Canada has recorded a 53 per cent decline in the arrival of new international students and temporary workers between January and September 2025, compared with the same period in 2024, figures released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada have shown.
The drop is part of measures by the Canadian government to manage migration more sustainably and reduce pressure on housing, infrastructure and public services.
Data from the agency showed that new international student arrivals fell by 60 per cent within the period, translating to 150,220 fewer students than in the first nine months of 2024.
Monthly figures further revealed that 11,390 study permit holders arrived in Canada in September 2025, a sharp fall from the 45,200 arrivals recorded in August.
The decline followed policy changes introduced since 2024, including a cap on study permits, which was further reduced by 10 per cent in 2025, alongside stricter verification of admission letters and higher financial requirements.
The government has also signalled plans to continue reducing new student admissions between 2026 and 2028 under its Immigration Levels Plan to keep migration at manageable levels.
Temporary worker arrivals similarly dropped, with Canada recording 48 per cent fewer new temporary workers between January and September 2025, representing a decrease of 158,660 compared to the same period in 2024.
In September alone, 17,515 new temporary workers entered the country, while official data showed that 1,494,900 people held only work permits and 251,300 held both work and study permits as of the end of the month.
Despite the reduction in new arrivals, Canada continued to transition temporary residents already in the country to permanent status, with over 154,000 former temporary residents becoming permanent residents within the period.
IRCC noted that many of them possess Canadian education, work experience and strong language skills, largely applying through economic pathways such as Express Entry and the Provincial Nominee Program.
As of September 30, 2025, 473,860 people held only study permits, while the government said the decline in arrivals could affect education institutions and industries reliant on temporary workers.
Under the Immigration Levels Plan, Canada aims to reduce temporary residents to below five per cent of its total population, projecting further cuts in student and worker arrivals between 2026 and 2028.
