Canada sees significant declines in international student numbers
New data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) show a decline in both the number of international student arrivals and the overall international student population, when compared to the same period last year.
In August 2025, there were 45,380 new student arrivals to Canada, compared to 79,795 new student arrivals in August 2024.
That is a decline of 43.1%.
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In this article, “arrivals” refers to the issuance of new study or work permits.
When comparing year-over-year, there have been 132,505 fewer new student arrivals between January and August 2025, as compared to the same period in 2024.
The decrease in arrivals comes after a series of policy changes made by the federal government with the intention of reducing Canada’s temporary resident levels to below 5% of Canada’s overall population.
Continued decline of temporary resident levels in 2025
International student arrivals
From January to August 2025, there were 89,430 new student arrivals in Canada.
According to IRCC, this is a decrease of 132,505 new student arrivals, as compared to the same period in 2024.
In last year’s Immigration Levels Plan, the federal government announced a target of 305,900 for new international student arrivals in 2025.
The number of new student arrivals through to August 2025 is only 29.24% of IRCC’s target for the year.
IRCC would have to issue 216,470 study permits in the remaining months of 2025 to meet its midpoint target for new student arrivals outlined in last year’s Immigration Levels Plan.
New worker arrivals
In August 2025, Canada recorded 16,890 new temporary foreign worker arrivals.
This figure is slightly lower than the previous month’s total of 18,450.
Year over year, the drop is much more pronounced. From June through August 2025, the total number of new worker arrivals in Canada was 59,365.
This is a 35% decrease from the same period last year, during which there were 91,695 new worker arrivals.
In total
From January to August 31, there were 243,945 student and temporary worker arrivals in Canada.
This 278,900 fewer arrivals than the same period last year.
In last year’s Immigration Levels Plan, the federal government announced a target for overall temporary resident arrivals in 2025 of 673,650.
The department would have to issue 429,705 new permits in the remainder of 2025 to meet its midpoint target.
Current temporary level populations
People who only hold a study permit
From August 2024 to August 2025, the international student population in Canada fell by 26%.
MonthAugust 2025August 2024
Number of study permit holders514,540651,230
The international student population has been on a steady decline throughout 2025, with a slight bump in August reflecting the typical seasonal influx of students for the fall term.
People who only hold a work permit
IRCC’s latest data shows that there has been a steady decrease in the population of temporary foreign workers in Canada over the last few months.
MonthAugust 2025July 2025June 2025
Number of work permit holders1,489,6451,494,9051,504,575
However, when compared to 2024, the total temporary foreign worker population increased by 4.37%.
MonthAugust 2025August 2024
Number of work permit holders1,489,6451,427,235
IRCC states this is because inventories of existing applications are continuing to be processed under rules that were in place when they were submitted.
“As a result, more significant effects of the new measures [IRCC has introduced to reduce the number of temporary residents in Canada] will only start to appear a few months after they begin,” the department states.
An increase in work permit holders can also be attributed to international students transitioning to Post-Graduation Work Permits.
People who hold a work and study permit
Finally, IRCC notes that the number of dual permit holders has increased slightly from July to August, but has still seen a marked decrease as compared to August 2024.
MonthAugust 2025July 2025August 2024
Number of foreign nationals in Canada with both a study and work permit288,885286,220368,815
This data can also help us calculate the total number of temporary residents in Canada, over the years, which peaked in August 2024.
Canada’s temporary resident levels under scrutiny
Over the last few months, Canada’s temporary resident levels have been the subject of political discussion.
Conservative party leader Pierre Poilievre has called for the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) to be scrapped.
Earlier this year, Mark Carney stated that the government is working on changes to the TFWP.
He added that the program, “must have a focused approach that targets specific strategic sectors, and needs in specific regions.”
It’s worth noting that the TFWP is not the main driver of the temporary foreign worker population in Canada. A larger proportion of work permits are issued under the International Mobility Program (IMP).
As per the latest Immigration Levels Plan, the targets for the IMP are significantly higher than those of the TFWP.
Temporary Resident (TR) Category202520262027
Total TR Arrivals and Ranges673,650
(604,900 – 742,400)
516,600
(435,250 – 597,950)
543,600
(472,900 – 614,250)
Workers367,750210,700237,700
Students305,900305,900305,900
Canada will publish its Immigration Levels Plan 2026-2028 in the next few weeks, which is expected to include targets for temporary resident admissions for 2026, and notional targets for 2027 and 2028.
