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.
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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:
| Occupation | NOC* Code |
|---|---|
| Bricklayers | 72320 |
| Cabinetmakers | 72311 |
| Carpenters | 72310 |
| Civil engineering technologists and technicians | 22300 |
| Civil engineers | 21300 |
| Concrete finishers | 73100 |
| Construction estimators | 22303 |
| Construction managers | 70010 |
| Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics | 72400 |
| Electrical mechanics | 72422 |
| Electricians (except industrial and power system) | 72200 |
| Floor covering installers | 73113 |
| Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics | 72402 |
| Heavy-duty equipment mechanics | 72401 |
| Home building and renovation managers | 70011 |
| Industrial electricians | 72201 |
| Painters and decorators (except interior decorators) | 73112 |
| Plumbers | 72300 |
| Roofers and shinglers | 73110 |
| Sheet metal workers | 72102 |
| Water well drillers | 72501 |
| Welders and related machine operators | 72106 |
Whether a job offer qualifies or not will depend on the NOC code, not on the job title.
To determine the NOC code of an occupation, compare your job duties to the duties in the lead statement of the NOC, which you can look up on Employment and Social Development Canada's website.
To count as that occupation, your job must involve at least 51% of the duties listed in the lead statement of the NOC.
*The National Occupation Classification (NOC) is the Canadian federal government’s method of classifying occupations. The job titles in the NOC are examples only; the duties listed are what defines each NOC Code. The title on your job offer may be different from the title under which your NOC code is listed.
How to apply
You must specifically request consideration under this public policy.
You must include “Apprenticeship 25-27” in the explanation box in the “Tell us about your request” section when you submit your online request.
If your application is successful, you will be issued a letter of authorization to study without a permit. This authorization letter will be valid from the time of the decision up until whichever of the following occurs first:
- The expiry of your work permit;
- The expiry of the temporary public policy; or
- The revocation of the temporary public policy.
Rationale for the changes
The Canadian federal government wishes to increase the supply of construction workers to help alleviate Canada’s housing crisis.
An apprenticeship program requires periods of work as well as period of study, meaning that foreign nationals would normally require both work permits and study permits for legal authorization to complete this apprenticeship.
Through this temporary public policy, temporary foreign workers can study without a permit for the duration of their work permit, allowing for an easier transition between work and study periods during the course of their apprenticeship.
New permanent residence pathway
In the same press release in which he announced the study permit exemption, Marc Miller also announced the creation of a new pathway to permanent residence for construction workers, and that up to 6,000 spots would be reserved for undocumented construction workers already in Canada.
The government has not yet released details on the eligibility criteria for the new PR pathway.
Miller said that up to 14,000 permanent residents could be admitted under this pathway.
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