Who is Exempt from Applying for a Study Permit?

To study in Canada, most foreign nationals need to apply for a study permit. However, the following are exempt from applying for a study permit:

• Short-term students

A foreign national does not need a study permit if their program of studies lasts 6 months or less.

• Minor children in Canada

A “minor child” is a child under the age of majority, which depends on a province/territory:

Province/Territory	Age of majority
Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan	18
British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Yukon	19

A minor child does not need a study permit in the following circumstances:

• they are refugees or refugee claimants
• their parents are refugees or refugee claimants
• their parents are Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada
• they are attending preschool, primary school or secondary school in Canada and are accompanied by a parent who is authorized to study or work in Canada
• they are unaccompanied in Canada and are attending preschool, primary school or secondary school

However, it may be advantageous to apply for a study permit even when the minor does not need one. If a minor has a study permit, they may:

• remain in school when they are no longer a minor
• get a secondary school co-op work permit
• have access to social services in some provinces or territories.

• Temporary residents and asylum seekers taking French language and culture courses in Quebec

If a foreign national is a temporary resident or asylum seeker, they don’t need a study permit to take French language and cultural integration courses in Quebec.

•  Temporary residents taking settlement and integration courses

A foreign national does not need a study permit, if they are taking settlement and integration courses offered by a provincial or territorial government to help settle in Canada.

• Construction apprentices in eligible trades

Apprentices in eligible construction trades may be able to study without a study permit to meet their apprenticeship study requirements. To be eligible to a study permit exemption as a construction apprentice, apprentices must meet all of the following criteria:

1. they must have a valid work permit

2. they must have a job in one of the construction occupations listed below:

Eligible occupations in TEER 0:

• NOC 70010 – Construction managers
• NOC 70011 – Home building and renovation managers

Eligible occupations in TEER 1:

• NOC 21300 – Civil engineers

Eligible occupations in TEER 2:

• NOC 22300 – Civil engineering technologists and technicians
• NOC 22303 – Construction estimators
• NOC 72102 – Sheet metal workers
• NOC 72106 – Welders and related machine operators
• NOC 72200 – Electricians (except industrial and power system)
• NOC 72201 – Industrial electricians
• NOC 72300 – Plumbers
• NOC 72310 – Carpenters
• NOC 72311 – Cabinetmakers
• NOC 72320 – Bricklayers
• NOC 72400 – Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
• NOC 72401 – Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
• NOC 72402 – Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics
• NOC 72422 – Electrical mechanics
• NOC 72501 – Water well drillers

Eligible occupations in TEER 3:

• NOC 73100 – Concrete finishers
• NOC 73110 – Roofers and shinglers
• NOC 73112 – Painters and decorators (except interior decorators)
• NOC 73113 – Floor covering installers

3. they must have an apprenticeship agreement registered with the relevant provincial or territorial apprenticeship and certification authority.

For more information, please visit Public policy allowing certain apprentices to study without a study permit – Canada.ca

•  Other types of workers:

Foreign workers are eligible to study without a study permit if they meet one of the following conditions:

• they have a valid work permit applied for on or before June 7, 2023, OR
• they have applied to renew their work permit on or before June 7, 2023 and have been authorized to work while their work permit extension application is processed.

For more information, please visit Public policy allowing some work permit holders to study without a study permit – Canada.ca and Temporary public policy to allow foreign nationals with valid work permits to study without a study permit – Canada.ca

• Family or staff of foreign representatives

A foreign national may not need a study permit if they are a family or staff member of a foreign representative to Canada that has been accredited by Global Affairs Canada (GAC).

•  Members of the foreign armed forces of a country designated under the Visiting Forces Act (VFA)

A foreign national does not need a study permit if they are a member of a foreign armed force from a country that is designated under the VFA and are on official duties in Canada.

•  Registered Indians in Canada

A foreign national does not need a study permit if they have Registered Indian status in Canada, even if they are a citizen of another country.

For more information, please visit Study permit: Who can study without a permit – Canada.ca

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Disclaimer: The content of this article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as immigration/legal advice. It is recommended that you consult with a qualified immigration professional for advice regarding your individual situation.