Temporary Policy Aims To Address Labour Shortages By Upgrading Foreign Workers' Skills

Employers looking to upgrade their foreign workers' skills to address critical labour shortages will benefit from a new temporary measure introduced by the federal government.

Effective immediately, foreign nationals with a valid Canadian work permit can study full-time or part-time in Canada without having to apply for a study permit. Previously, foreign workers had to apply for a study permit if their study program lasted longer than six months.

The six-month limit caused some confusion about when a study permit was needed - particularly for trade apprenticeships or professional certification courses that require only a few weeks of classroom time but months of hands-on experience.