Canada unveils new study permit exemption for construction trade apprentices

Some temporary foreign workers can now enroll in apprenticeship programs without requiring a study permit.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has released details on this new study permit exemption.

To be eligible for this study permit exemption, a foreign national must

• Hold a valid work permit;
• Have a job offer in an eligible construction occupation; and
• Have an apprenticeship agreement with an employer for the work described in the job offer.

The apprenticeship agreement must be registered with the appropriate provincial or territorial authority, and the foreign national must meet the eligibility requirements at the time of the request and at the time of the decision.

This temporary public policy came into effect on February 26, 2025, and is set to expire on February 26, 2027.

Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced this study permit exemption in a press conference in Woodbridge, Ontario on March 7, 2025.

Which occupations are eligible?

The eligible construction occupations are those which have been identified as being in shortage: