Canada Welcomed 67% Fewer Students and Workers in First Six Months of 2026 vs. 2024

According to the latest figures from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Canada welcomed approximately 120,530 new students and workers from January through June 2026.

Back in 2024, the same six-month window saw 370,000 arrivals. That’s a 67 percent decline compared to two years ago.

The decline is most pronounced among international students where only 22,405 new students arrived in the first six months of 2026. That’s more than five times lower than student arrivals in the first half of 2024.

Worker arrivals have also fallen over the past two years, but the most recent data suggests that worker numbers might be starting to stabilize at their lower level.

Although stark in sheer volume, these declines aren’t surprising considering shifts in public policy over the past several years. Beginning in 2024, the former Trudeau government introduced a series of new measures aimed at reducing Canada’s temporary resident population. Similar measures have been implemented under the new Carney government, aiming to reduce the number of temporary residents in Canada to less than five percent of Canada’s population by the end of 2027.

We now have temporary resident arrivals data from January 2024 through July 2026, allowing us to examine the staggering impact these measures have had on new students and workers arriving in Canada.

Key Takeaways

• Canada welcomed approximately 120,530 new students and workers between January and June 2026.
• Arrivals in the first six months of 2026 were down 67 percent compared with the same period in 2024.
• International student arrivals fell by 82 percent over the same two-year period.
• Worker arrivals were down compared with 2024 and early 2025, but increased slightly from the last six months of 2025.

Student and Worker Arrivals Have Seen a Staggering Decline Over the Past Two Years

With the latest IRCC data, we can now compare the last five consecutive six-month periods, beginning with January 2024.

If we compare the first six months of 2026 to the same period in 2025, student and worker arrivals fell by 22 percent. If compared to the same period in 2024, they fell by 67 percent.

Seasonal changes affect this data, particularly when it comes to international students who typically have an increase in arrivals in August prior to the beginning of the popular fall semester. This helps explain the higher number of student arrivals in the second half of each year.

But – seasonality can’t explain the massive overall decline. Comparing the same January-to-June period across all three years shows arrivals falling from 370,000 in 2024 to 155,075 in 2025 and 120,530 in 2026.

International Student Arrivals Have Absolutely Collapsed

International student arrivals have seen the most dramatic collapse. Canada welcomed just over 22,000 new students during the first half of 2026. That’s 38 percent lower than the same period in 2025 and 82 percent lower than the same period in 2024.

Of course, this decline follows major changes to how Canada manages international students. Changes include the introduction of a study permit cap, more stringent eligibility rules for Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs) and spousal work permits.

The deterrent effect of these changes is visible in the data from the first half of 2026. New student arrivals hit a record low in March, where Canada welcomed just 2,075 new international students.

IRCC set a target of 155,000 new student arrivals for 2026. At the midpoint in the year, the country is only around 14 percent towards that target.

But – with international students, we can’t use the first six months to make a straightforward projection for the entire year. Student arrivals are extremely seasonal, and August is usually the busiest month of the year for international students as many arrive for the fall semester. There is another peak in student arrivals in December (ahead of the January intake).

However, if Canada wants to hit its targets for 2026, we’re going to need to see a huge increase in student arrivals in the second half of the year.

Worker Arrivals Are Down Overall, But Might Be Stabilizing

According to IRCC’s latest data, Canada welcomed 98,125 temporary workers during the first six months of 2026.

That’s 17 percent fewer than during the first half of 2025 and 60 percent fewer than the same period in 2024.

Notably, however, worker arrivals were actually nine percent higher than during the last six months of 2025. This suggests that the steep decline recorded throughout 2024 and 2025 might be beginning to stabilize around a new, much lower, normal.

We also saw worker arrivals increase during the spring as Canada welcomed 21,810 new workers in April 2026. That’s the highest monthly total since June 2025. Arrivals remained relatively high in May and June, at 19,600 and 20,330 respectively.

IRCC tracks worker arrivals based on the broad program through which they received their work permit: the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and the International Mobility Program (IMP).

Both the TFWP and IMP recorded significantly fewer arrivals in early 2026 than in early 2024. However, both also experienced an increase compared to the second half of 2025.

As with students, Canada has introduced policy measures intended to reduce worker arrivals, like hiring caps on low-wage workers hired through the TFWP. Previously mentioned restrictions to Post-Graduation Work Permit eligibility also impacts worker figures because PGWPs are issued through the International Mobility Program.

IRCC set a target of 230,000 new worker arrivals in 2026. As of the end of June, Canada’s reached about 43 percent of the overall target, keeping it relatively on track to be near the planned level.

More Temporary Residents Are Transitioning to Permanent Residence

Another trend that’s clear in IRCC’s latest data dump is that Canada is selecting more of its permanent resident admissions from those who are already in the country as students and workers.

Throughout the first six months of 2026, 103,750 temporary residents transitioned to permanent resident status. These individuals accounted for 57 percent of all new permanent residents admitted during the first half of the year.

The proportion of temporary residents becoming permanent residents has increased over the past two years:

These figures are no surprise considering the government’s ongoing focus on transitioning temporary residents who already have a demonstrated connection to Canada through work, study, and community establishment.

This federal priority has also been echoed in many of Canada’s permanent residence pathways throughout 2026, including continued Canadian Experience Class draws through Express Entry and PNP streams aimed at workers already in Canada.

But – having Canadian work experience or post-secondary education doesn’t guarantee permanent residence. Express Entry is highly competitive, even for those in Canada, while PNPs have limited spaces and often target workers who already have job offers in the managing province.

What Should Future Workers and Students Take Away From This?

Canada is continuing to welcome international students and temporary workers, but at much lower levels than in 2024 and earlier.

Prospective international students who want to immigrate permanently need to research and create an immigration plan from the get-go. They need to double-check school and program eligibility for PGWPs and ensure they have a plan in place for a long-term permanent residence pathway.

On the other hand, prospective workers should look beyond the overall figures and assess the requirements of their particular work permit type. If you qualify for an IEC Working Holiday Visa or an Intra-Company Transfer – you still have strong chances. But – for LMIA-supported work permits, the environment is becoming much more competitive.

More importantly, although IRCC is increasingly leaning toward two-step immigration – temporary residence, then permanent residence – getting a study or work permit no longer guarantees that you will qualify for permanent residence down the road.

The Takeaway: Canada’s Temporary Resident Slowdown Is Real

Canada’s goal to reduce temporary immigration is working. Comparing 2026 to 2024 paints a stark picture of a dramatic decline in student and worker arrivals.

Overall temporary resident arrivals have fallen by two-thirds percent compared with the first half of 2024. International student arrivals have declined even more sharply – at 82 percent! – while worker arrivals appear to be stabilizing, but at a much lower level than Canada admitted two years ago.

The figures show that the federal government is achieving its temporary residence reduction goals. Any longer-term impact on Canadian schools, employers, communities, housing prices, industries, and prospective newcomers will take more time to understand.

For now, one conclusion is clear enough: the rapid growth in temporary immigration that Canada ushered in earlier this decade has been decisively reversed.