Sharp Decline in Canada’s Temporary Resident Arrivals in 2025
Significant Drop in New Students and Workers
New data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reveals a steep decline in the number of temporary residents arriving in Canada in the first half of 2025. Compared to the same period in 2024:
- International student arrivals fell by 70%, representing 88,617 fewer students.
- Foreign worker arrivals declined by 50%, or 125,903 fewer workers.
Altogether, Canada welcomed 214,520 fewer temporary residents (students and workers combined) between January and June 2025. This sharp reduction reflects the impact of federal measures designed to limit the inflow of temporary residents.
Shifting Balance Between Students and Workers
IRCC’s data shows a major shift in the composition of new arrivals:
- Between February and June 2025, nearly 80% of all new arrivals were work permit holders.
- Study permit holders, once a dominant group, now make up a significantly smaller share of newcomers.
This suggests that while fewer people are coming overall, Canada is currently prioritizing work-related immigration over student arrivals.
Monthly Intake Comparison: 2024 vs. 2025
The monthly intake of both students and workers has dropped sharply compared to last year:
| Category | Jan–June 2024 (avg.) | Jan–June 2025 (avg.) |
|---|---|---|
| Study Permit Holders | 20,839 | 6,070 |
| Work Permit Holders | 40,865 | 19,872 |
This confirms that the slowdown is not temporary but a consistent trend throughout 2025.
How IRCC Measures Arrivals
The data includes only those who are issued a new study permit or work permit in a given month. It does not count:
- Asylum claimants
- Permit extensions (since individuals are already in Canada)
- Seasonal agricultural workers (short-term, employer-housed)
- Short-term TFWP workers with contracts of 270 days or less
Changes in the Current Temporary Resident Population
While new arrivals have decreased, Canada’s overall temporary resident population continues to grow due to shifts in permit categories.
- Study Permit Holders
- January 2024: 679,887
- June 2025: 546,562
- Net decrease: 133,325
- Work Permit Holders
- January 2024: 1,242,311
- June 2025: 1,504,573
- Net increase: 262,262
- Dual Permit Holders (Study + Work)
- January 2024: 344,044
- June 2025: 312,010
- Net decrease: 32,014
Despite fewer student arrivals, the total temporary resident population grew by 137,851 between January 2024 and June 2025, reaching 2,363,145 individuals.
Policy Context and Implications
- Canada introduced a study permit cap in 2024, which continues to reduce the number of international students.
- At the same time, reforms to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and International Mobility Program (IMP) have reshaped the type of workers entering Canada.
- Even with higher wage thresholds and stricter LMIA processing, work permits are still on the rise.
This trend highlights Canada’s shift from an education-driven inflow of international students toward a labor-focused immigration approach, while still maintaining high overall numbers of temporary residents.
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