International Student Arrivals Skyrocket in August, But Remain 53 Percent Below 2024 Levels

According to the latest data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Canada welcomed 37,090 new international students in August, up from just 5,800 in July.

That’s more than six times as many students arriving in a single month. However, August 2026 arrivals were still 17 percent lower than August 2025, and a whopping 53 percent lower than August 2024.

The August increase was expected, as international student arrivals typically spike ahead of the fall semester. However, with Canada’s busiest month for new student arrivals now behind us, the country remains well below its target of welcoming 155,000 new international students in 2026.

Meanwhile, temporary worker arrivals also increased in August, although those numbers remain considerably lower than two years ago.

Key Takeaways

• Canada welcomed 37,090 new international students in August 2026, an increase of more than six times compared to July
• Despite the monthly surge, student arrivals were 17 percent lower than August 2025 and 53 percent lower than August 2024.
• Canada welcomed 65,240 new international students between January and August, reaching just 42 percent of its annual target of 155,000.
• Temporary worker arrivals increased by approximately 10 percent in August, reaching 16,850.
• Combined student and worker arrivals were 63 percent lower during the first eight months of 2026 compared with the same period in 2024.

International Student Arrivals Jumped 539 Percent in August

Canada welcomed 37,090 new international students in August 2026, compared with just 5,800 in July. That’s an increase of 31,290 arrivals in a single month, making August by far the busiest month for international student arrivals so far this year.

Of course, August is traditionally a busy month for new students coming to Canada, as many arrive ahead of the fall semester in September. We saw similar increases in August 2024 and August 2025.

But, while the massive August increase might sound encouraging for Canada’s international education sector, the year-over-year comparisons tell a different story.

In August 2024, Canada welcomed almost 80,000 new international students. Two years later, that number has fallen by more than half.

Even compared with August 2025, last year, when Canada’s international student restrictions were already having a big impact, new arrivals fell by another 17 percent.

These lower arrival numbers are mostly caused by restrictions place on international students over the past few years. These restrictions including policy changes like the introduction of a study permit cap, stricter Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility requirements, higher financial requirements, and restrictions on work permits for accompanying spouses and partners.

In broader contest, all these measures contribute to the federal government’s goal to lower the number of temporary residents in Canada. IRCC aims to have TRs make up less than five percent of the population by the end of 2027.

Canada Is Still Well Below Its 2026 International Student Target

IRCC has set a target of 155,000 new international student arrivals this year. However, despite August’s massive increase, Canada welcomed just 65,240 new students during the first eight months of 2026.

That means Canada has reached only 42 percent of its annual target, with just four months remaining in the year. Here’s how international student arrivals have progressed throughout 2026:

To reach its annual target, Canada would need to welcome another 89,760 international students between September and December. That’s an average of 22,440 new student arrivals per month.

And while international student arrivals can fluctuate month-to-month, this target would require a massive increase over what we’ve seen so far in 2026.

For context, Canada welcomed just 29,180 new international students during the final four months of 2025. Even in 2024, when international student arrivals were considerably higher, only 71,170 new students arrived between September and December.

Canada does typically experience another smaller spike in student arrivals in December, ahead of the winter semester. But, with the largest annual intake now behind us, it seems unlikely that Canada will reach its target of 155,000 new students in 2026.

International Student Arrivals Are Down 71 Percent Compared With 2024

Looking beyond the August increase, the longer-term trend is even more dramatic with Canada welcoming only 65,240 new international students between January and August 2026. That’s 71 percent fewer than during the same eight-month period in 2024, when 221,680 students arrived.

Compared with the first eight months of 2025, arrivals are down approximately 26 percent.

The impact of Canada’s immigration policy changes is increasingly apparent in the arrival figures, particularly for international students. And the decline isn’t limited to new arrivals, but can also be seen in the total number of study permit holders already in Canada which has fallen considerably.

As of August 31, 2026, just over 600,000 people held a study permit in Canada. That’s down from almost 800,000 in August 2025 and more than one million in August 2024.

Although the total number of study permit holders increased slightly between July and August 2026, the longer-term decline is massive.

Temporary Worker Arrivals Also Increased in August

International students weren’t the only group to record an increase in arrivals during August. Canada also welcomed 16,850 new temporary workers, up from 15,355 in July. That’s an increase of about 10 percent.

Unlike international students, however, temporary worker arrivals were actually slightly higher in August 2026 than in August 2025.

Despite the modest year-over-year increase, worker arrivals remain approximately 35 percent lower than in August 2024.

The August 2026 figures also reveal different trends between Canada’s two main temporary worker programs.

Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)

Canada welcomed 2,770 new workers through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in August 2026. That’s a decline of approximately 22 percent compared with July, when 3,565 workers arrived through the program.

TFWP arrivals were also approximately 33 percent lower than August 2025 and 61 percent lower than August 2024.

International Mobility Program (IMP)

Meanwhile, arrivals through the International Mobility Program increased to 14,080 in August, up from 11,790 in July. That’s an increase of approximately 19 percent in a single month.

IMP arrivals were also 12 percent higher than August 2025, although they remain 26 percent lower than August 2024.

Overall, Canada welcomed 130,095 new temporary workers during the first eight months of 2026, reaching only 57 percent of its 2026 target of 230,000.

More Temporary Residents Are Becoming Permanent Residents

While fewer international students and temporary workers are arriving in Canada compared with previous years, an increasing proportion of Canada’s new permanent residents are people who were already living here.

According to IRCC, 153,005 former temporary residents became permanent residents between January and August 2026. These individuals accounted for approximately 58 percent of all new permanent residents admitted during this period.

That’s a big increase compared with 2024, when former temporary residents accounted for just 44 percent of new permanent residents.

This trend reflects the federal government’s growing priority of transitioning temporary residents already in Canada to permanent residence, rather than relying on new PRs directly from overseas.

For temporary residents currently living in Canada, programs such as Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Programs are some of the best pathways to permanent residence (but, eligibility varies between programs and streams).

What Do the August Numbers Mean for Newcomers?

August’s data show that Canada experienced a major seasonal increase in international student arrivals ahead of the fall semester. But, the number of new students arriving remains dramatically lower than in previous years.

With August now behind us, Canada appears unlikely to reach its target of welcoming 155,000 new international students in 2026. For prospective international students, this reflects a considerably more restrictive immigration environment than Canada had just a few years ago.

For temporary workers, the picture is a little different. While arrivals remain well below 2024 levels, the latest data suggests that worker arrivals may be stabilizing, with August numbers slightly higher than the same month last year.

In the end, the August figures offer another indication of how much Canada’s immigration landscape has changed since 2024. Even during the busiest month of the year for international student arrivals, Canada is welcoming far fewer newcomers than it did just two years ago.