Fewer Foreign Researchers Are Coming to Canada — And Even Fewer Are Staying Permanently: StatCan

Foreign postdoctoral fellows have historically been among the most educated temporary workers in Canada. But, for most, Canada turns out to be a stop along the way, not the destination. For those who do become permanent residents, the earnings picture is notably strong.

Key Takeaways

• Annual arrivals of foreign postdoctoral fellows have dropped since 2021 to their lowest point since the early 2000s.
• About 1 in 4 postdoctoral fellows eventually obtained permanent residence in Canada, but that rate is falling.
• Former postdoctoral fellows who got PR and stayed in Canada earned more than any other former work permit holders.
• About 70 percent of those who became permanent residents were actively present in Canada 10 years later.

Foreign Postdoctoral Researchers and Their Labour Market Outcomes

A postdoctoral fellow is a researcher who holds a time-limited position at a university or research institution, typically in a field related to their PhD. Under Canada’s International Mobility Program (IMP), universities and research institutions can bring in foreign nationals temporarily for postdoctoral appointments.

The report tracks what happens to foreign nationals who came to Canada in this role: whether they transition to permanent residence, whether they stay, and how they fare in the labour market.

Arrivals Are at Their Lowest Point Since the Early 2000s

For two decades, in the 2000s and 2010s, Canada received between 2,100 and 3,400 foreign postdoctoral fellows each year. There was a sharp decline during the pandemic due to travel restrictions. Following that, arrivals recovered briefly in 2021, then fell steadily through 2024, reaching their lowest point since the early 2000s.

By 2024, postdoctoral fellows made up roughly 0.3 percent of all new temporary work permit holders, down from about 3 percent in the early 2000s. That decline reflects, in large part, how much the broader temporary foreign worker population has grown. But absolute numbers were also down to 1,550 in 2024.

Fewer Than 1 in 4 Have Become Permanent Residents and the Rate Is Falling

Among fellows who arrived between 2000 and 2004, about 28 percent had obtained permanent residence within 10 years. For those who arrived between 2005 and 2009, that figure had dropped to 26 percent. Transition to PR declined further in the 2010 to 2014 cohort, where only 22 percent had PR status 10 years after arrival.

This was significantly different compared to other temporary foreign worker groups, which moved in the opposite direction over the same period. Among Temporary Foreign Worker Program participants, the 10-year PR rate climbed from 29 percent for the 2000 to 2004 cohort to 49 percent for 2010-to-2014 arrivals.

The study attributes the declining researcher transition rate partly to weakening motivation, not just fewer opportunities. Postdoctoral positions are designed to be temporary, and the researchers who fill them often move around internationally. While Canada has increasingly selected permanent residents from the temporary foreign worker population, motivations to pursue permanent residency among foreign postdoctoral fellows appear to have weakened over time.

The study suggests this reflects the nature of advanced research careers, where moving between countries is a normal part of career progression rather than a sign that Canada isn’t working for them. Canadian research institutions may be playing an important role in global research networks without being the final destination for the people who pass through them.

That said, researchers play a crucial role in advancing scientific knowledge and development across industries and it is in Canada’s best interests to retain this talent. In February 2026, Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab announced a new Express Entry category specifically for researchers with Canadian work experience, making retention of this group an explicit federal priority. However, as of late June 2026, no draw under this category has been held.

PR Transition Rates Vary Widely by Region of Origin

The data shows significant differences in PR transition rates across source regions, though the reasons vary.

Across the cohorts studied, fellows from Africa, Southern Asia, and Western Asia consistently had the highest PR transition rates. Those from the United States and Central and South America consistently had the lowest.

Eastern Asia has seen the sharpest decline. Five-year transition rates for that region fell from 28 percent for the 2000-to-2004 cohort to 9 percent for 2015-to-2019 arrivals. The study attributes this largely to postdoctoral fellows from China, whose transition rates dropped steadily as academic and career opportunities at home expanded.

Researchers Who Stay Earn More Than Other Immigrant Groups

Among former postdoctoral fellows who stayed in Canada after becoming permanent residents, the labour market picture is strong.

In their first year as permanent residents, former postdoctoral fellows earned about 15 percent more than other IMP work permit holders who had also obtained PR. That gap grew to around 31 percent by year eight.

Compared to immigrants who came to Canada directly as permanent residents, the difference was even larger. Former postdoctoral fellows earned roughly twice as much from year 1 to year 15 after admission. By year 15, the average annual earnings of former postdoctoral fellows reached approximately $121,200 in 2023 dollars, compared to $92,700 for other IMP holders and $79,500 for former Temporary Foreign Worker Program participants.

About 70 Percent Were Still in Canada 10 Years After Getting PR

Permanent residence doesn’t guarantee staying. Statistics Canada measures active presence through income tax filing rates, which indicate whether someone remains in Canada year over year.

Among former postdoctoral fellows who became permanent residents, filing rates started high — between 86 and 89 percent in the first year — and declined steadily from there. By year five, roughly 78 to 82 percent were still filing. By year 10, that figure had fallen to between 69 and 74 percent.

Other temporary foreign worker groups showed stronger long-term retention. Among former Temporary Foreign Worker Program participants, 10-year filing rates rose from 85 percent for the earliest cohort to 91 percent for 2010-to-2014 arrivals.

So about 1 in 4 former postdoctoral fellows eventually leaves Canada even after obtaining PR. Given the globally mobile nature of research careers, that isn’t entirely surprising. A postdoctoral position in Canada can lead to a faculty role or research opportunity anywhere in the world.

What This Means If You’re a Researcher in Canada

If you’re currently in Canada on a work permit for a postdoctoral appointment and considering permanent residence, there are several pathways available. To make it easier for postdoctoral researchers to stay in Canada permanently, IRCC has introduced a separate Express Entry category for researchers with Canadian experience. If you have at least one year of Canadian experience, you could be eligible for this category. However, no draw under that category has been held as of late June 2026.

The data shows that most fellows who transition to PR do so within the first 10 years. Rates plateau sharply after that point.

For those who do obtain PR and stay, the earnings data is consistent across all cohorts studied: former postdoctoral fellows earned more than every other immigrant group compared in the report, and that gap widened the longer they remained in Canada.