Canada Released Its Temporary Resident and Permanent Resident Approval Data to June 2025

In this breakdown, we’ll highlight the most important trends in the data and what they mean for newcomers.

Where do these numbers come from? 

The figures come directly from official Canadian government reports, which were published later than usual this year. After Prime Minister Mark Carney faced criticism for the delay, the numbers were quickly released. 

The government’s reports are lengthy spreadsheets full of figures, so we’ve simplified them here to explain the trends, why they matter, and how they might affect your immigration journey. 

Before we dig in, the approved work permits comparison to the immigration levels plan is not a perfect comparison. This is because the targets measure arrivals, not approvals. And approved permits received within Canada would be activations within Canada, not arrivals. Keep this in mind when reviewing the comparisons, since it’s an approximation, not an exact science. 

Do you learn better by video? Watch our team members Rachel and Stephanie discuss these numbers:

How Many International Students Have Been Approved? 

The 2025 plan targeted 305,900 international students. As of June 2025, Canada has approved nearly 150,000 study permits, which puts approvals close to target for the year. The last few years show that Q3 (July-September) tends to see the most approvals, so we may see international student approvals ‘catch up’ or exceed targets if that trend holds.  

Indian students accounted for about one-third of these approvals, with strong representation from China, Nigeria, and the Philippines. 

How Many Have Been Approved Through the International Mobility Program? 

Approvals under the IMP already stand at 302,000 in the first half of 2025—well above the yearly target of 285,000. Unless processing slows in the second half of the year, Canada may significantly surpass its planned intake. (In fact, it may either way.) 

The IMP includes the IEC program, PGWP, SOWP, intra-company transfers and other LMIA-exempt temporary work permits. We know that around 92,073 invitations have been issued through the IEC program so far in 2025, and we would predict that around 50,000 of the approved work permits could relate to the IEC program.  

What About Temporary Foreign Worker Program Approvals?  

Similarly, the TFWP has exceeded its target. By June 2025, there were already 105,000 approvals, compared to the annual target of 82,000. 

This is striking, given that restrictions were placed on employers last year. These restrictions included caps on low-wage workers per workplace and limits in regions with higher unemployment rates. Despite that, intake remains comparable to 2024 levels. 

Permanent Resident Approvals So Far in 2025

Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan for 2025 set a target of 395,000 new permanent residents. By mid-year, nearly 208,000 admissions had already been recorded. This falls within the official range of up to 435,000, so it’s not considered an overage.

Here’s how some key categories are tracking: 

• Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): 50,500 admissions so far, close to the target of 55,000 (with an upper cap of 65,000). 

• Canadian Experience Class (CEC): 33,000 admissions to date, well short of the 83,000 target. The slower pace reflects fewer and irregular draws earlier this year. 

• Family Sponsorship: About 47,000 admissions so far, tracking in line with the 94,500 target. 

• Refugees: More than 40,000 admissions already, compared to a target of just over 58,000. This surge, combined with a backlog of refugee claims, could mean longer waits for applicants. 

Overall, the data shows Canada is ahead of schedule for refugee admissions and PNPs, while CEC admissions lag behind expectations.

Top Source Countries for PRs in 2025 

From January to June 2025, the leading countries for PR applications and approvals were: 

Applications received: 

• India – 28,405 

• Cameroon – 26,730 

• Afghanistan – 7,210 

• France – 6,115 

• Philippines – 6,420 

COPRs (Confirmations of Permanent Residence) issued: 

• India – 59,670 

• Philippines – 13,615 

• China – 10,700 

• Cameroon – 10,165 

• Nigeria – 8,670 

For comparison, the top five in the same period of 2024 were India, the Philippines, China, Cameroon, and Nigeria—with slightly higher totals across the board. 

What does this mean for newcomers? 

For temporary residents, Canada is moving toward reduced numbers, especially for international students. Still, worker programs like IMP and TFWP are already over target, which suggests adjustments or slower processing may come later in the year. 

For permanent residents, Canada remains on track to meet its overall goals, though the pace differs across programs. The slower Canadian Experience Class admissions, in particular, may be frustrating for candidates with strong CRS scores waiting in the Express Entry pool. 

Looking ahead, current draw patterns, processing timelines, and levels plan targets could hold steady through late 2026 or even into 2027. That stability may be reassuring for some, but for many others, it will continue to feel like a difficult wait. 

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