Canada Temporary Resident Arrivals Plummet in 2025 Shift

Temporary Resident Arrivals in Canada Drop Sharply in 2025

• Temporary resident arrivals in Canada declined significantly in July 2025, with worker numbers down 37% and student arrivals down 55% year-over-year.
• Only 18,500 new workers and 7,685 new international students arrived in July 2025.
• The overall number of temporary residents continues to fall, reflecting federal policy shifts aimed at reducing the population of temporary residents.
• Study permit holders dropped by over 119,000 compared to July 2024, while work permit holders rose slightly.
• Political debate continues around Canada’s immigration targets and the role of programs like the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and International Mobility Program (IMP).
• Canada’s population growth has slowed in 2025 due in part to the changing immigration policies.

It’s no secret that Canada’s immigration policies saw big changes in 2024, and the ripple effects are growing more visible in 2025. The most recent data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) shows a sharp drop in the number of new temporary residents entering the country — particularly among international students and foreign workers.

Let’s break down what’s happening, why these numbers are dropping, and what it means for Canada’s immigration future.

July 2025 Sees Significant Decline in Temporary Resident Arrivals

July typically sees a surge in international arrivals, especially students preparing for the new academic year. But this past July painted a very different picture.

Only 18,500 new foreign workers arrived in Canada in July 2025 — a steep 37% drop from the 29,595 who came the previous July. The decrease was even more dramatic for international students. Just 7,685 students entered the country, down 55% from July 2024’s 17,140 arrivals.

Altogether, that’s 20,550 fewer new workers and students compared to the same month last year. This decline is part of the federal government’s broader effort to reduce Canada’s temporary resident population to under 5% of the total population. Policy changes introduced in early 2024 have tightened eligibility and reduced the number of permits issued.

Ongoing Trend: Decline in Arrivals Continues in 2025

These aren’t just one-month blips. The drop in temporary resident arrivals has been consistent throughout 2025.

Between January and July 2025, Canada welcomed 235,070 fewer international students and foreign workers than during the same period in 2024. That’s a staggering number that highlights the impact of recent immigration reforms.

Even on a month-to-month basis, the trend is continuing. In July, there were 26,185 new permit holders — down from 28,245 in June 2025, marking a 7.29% decrease.

Study Permit Holders Drop; Work Permit Numbers See Modest Rise

Let’s take a closer look at the number of people currently in Canada holding temporary permits.

Study Permit Holders

Study permit holders saw the largest drop. As of July 2025, there were 499,365 international students in Canada — down from 619,070 in July 2024. That’s a decrease of nearly 120,000.

Even compared to June 2025, the numbers fell by over 47,000. This steep decline reflects the federal government’s move to limit the number of new study permits issued starting in January 2024.

Work Permit Holders

On the flip side, the number of foreign nationals in Canada with work permits grew slightly year-over-year. There were 1,494,905 workers in July 2025 — about a 5% increase from July 2024.

However, compared to June 2025, this number dipped slightly, suggesting that even the growth in this category may be slowing.

Those With Both Study and Work Permits

Many international students transition into the workforce using Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs). It’s not surprising, then, that there’s an overlap of individuals holding both types of permits. But even here, numbers are falling.

In July 2025, 286,465 individuals held both study and work permits — down from 356,380 in July 2024, and down from 312,010 just a month earlier in June 2025.

Canada’s Temporary Resident Population Is Shrinking

After peaking at more than 2.4 million in August 2024, the total number of temporary residents in Canada has steadily declined. July 2025 saw a 3% drop from the previous month alone.

This downward trend is directly tied to the federal government’s changing policies, which aim to better manage immigration levels, housing demand, and labour market needs.

Political Debates Around Temporary Immigration

Immigration — especially temporary immigration — continues to be a hot-button topic in Canadian politics.

Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre recently made headlines by calling for the elimination of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), claiming that the government had overshot its annual target of 82,000 new TFWP work permits. According to him, 105,000 permits had been issued in the first half of 2025 alone.

However, this claim was misleading. That 105,000 figure includes extensions and renewals for workers already in Canada. In reality, only 33,700 new TFWP arrivals came in during that time — just 41% of the annual target.

Understanding TFWP vs. IMP

It’s also important to note that the Temporary Foreign Worker Program isn’t the main source of Canada’s foreign worker population. The majority of work permits are actually issued through the International Mobility Program (IMP).

In fact, the 2025 Immigration Levels Plan sets a goal of 285,750 new entries under the IMP, compared to 82,000 for the TFWP. However, in 2026, the target for new IMP arrivals is expected to drop by 55% — a clear signal that the government is aiming to further reduce temporary immigration.

Population Growth Slows Thanks to Policy Shifts

According to Statistics Canada, these immigration changes are already having an impact on national population growth. Between January 1 and April 1, 2025, the total number of temporary residents in Canada fell by over 61,000. The country’s overall population only grew by about 20,000 people — a near flat rate of growth.

While these policies aim to strike a better balance between economic needs and housing availability, they also bring challenges for employers, post-secondary institutions, and newcomers hoping to make Canada their new home.

Final Thoughts: What Does This Mean for You?

Whether you’re an international student, a skilled worker, or someone looking to support newcomers, this shift in Canada’s immigration landscape is worth paying attention to. The numbers make it clear — Canada is tightening the reins on temporary migration.

If you’re currently exploring immigration options, now’s a good time to look into provincial nominee programs like the Manitoba PNP, which offer more stable pathways to permanent residency.

Want to stay up to date on Canada’s evolving immigration system? Be sure to check out our latest posts on immigration trends and policy changes. Or, contact us today to explore your options.