, processing times, and selection approaches can change without notice. Always confirm details on official government websites or consult a licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) for advice specific to your situation.