There has been a decline in study and work permit holders in Canada, i.e., the nation is witnessing a continued drop in temporary resident arrivals, with July 2025 showing sharp decreases for both international workers and students compared to the same month in 2024.
According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), just 18,500 new workers entered the country in July 2025 – a steep 37% drop from the 29,595 who came during July 2024.
Student arrivals also saw an even sharper decline. Only 7,685 new international students landed in Canada in July 2025, compared to 17,140 in July 2024 – a 55% fall year-over-year.
In total, Canada welcomed 20,550 fewer workers and students this July compared to the same month last year.
These declines mirror the government’s recent policy changes designed to reduce Canada’s temporary resident population to less than 5% of the total population. Stricter rules and controlled intakes have been central to this shift.
Note: Throughout this article, “arrivals” refers to the issuance of new study permits or new work permits.
Ongoing Decline In 2025 Temporary Resident Levels
Just last month, IRCC reported that new international student arrivals had dropped by 70%, while new worker arrivals were down by 50% between January and June 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.
The July 2025 numbers confirm this downward trend.
Between January and July 2025, Canada admitted 235,070 fewer new students and workers compared to the same seven-month stretch in 2024.
For July alone, there were 26,185 new arrivals, i.e., down 7.29% from the 28,245 who came in June 2025.
Current Trends In Temporary Resident Populations
As we know that there has been a decline in study and work permit holders in Canada, let us now discuss the recent trends in temporary resident populations.
Well, while international student numbers have seen steep drops, the population of foreign workers has shown more resilience, with slight increases over the last year.
Study Permit Holders
In July 2025, Canada’s population of foreign nationals with study permits stood at 499,365 – down by 119,705 compared to July 2024.
| Month | July 2025 | July 2024 |
| Number of study permit holders | 499,365 | 619,070 |
Looking at month-to-month changes, the number of study permit holders dropped from 546,560 in June 2025 to 499,365 in July – a decrease of 47,195.
| Month | July 2025 | June 2025 |
| Number of study permit holders | 499,365 | 546,560 |
Work Permit Holders
Foreign workers in Canada have seen steadier trends. In July 2025, 1,494,905 individuals held valid work permits, i.e., an increase of 71,360 (or 5%) compared to July 2024.
| Month | July 2025 | July 2024 |
| Number of work permit holders | 1,494,905 | 1,423,545 |
Month-to-month, however, there was a small dip. Compared to June 2025, when 1,504,575 work permits were active, the July number fell slightly to 1,494,905.
| Month | July 2025 | June 2025 |
| Number of study permit holders | 1,494,905 | 1,504,575 |
Many international students transition from study permits to Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs) after completing their programs, which explains the decline in study permit holders and the gradual rise in work permit holders.
Since most undergraduate programs last around four years, there’s usually a time gap before PGWP issuances reflect the drop in new study permits.
The federal government began reducing the number of study permits in January 2024, so the full effect on future work permit numbers is still unfolding.
Individuals With Both Study And Work Permits
The group of foreign nationals holding both study and work permits has declined noticeably in July 2025, compared with both June 2025 and July 2024.
| Month | July 2025 | June 2025 | July 2024 |
| Number of foreign nationals holding both a study and work permit | 286,465 | 312,010 | 356,380 |
Canada’s overall temporary resident population reached its highest point in August 2024 at 2,446,523. Since then, numbers have steadily dropped.
By July 2025, the total had decreased by 3% compared to the previous month, continuing the downward trajectory.
Policy And Political Debate Over Temporary Residents
In recent years, temporary resident levels have become a hot political issue in Canada.
Earlier this month, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre called for the elimination of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and a halt to issuing new permits.
He argued that the federal government had failed to keep temporary immigration within its targets, pointing to the 105,000 TFWP permits issued between January and June 2025 compared to the annual target of 82,000.
However, this claim is misleading. The 105,000 figure includes extensions and renewals for workers already in Canada. Of that number, just 33,700 were new arrivals, i.e., 41% of the annual target of 82,000.
Understanding Canada’s Work Permit Programs
As there has been a decline in study and work permit holders in Canada, let us understand the nation’s work permit programs.
The TFWP is not the main source of foreign worker arrivals in Canada. Instead, most permits are issued under the International Mobility Program (IMP).
Canada’s 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan has set a target of 285,750 new arrivals under the IMP and 82,000 under the TFWP for 2025.
For 2026, the target for new IMP arrivals is set to drop sharply by 55% (to 128,700), while the TFWP target will remain unchanged at 82,000.
Impact Of Policy Changes On Population Growth
According to Statistics Canada, the tighter immigration policies introduced since early 2024 have directly slowed population growth.
Between January 1 and April 1, 2025, Canada’s temporary resident population shrank by 61,111. During the same period, the country’s total population grew by only 20,107 people, i.e., effectively zero percent growth.
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