Canada immigration fall in temporary residents 2025
Canada Registered Record Fall in 2025 Temporary Resident Arrivals
Canada’s immigration landscape is being rewritten altogether in 2025, as the temporary population of residents entering Canada plummets dramatically. Foreign workers and international students are arriving in Canada in significantly reduced volumes to the past, according to a new data release from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
A Steep Decline in New Immigrants
- 70% lesser international students
- 50% fewer international temporary workers,
in comparison to the corresponding period in 2024.
This is a mixed reduction of 214,520 immigrants—88,617 fewer students and 125,903 fewer professionals—proving the serious impact of policy changes done during the last 18 months.
Shift in Balance: More Workers, Fewer Students
- One of the strongest trends is the shifting trend in temporary resident arrivals.
- From February to June 2025, work permit holders represented nearly 80% of recent immigrants, whereas study permit holders represented a comparatively low proportion.
- On the other hand, work permit holders comprised roughly 70% of the arrivals over the same period in 2024, so foreign students are sending fewer individuals into Canada's inflows than before.
- Though student arrivals are generally most prevalent in August and December to coincide with university intakes, the evidence reveals a structural shift whereby the majority of temporary residents are comprised of work permit holders.
Monthly Intake Levels: 2024 and 2025
| Category | Jan–Jun 2024 | Jan–Jun 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Study Permits | 20,839 | 6,070 |
| Work Permits | 40,865 | 19,872 |
Contemporary Student and Worker Populations
- While fewer new permits are being issued, the number of temporary residents already here is something else again.
- Study permit levels fell from 679,887 in January 2024 to 546,562 in June 2025 (down 133,325).
- Work permit holders increased from 1,242,311 in January 2024 to 1,504,573 in June 2025 (262,262 increase).
- Double permit holders—those who have a work and a study permit—dropped by 32,014, to 312,010 as of June 2025.
- Generally, the short-term residents grew moderately, from 2,225,294 in January 2024 to 2,363,145 in June 2025, following a temporary peak in August 2024 (2,446,523) before dropping off.
Why Work Permit Numbers Are So High
The reason there are so many work permit numbers is largely due to the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) policy. Most foreign students turn into work permits upon graduation, often many years after their initial entry into Canada.
As a result, while fewer new study permits are issued, active work permit holders continue to rise as a result of earlier cohorts of students entering the labor market.
Policy Lags Behind the Fall
Study Permit Changes
- Territorial and provincial study permit quotas
- Increased proof of funds requirement
- Stricter Post-Graduation Work Permit eligibility requirements
- Limited off-campus employment privileges
- Closure of express student streams such as the Student Direct Stream (SDS) and the Nigerian Student Express
Work Permit Amendments
- Closure of pandemic-era visitor-to-work visa channels
- Stricter regulations on Intra-Company Transferees (ICTs)
- Prohibition of flagpoling at ports of entry
- Introduction of multi-year caps for fresh work permits under IMP and TFWP
- Limited eligibility for student spouses and temporary workers
New Plan to Determine Immigration Levels
- In a first-ever move, Canada's Immigration Levels Plan (October 2024) established temporary resident numbers alongside permanent resident admissions.
- The plan is to reduce the share of short-term residents from 7% of Canada's population in 2024 to 5% in 2026.
- This shift is an expression of Ottawa's effort to balance immigration with housing, infrastructure, and labour market demand.
How to Get an LMIA: What Employers Need to Know
LMIA Application Process:
Step 1: Submit Application to ESDC
Employers or the company should first open the job in Canada by advertising through various portals and make genuine efforts to recruit domestically. This should be for four weeks at least. They also have to provide details about job duties, wages, and employment conditions, along with the required processing fee.
Step 2: Wait for the LMIA Decision
Step 3: Share LMIA with the Worker
Interpreting the Arrival Data
- Count individuals on the release of a new work or study permit.
- Exclude temporary farm workers, seasonal farm workers, renewals of authorization, and short-term TFWP workers (contracts of under 270 days).
What Happens Following Submission?
Upon receipt of your application, IRCC will begin the evaluation process and require additional documentation, including:
Medical exams
You will be called with directions on where and how to take a medical checkup.
Police Certificates
Applicants over the age of 18 may be required to present police clearance certificates. These papers have to be valid for one year after the date of issuance.
Biometrics
Conclusion
