New Worker and Student Arrival Numbers from May 2026 Show Decline

Compared to the same five-month period in 2024, Canada saw almost 70 percent fewer combined student and worker arrivals between January and May 2026.

Key Takeaways

• Canada welcomed 3,335 new international students in May 2026, down from 4,930 in April.
• New worker arrivals also fell, from 21,855 in April to 19,645 in May, a drop of 10 percent.
• Between January and May 2026, new student arrivals were down 83 percent compared to the same period in 2024, while worker arrivals were down 63 percent.
• Former temporary residents made up 57 percent of all new permanent residents admitted between January and May 2026.

International Student Arrivals in Canada

IRCC data shows that 3,335 new study permit holders arrived in Canada in May 2026. That is down from 4,930 in April, a drop of roughly 32 percent. It is also 26 percent lower than the 4,535 students who arrived in May 2025.

This dip isn’t surprising in itself, as student arrivals tend to be slower in the spring, with the surge coming in August ahead of the fall semester. Still, following the government’s plans to reduce temporary resident numbers in Canada to below 5 percent of the population, these numbers have become significantly smaller compared to previous years.

May 2026 Student Snapshot

• 3,335 new student arrivals
• 632,850 people held a study permit in Canada as of May 31, 2026
• International student arrivals in May 2026 were down 26 percent compared to May 2025

Between January and May 2026, Canada admitted 19,425 new international students. That is 83 percent fewer than the same five months in 2024. It is also nearly 40 percent lower than the 32,140 students who arrived between January and May last year.

Here are the monthly student arrival figures so far in 2026:

What Can We Expect for International Student Arrivals In 2026?

IRCC set a target of 155,000 new student arrivals for 2026. Through the first five months, Canada has admitted just 19,425, or about 13 percent of that target.

Does this mean that IRCC won’t hit its target? Not necessarily. Student arrivals align with intake periods at Canadian universities and colleges, with the sharpest peaks in August-September (before the fall semester) and December-January (for the winter semester). There’s a smaller peak in April, as some schools also accept new students as part of their spring/summer intake.

With the peak intake months still ahead of us, it is possible that IRCC could admit 155,000 new international students in 2026. However, it is looking increasingly unlikely.

Canada also fell short of its student arrival target in 2025. The department had aimed for roughly 305,900 new arrivals but ended the year with just over 115,000.

New Worker Arrivals in Canada

Canada welcomed 19,645 new temporary workers in May 2026. That is down from April’s 21,855, a decrease of about 10 percent.

Work permit holder arrivals in May 2026 were well below where they stood two years earlier. In May 2024, Canada admitted approximately 34,655 new temporary workers. May 2026’s total represents a decline of roughly 43 percent from that point. It was also 16 percent below the May 2025 numbers.

May 2026 Worker Snapshot

• 19,645 new worker arrivals
• 1,561,465 people held only a work permit in Canada as of May 31, 2026. This was 3.5 percent higher than the number of people who only held a work permit in May 2025.
• New worker arrivals in May 2026 were down 17 percent compared to May 2025

Across the first five months of 2026, new worker arrivals are down 63 percent compared to the same period in 2024, a reduction of about 131,100 people.

Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)

Canada welcomed 4,610 workers through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in May 2026, down from 6,425 in April. Year over year, TFWP arrivals also declined, falling from 7,440 in May 2025.

International Mobility Program (IMP)

Canada welcomed 15,035 workers through the International Mobility Program in May 2026, down slightly from 15,430 in April. The IMP includes open work permit categories such as Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs), IEC Working Holiday visas, and spousal open work permits. This is also down from the 16,155 IMP arrivals recorded in May 2025.

Here are the monthly worker arrival figures so far in 2026:

What Can We Expect for Temporary Worker Arrivals In 2026?

Under the 2026 Immigration Levels Plan, IRCC set a target of 230,000 new worker arrivals for the year. Through May, Canada has admitted 77,915, or roughly 34 percent of that target with seven months still to go.

In 2025, IRCC also fell short of its worker admission target, taking in around 208,750 workers against a planned 367,750. Worker arrivals do tend to pick up through the summer, so whether it is entirely possible that Canada may close the gap as the year goes on.

More Temporary Residents Are Becoming Permanent Residents

Even as fewer new temporary residents arrive, more of those already in Canada are becoming permanent residents.

Between January and May 2026, approximately 84,135 former temporary residents became permanent residents. That accounts for 57 percent of all new permanent residents admitted during that period. In contrast, TR to PR transitions made up 48 percent share recorded for all of 2025 and 44 percent in 2024.

A part of this increase comes from the one-time In-Canada Workers Initiative, which aims to accelerate permanent residence for up to 33,000 workers already contributing to Canadian communities between 2026 and 2027. IRCC aims to admit at least 20,000 of these workers as permanent residents in 2026. From January to May 2026, 9,100 workers became permanent residents through this initiative, putting IRCC 46 percent of the way to its 2026 target. These permanent residents are counted in addition to the targets set in the 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan.

What This Means for Newcomers

May’s data shows both worker and student arrivals declining again after a (relatively) stronger April, though workers are still holding up better than students on a year over year basis. Given IRCC’s plan to reduce the overall temporary resident population in Canada, we do expect student and worker numbers to stay low for the foreseeable future.

If you are currently in Canada on a temporary permit, the trend toward more temporary residents transitioning to permanent status continues to build. Pathways through Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) remain the main routes for this, and the growing share of former temporary residents among new permanent residents suggests IRCC continues to prioritize people already living and working in Canada.

If you are planning to come to Canada as a student or temporary worker, keep in mind that these lower numbers reflect caps and tighter eligibility rules, but also more scrutiny. If you qualify for a study or work permit, you can improve your chances of success by ensuring your application is complete and as strong as possible.