Canadian Immigration recorded a steep decline in temporary resident arrivals in July 2025, according to new data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The number of Canadian Work Permits and Canadian Student Permits issued dropped significantly compared to the same period in 2024. This reflects the government’s ongoing policy shift to curb temporary resident levels.
In July 2025, just 18,500 new Canadian Work Permits were issued, a 37% decrease from the 29,595 arrivals in July 2024. The drop was even more pronounced for Canada Student Visas, with only 7,685 Canadian Student Visas compared to 17,140 Visas issued a year earlier. This represents a 55% decline. Combined, this represents 20,550 fewer Canadian Work Permits and Canadian Student Visas issued in July 2025.
Canadian Federal Government Objectives
This trend aligns with Ottawa’s broader objective of reducing the proportion of temporary residents to below 5% of the total population. Earlier, IRCC reported that from January to June 2025, Canadian Student Visa issuances fell by 70% and Canadian Work Permit issuances fell by 50% compared to 2024. The latest July figures confirm that the decline has continued.
Cumulatively, from January to July 2025, Canadian Immigration authorities issued 235,070 fewer students and workers compared to the same timeframe in 2024. Looking ahead, the Canadian Federal Government plans further restrictions. The Canadian Federal Government plans to cut the 2026 target for new arrivals under the International Mobility Program (IMP) by 55%, reducing it from 285,750 to 128,700. In contrast, the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) target will remain steady at 82,000.
Impacts on Canadian Population Growth
Statistics Canada data also points to broader demographic impacts. Between January 1 and April 1, 2025, the number of individuals on Canada Temporary Resident Visas declined by 61,111, while total population growth slowed dramatically. During that three-month period, Canada’s overall population grew by just 20,107 people (0.0%). This highlights the impact of immigration policy adjustments on Canadian Immigration growth.
Potential Ripple Effects on the Canadian Economy
The government maintains that these measures are necessary to manage housing shortages and labor market pressures. However, the sharp contraction in student and worker arrivals could have ripple effects on universities, industries reliant on temporary labor, and Canada’s broader economic outlook.
Read our Article on Working in Canada after your Studies to get more perspective.
