Work Permit Holders in Canada Granted Study Flexibility

Exciting news for work permit holders in Canada!

A recent temporary change announced has removed a big barrier to education.

Now, work permit holders can upgrade their skills, gain more knowledge, and even help those who need specific programs to validate their foreign credentials.

Previous Work Permit Process

Previously, foreign workers holding a work permit could undertake studies alongside their employment, but only if the program lasted for six months or less. To engage in longer educational courses, they were required to go through the lengthy process of obtaining a separate study permit, which could sometimes take months or even years to be processed.

New Work Permit Process

With this recent temporary change, announced on Tuesday, a significant learning barrier has been removed, enabling work permit holders to upgrade their skills, gain more knowledge, and even assist those who need specific programs to validate their foreign credentials.

Under the new policy, individuals can study on a full-time or part-time basis while their work permit remains valid, or until the expiration of the policy on June 27, 2026, as per the news release

Benefits Of The Work Permit Changes

One significant benefit of this change is that foreign workers or international students who engage in full-time studies while working in Canada can now include that work experience in their application for permanent residency through the Canadian Experience Class section of the Express Entry. This can help candidates increase their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, making them eligible for permanent residency. They can achieve this by pursuing higher education, improving their proficiency in French or English, or gaining qualifying work experience during part-time studies.

However, it’s important to note that those seeking to apply for permanent residency can include their full-time studies through the Federal Skilled Worker Program, which is another section of the Express Entry, as long as they are studying at a designated learning institution.

Eligibility for this new measure extends to individuals who possess a valid work permit or submitted an application for renewal on or before June 7.

It also includes those who received a letter before June 7, authorizing them to work while their work permit extension is in process.

However, individuals who applied for a work permit after June 7 will not be eligible for this new measure.

This policy is set to be in place for the next three years, offering eligible work permit holders an excellent opportunity to enhance their educational and career prospects in Canada without the added burden of a separate study permit.

Contact Canadian Immigration Experts

Jane Katkova & Associates – Canadian Immigration, Global Mobility Experts are Canadian Immigration Experts.

To find out more about the changes in the work permit process and get assistance applying, contact us.

Call us now at +1 (416) 661-4487 or fill out a contact form.

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