Public policy allowing some work permit holders to study without a study permit

Workers in Quebec are eligible to study in Quebec without a study permit under this temporary public policy as of June 27, 2023.

You don’t need a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) issued by the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) to study if you meet the eligibility criteria under this study permit exemption measure.

The temporary CAQ exemption for studies came into effect on June 27, 2023, at the same time as Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s temporary public policy.

Visit the MIFI website for more information about studying in Quebec.

If you’re studying without a study permit and you want to start a co-op work placement, you may need to apply for a new employer-specific work permit before your co-op placement starts.

Open work permit holders don’t need to apply for a new work permit.

Employer-specific work permit holders

You only need a new work permit if your co-op employer or occupation is different from your current employer or occupation. The conditions on your new work permit must match your new co-op employer or occupation. In this case, you’ll hold 2 valid work permits at the same time:

1. your original work permit, which authorizes you to study under this measure
2. a second work permit authorizing you to complete your co-op placement

Other documents you may need to be eligible

Letter of explanation

You should submit a letter of explanation if you need to change your working arrangements with your current employer when you start your co-op placement. This letter must include the following information:

• You’re studying under the temporary public policy that allows you to study without a study permit.
• You’ve made arrangements with your current employer during the co-op placement.
  • For example, the letter could talk about how
    • your co-op hours will be completed part-time while you work for your current employer full-time/part-time or
    • you’ll be taking leave from your current employer to complete the co-op placement

Submit your letter of explanation in the online account. If you can’t submit the letter in your account, you can submit it using our web form.

Medical exams

Some jobs require you to get a medical exam. If your co-op placement is one of them, you must get one.

Find out who needs a medical exam and how to get one.

If you have a study permit and a valid co-op work permit, you’re eligible for additional study programs under this measure if

• you follow the conditions of your current study permit
• you continue to study in your main study program
• the additional study program doesn’t exceed the length of your existing co-op work permit

Note: You must maintain your study permit to complete your current study program.

If you’re eligible and you held a valid work permit on June 7, 2023, you can study without a study permit until the earliest of the 2 following dates:

• the expiry date on your work permit
• June 27, 2026 (the date this public policy expires)

If you’re eligible and you had an application in progress on June 7, 2023, you can study without a study permit until the earliest of the 3 following dates:

• the expiry date on your approved work permit extension
• the date we refuse your work permit extension application
• June 27, 2026 (the date this public policy expires)