Canada Sees Sharp Decline in Temporary Resident Arrivals in 2025

Canada has reported a major drop in temporary resident arrivals this year. According to the latest data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), new international student arrivals declined by 70%, while new foreign worker arrivals fell by 50% between January and June 2025.

In total, 214,520 fewer students and workers arrived compared to the same period in 2024. This shows the significant impact of measures introduced by IRCC to reduce inflows of temporary residents.

Decline in Student and Worker Arrivals

Between January and June 2025:

• Canada welcomed 88,617 fewer international students.
• Canada welcomed 125,903 fewer foreign workers.

This drop reflects the federal government’s stricter rules on study and work permits.

Changing Proportions of New Arrivals

The share of newcomers has shifted:

• From February to June 2025, work permit holders made up about 80% of new arrivals.
• In the same period of 2024, work permit holders averaged 70%.

Meanwhile, the proportion of international students among new arrivals has sharply decreased, despite the usual seasonal spikes expected in August and December for fall and winter intakes.

Slower Rates of Intake

A breakdown of average monthly arrivals shows a steep decline:

Current Temporary Resident Populations

Despite the decline in new arrivals, the overall number of temporary residents in Canada has actually increased because many former international students are transitioning to work permits through the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) pathway.

From January 2024 to June 2025:

• Study permit holders decreased by 133,325 (from 679,887 to 546,562).
• Work permit holders increased by 262,262 (from 1,242,311 to 1,504,573).
• Dual permit holders (both study and work permits) decreased slightly by 32,014 (from 344,044 to 312,010).

Overall, the number of temporary residents rose from 2,225,294 to 2,363,145.

Why Work Permit Numbers Remain High

The slower decline in work permit holders is partly due to the large number of international students who arrived in earlier years. Many of them have graduated and received PGWPs, which explains the increase in work permit holders despite reforms.

IRCC Reforms Affecting Temporary Residents

Since 2024, IRCC has introduced several changes to control temporary resident levels:

Study Permits

• Provincial and territorial study permit caps.
• Higher cost-of-living financial requirements.
• Tighter PGWP eligibility rules.
• Revised conditions for off-campus work.
• Closure of expedited student programs (e.g., Student Direct Stream, Nigeria Student Express).
  
  

Work Permits

• Removal of COVID-era visitor-to-work permit policies.
• Stricter guidance for Intra-Company Transferees (ICTs).
• Ban on flagpoling for same-day processing at the border.
• Multi-year targets for new IMP and TFWP work permits starting in 2025.
• Stricter rules for Spousal Open Work Permits (SOWPs).
  
  

Temporary Resident Levels in Canada’s Immigration Plan

For the first time, Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan (announced October 24, 2024) included targets for temporary residents alongside permanent residents.

The federal goal is to reduce temporary residents from 7% to 5% of Canada’s population by 2026.

Key Takeaway

The new data confirms that IRCC’s policies are reshaping the immigration landscape. While international student numbers are falling sharply, work permit holders remain steady due to past cohorts moving into the Canadian workforce. Applicants considering study or work permits should carefully assess the new rules and plan their applications accordingly.