Canada is experiencing a major shift in immigration patterns, with new international student and temporary worker arrivals falling by 63 per cent during the first eight months of 2026 compared with the same period in 2024. At the same time, the number of people holding work permits in Canada remains higher than it was two years ago, highlighting the difference between reducing new arrivals and reducing the existing temporary resident population.
New figures released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on October 20 show that Canada recorded 195,335 new student and worker arrivals between January and August 2026. This compares with 522,235 during the same period in 2024, a decline of approximately 326,900 arrivals.
The figures reflect the federal government's efforts to reduce temporary migration, manage pressure on housing and public services, and direct immigration toward Canada's economic and labour-market priorities. However, the data also show that changes in new arrivals do not immediately translate into an equivalent reduction in the number of people already living and working in the country.
According to IRCC's official student and temporary worker statistics, the latest figures cover data through August 31, 2026. They form part of the government's broader 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, which targets fewer new temporary residents while maintaining permanent resident admissions at 380,000 annually.
New student and worker arrivals fall sharply
The latest figures show substantial reductions in both international student arrivals and temporary worker arrivals compared with 2024.
| Category | January–August 2024 | January–August 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| New international student arrivals | 221,680 | 65,240 | Down 71% |
| New temporary worker arrivals | 300,555 | 130,095 | Down 57% |
| Combined arrivals | 522,235 | 195,335 | Down 63% |
The figures count people issued new study or work permits during the reporting period. They do not represent every person entering Canada, nor do they include all temporary residents, visitors or asylum claimants.
IRCC also excludes permit extensions because people applying to extend their status are already in Canada. Certain seasonal agricultural workers and some short-term temporary foreign workers are excluded from the published arrival calculations.
These definitions are important when comparing the figures with border-entry statistics or estimates of Canada's total temporary resident population. The measures capture different groups and should not be treated as interchangeable.
International student arrivals decline by 71%
International students have experienced the largest reduction in new arrivals.
Canada recorded 65,240 new student arrivals between January and August 2026, compared with 221,680 during the same eight-month period in 2024. That represents 156,440 fewer arrivals.
The decline follows the federal government's introduction of a study permit cap in 2024 and subsequent reductions in the number of new study permits planned for 2025 and 2026. Other measures have included stronger verification of acceptance letters, increased financial requirements for applicants and changes to eligibility rules affecting some international students and graduates.
The 2026 Immigration Levels Plan sets a target of 155,000 new international student arrivals. By the end of August, Canada had recorded 65,240, equivalent to approximately 42 per cent of that annual target.
The latest monthly figures nevertheless show the importance of seasonal patterns. Canada welcomed 37,090 new international students in August 2026, substantially more than the 5,800 recorded in July. August typically experiences an increase as students prepare to begin fall-semester programs.
Despite that seasonal increase, August 2026 arrivals remained 53 per cent below August 2024, when 79,660 new students arrived.
The number of people holding study permits has also fallen considerably.
| Date | Study permit holders in Canada |
|---|---|
| August 2024 | 1,019,545 |
| August 2025 | 799,665 |
| August 2026 | 602,115 |
The total declined by approximately 41 per cent between August 2024 and August 2026. The figures indicate that the decline is not limited to new arrivals: the existing study permit holder population has also contracted substantially.
For colleges, universities and communities that depend on international students, the effects may include lower tuition revenue, changes in enrolment, reduced demand for student housing and pressure to reconsider recruitment plans. The scale of the impact will vary among institutions, depending on their reliance on international tuition, domestic enrolment and other sources of funding.
Temporary worker arrivals fall by 57%
New temporary worker arrivals also declined substantially, falling from 300,555 in January–August 2024 to 130,095 during the same period in 2026.
The 2026 target for new temporary worker arrivals is 230,000. By the end of August, Canada had recorded 130,095, or approximately 57 per cent of the annual target.
The monthly data show that worker arrivals fluctuated during 2026. Canada recorded 11,735 new worker arrivals in January, followed by increases in the spring. August recorded 16,850.
The federal government has introduced several measures to limit temporary worker admissions, including restrictions on certain low-wage positions under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, changes to spousal open work permit eligibility and revisions to the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program.
The policy objective is to reduce the number of new temporary residents while continuing to respond to labour shortages and employer needs in selected sectors and regions. The Immigration Levels Plan also allows for different treatment of workers under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and the International Mobility Program.
The two programs serve different purposes. The Temporary Foreign Worker Program generally involves an employer obtaining a Labour Market Impact Assessment when required, while the International Mobility Program covers categories in which work permits may be issued without an LMIA, including certain international agreements and public policies.
The decline in arrivals therefore does not mean Canada has stopped admitting temporary workers. Rather, the government is managing new admissions within a smaller overall target and applying different rules to different categories.
Why the number of work permit holders is still rising
One of the most significant findings in the latest data is the difference between the decline in new worker arrivals and the number of people who already hold work permits.
IRCC reported 1,550,215 people holding only a work permit in Canada at the end of August 2026. This was higher than the approximately 1,432,100 recorded in August 2024.
| Date | People holding only a work permit |
|---|---|
| August 2024 | 1,432,100 |
| August 2025 | 1,489,370 |
| August 2026 | 1,550,215 |
The total increased by approximately 8 per cent over the two-year period, even as new worker arrivals fell.
This is not necessarily contradictory. New-arrival statistics measure the flow of newly issued permits, while the permit-holder population measures the number of people who still hold valid work permits at a particular point in time.
A person admitted in an earlier year may continue to hold a valid permit in 2026. Extensions and changes in status can also affect the population, while people may transition from temporary to permanent residence. These processes do not necessarily occur at the same time as new arrivals decline.
IRCC has noted that the full effects of policy changes take time to appear because applications already in the system may continue to be processed under rules that applied when they were submitted.
The distinction matters for public debate. A decline in new work permit issuance is evidence of reduced new admissions under the measured categories, but it does not by itself demonstrate that the total number of work permit holders has fallen.
Canada continues to reduce its international student population
The study permit holder population fell from 1,019,545 in August 2024 to 602,115 in August 2026. The decline reflects both fewer new students arriving and the departure or status changes of people who previously held study permits.
The federal government has said that reducing temporary resident numbers is intended to ease pressure on housing, infrastructure and public services. It has also committed to bringing the temporary resident population below 5 per cent of Canada's total population by the end of 2027.
However, the effects of lower student numbers are not uniform across Canada. Some communities have large international student populations and rely on student spending to support local businesses, rental housing and public transportation. Institutions with a high proportion of international enrolment may face greater financial pressure than those with more diversified revenue.
At the same time, prospective international students must distinguish between a government's annual arrival target and the likelihood that an individual study permit application will be approved. A national target is not a guarantee of approval, and applicants must still meet the requirements applicable to their circumstances and program.
Eligible master's and doctoral students at public institutions may benefit from exemptions from provincial or territorial attestation letter requirements, but other study permit conditions still apply.
Asylum claims also decline
The immigration update reported a substantial reduction in asylum claims compared with 2024. According to the figures published by Immigration News Canada from IRCC's reporting, claims during January–August 2026 were 68 per cent lower than during the same period in 2024.
The reported decline included claims made at ports of entry and claims associated with people arriving in Canada through temporary resident visa channels. The figures also showed a substantial reduction in claims in Ontario and Quebec, which have historically received large shares of Canada's asylum claims.
Asylum claims must be considered separately from planned student and worker arrivals. People seeking refugee protection are not part of the same annual arrival targets used for new international students and temporary workers. Their cases are governed by Canada's refugee protection system and applicable legal obligations.
Changes in asylum volumes can reflect several factors, including visa policies, border arrangements, enforcement measures, travel patterns and the circumstances driving people to seek protection. A decline in the number of claims does not, on its own, establish whether protection needs have increased or decreased globally.
The figures should therefore be interpreted as a change in the number of claims recorded, rather than as a direct measure of the merits of individual claims or the protection needs of people who may be unable to reach Canada.
Permanent residence remains a separate immigration priority
While Canada is reducing new temporary resident arrivals, its permanent resident target remains at 380,000 for 2026.
Under the federal government's 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, permanent resident admissions are intended to remain stable at 380,000 annually. The plan prioritizes economic immigration while maintaining pathways for family reunification, refugees, protected persons and other humanitarian cases.
IRCC's reported figures indicated that 216,600 people had received permanent resident status under the plan by August 31, 2026, representing approximately 57 per cent of the annual target.
The reported category breakdown was as follows:
| Permanent residence category | 2026 target | Admissions, January–August | Approximate share of target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economic | 239,800 | 127,100 | 53% |
| Family | 84,000 | 59,100 | 70% |
| Refugees and protected persons | 49,300 | 25,500 | 52% |
| Humanitarian and compassionate and other | 6,900 | 4,900 | 71% |
| Total | 380,000 | 216,600 | 57% |
These figures are provisional reporting-period totals and should not be interpreted as a prediction that Canada will necessarily miss or exceed its annual target. Admission volumes can vary throughout the year, and the final four months may differ from the pace recorded during the first eight months.
The economic category remains the largest component of the permanent residence plan. The government is also pursuing a one-time initiative to transition up to 33,000 temporary workers to permanent residence in 2026 and 2027, with a focus on workers already established in Canada and contributing to their communities.
This approach reflects a policy distinction: Canada is seeking to reduce the overall volume of new temporary arrivals while creating opportunities for selected people already in the country to settle permanently.
Former temporary residents make up a growing share of new permanent residents
Another notable trend is the increasing share of new permanent residents who previously held temporary status in Canada.
IRCC reported that former temporary residents accounted for 58 per cent of new permanent residents between January and August 2026. The comparable proportions were 48 per cent in 2025 and 44 per cent in 2024.
This shift helps explain how Canada can reduce new temporary arrivals while continuing to admit permanent residents who have already established themselves in the country.
Former temporary residents may qualify for permanent residence through economic immigration programs, including Express Entry and the Provincial Nominee Program, or through other applicable pathways. Canadian education, work experience, language ability and provincial or employer connections may be relevant under particular programs, although the eligibility criteria differ.
The trend does not mean that every temporary resident will be able to obtain permanent residence. There is no general guarantee that a study permit or work permit will lead to permanent status. Applicants must qualify under a specific immigration pathway and meet its requirements.
For international students and temporary workers, it is therefore important to distinguish between permission to study or work temporarily and eligibility for permanent residence.
What the figures mean for Canada's immigration policy
The October data show that Canada's immigration system is undergoing a period of adjustment. New student and worker arrivals have fallen sharply, the international student population has contracted, and the existing work permit holder population remains comparatively high.
The figures also demonstrate why immigration cannot be assessed using a single number. New arrivals, valid permit holders, asylum claims and permanent resident admissions measure different parts of the system. Each category follows different rules and responds to different policy decisions.
The federal government has set a target of 385,000 new temporary worker and student arrivals in 2026, including 230,000 workers and 155,000 students. Its longer-term objective is to reduce the temporary resident population to below 5 per cent of Canada's population by the end of 2027. Meanwhile, the permanent resident target remains at 380,000 annually through 2028.
For employers, educational institutions, prospective immigrants and communities, the challenge will be adapting to a system that places tighter limits on new temporary arrivals while continuing to prioritize selected workers and permanent immigration pathways.
The latest statistics provide evidence of a substantial decline in new arrivals, but they also show that the consequences of policy changes take time to appear across the broader population. The coming months will reveal how closely Canada moves toward its annual targets and whether the existing temporary resident population begins to decline more clearly as permits expire, people leave the country or residents transition to permanent status.