International students and temporary workers are arriving in Canada in smaller numbers. The number of new students and workers who arrived in Canada till September this year has shown a steep decline. The number of foreign students arriving in Canada so far has fallen by 60%, while the number of new temporary workers has fallen by 48%.
2025 YTD Data
Latest official data shows that between January and September 2025, Canada experienced a 53% decrease in new arrivals of students and temporary workers, amounting to 308,880 fewer individuals compared to the same period in the previous year.
As far as the foreign students are concerned, with 150,220 fewer new students, the number decreased by 60%. As far as the new temporary workers are concerned, there were 158,660 fewer workers, representing a 48% decrease.
In September 2025, new student arrivals to Canada were 11,390, compared to 28,910 in September 2024, a fall of 60%.
As of September 30, 2025, in Canada, 473,860 students hold a study permit, while 1,494,900 only hold a work permit and 251,300 hold both a work and study permit.
Between January and September 2024, Canada received 250,805 students, compared to 100,585 in the same period this year, resulting in a shortfall of 150,220 students. This is a nearly 60% decline in the number of international students arriving in Canada so far this year.
Canada’s Stricter Rules
The IRCC plans to issue 437,000 study permits in 2025, a 10% decrease from the 2024 cap. Also, the study permit allocation process has been tightened, now requiring an attestation letter from a province or territory for every application to IRCC.
Starting September 1, 2024, international students pursuing a curriculum licensing arrangement are not allowed to qualify for a post-graduation work permit. Additionally, open work permits are restricted to spouses of international students enrolled in master’s and doctoral programs, excluding those in undergraduate and college programs.
