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Key numbers on Canadian immigration - Understanding student and temporary worker numbers in Canada

Data as of August 31, 2026

Through the Immigration Levels Plan, we’re making our immigration system more responsive to the needs of the country. This includes reducing the number of students and temporary workers coming to Canada to help ease pressures on housing, infrastructure, and services.

We have committed to reducing Canada’s temporary population to less than 5% by the end of 2027.

The data below provides a snapshot of current volumes of international students and temporary foreign workers in Canada, as part of our broader effort to manage migration to Canada responsibly.

Data is approximate and subject to change.

About the data

Please note that in the tables on this page, all values between 0 and 5 are shown as “--”. In the graphs, all values between 0 and 5 will be visualized as zero. This is done to prevent individuals from being identified when data is compiled and compared to other publicly available statistics. All other values are rounded to the closest multiple of 5 for the same reason; as a result of rounding, the data may not sum to the totals indicated.

New student and worker arrivals to Canada

The number of new students and workers arriving to Canada is declining—a clear sign that the measures we’ve put in place are working.

This downward trend reflects our commitment to a well-managed and sustainable immigration system.

How we count arrivals

We count arrivals based on the number of people issued study or work permits in that month. If someone was issued both a study and a work permit in the same month, they will be counted under the study permit group.

Some groups aren’t included in the data. The student and worker arrivals excludes:

  • asylum claimants
    • People who claim asylum in Canada are seeking protection under international law. These claims are not part of planned immigration levels and volumes cannot be directly controlled in the same way that volumes of temporary workers, students, or permanent immigrants can.
  • permit extensions
    • People who apply to extend their stay are already in Canada. They’re not new arrivals. Counting extensions would inflate the numbers without reflecting new pressures on housing or services.
  • seasonal agricultural workers
    • These workers are highly targeted and tied to immediate labour shortages, often in rural or remote areas. These workers come for a short period, tend to live in employer-provided housing, and are critical to food supply.
  • workers under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program who are in Canada for 270 days or less, where the start and end dates fall within the same calendar year
    • These workers meet immediate labour needs, often in industries like tourism or construction.
Monthly arrivals

The graph below shows total arrivals for each month since December 2023.

New student and worker arrivals to Canada – Monthly
Month Study permit holders Work permit holders
Dec-2395,28530,315
Jan-2427,55033,135
Feb-249,24042,900
Mar-2416,85563,625
Apr-2445,77034,680
May-2414,22534,650
Jun-2411,27535,975
Jul-2417,10529,555
Aug-2479,66026,035
Sep-2428,87029,580
Oct-246,51025,210
Nov-245,98021,280
Dec-2429,81016,535
Jan-2511,21014,855
Feb-254,07014,345
Mar-253,80518,480
Apr-258,50523,565
May-254,53523,585
Jun-254,15523,920
Jul-257,60018,320
Aug-2544,86516,700
Sep-2511,26517,370
Oct-253,00014,460
Nov-252,45513,275
Dec-259,4609,665
Jan-266,93011,735
Feb-262,13010,795
Mar-262,07013,815
Apr-264,88021,700
May-263,32019,565
Jun-263,02020,275
Jul-265,80015,355
Aug-2637,09016,850
Annual arrivals

The graph below shows total arrivals for each year.

New student and worker arrivals to Canada – Annual
Month Study permit holders Work permit holders
2024 292,850 393,160
2025 114,920 208,540
2026 (Jan-August) 65,240 130,095

 63% fewer

arrivals to Canada between January and August 2026, compared to the same period in 2024 – down 326,900

International students in Canada

155,000
student arrivals target for 2026

About the student arrivals target

In the Immigration Levels Plan, we set targets for how many new students we expect will arrive in Canada each year. This target aligns with the annual international student cap, which limits the number of new study permits and extensions we issue.

65,240
arrivals from January to August 2026 

We’re on track to stay within the target for 2026

The number of students arriving in Canada depends on many factors:

  • recent changes to the International Student Program
  • how learning institutions recruit
  • how many prospective students apply

We’re reducing the number of international students coming to Canada to a sustainable level. You’ll notice seasonal changes in the data for study permits, with increases before the start of each semester, particularly in August, ahead of the fall semester.

What we’ve done

New student arrivals to Canada

37,090

in August 2026

New student arrivals to Canada
Month Number of permit holders
Dec-2395,285
Jan-2427,550
Feb-249,240
Mar-2416,855
Apr-2445,770
May-2414,225
Jun-2411,275
Jul-2417,105
Aug-2479,660
Sep-2428,870
Oct-246,510
Nov-245,980
Dec-2429,810
Jan-2511,210
Feb-254,070
Mar-253,805
Apr-258,505
May-254,535
Jun-254,155
Jul-257,600
Aug-2544,865
Sep-2511,265
Oct-253,000
Nov-252,455
Dec-259,460
Jan-266,930
Feb-262,130
Mar-262,070
Apr-264,880
May-263,320
Jun-263,020
Jul-265,800
Aug-2637,090

More information on new student arrivals to Canada

We count student arrivals based on the number of people that were issued a study permit in that month. If a person was issued both a study and a work permit within the same month, they will be counted under the study permit group.

This student arrivals data excludes:

  • asylum claimants
  • permit extensions

 71% fewer

new student arrivals between January and August 2026, compared to the same period in 2024 – down 156,440

Temporary workers in Canada

230,000
worker arrivals target in 2026

About the new temporary worker arrival target

In the Immigration Levels Plan, we set targets for the number of new workers we expect will arrive in Canada each year. Workers targets are based on current policies in place and anticipated labour market needs.

130,095
arrivals from January to August 2026 

We’re on track to stay within the target for 2026

The number of workers arriving in Canada depends on how many apply and are approved to work. Changes to some of our work permit streams in 2025 caused demand to drop.

As Canada’s economy evolves, it’s important that we focus on providing job opportunities to those who are already in Canada, including newcomers.

What we’ve done

New worker arrivals to Canada

16,850

in August 2026

New worker arrivals to Canada
Month Temporary Foreign Workers International Mobility Program Participants
Dec-235,44024,875
Jan-246,52026,615
Feb-246,55536,345
Mar-247,54556,080
Apr-2410,94023,740
May-2410,52524,125
Jun-2410,20525,770
Jul-248,45521,095
Aug-247,09518,935
Sep-247,96021,620
Oct-246,90018,315
Nov-246,02015,260
Dec-244,72011,815
Jan-253,88010,975
Feb-253,31011,040
Mar-254,77513,705
Apr-257,73015,835
May-257,43516,145
Jun-256,44017,480
Jul-255,38512,935
Aug-254,15512,545
Sep-253,99513,375
Oct-253,09511,360
Nov-252,53510,740
Dec-252,0907,580
Jan-262,6509,085
Feb-262,0658,730
Mar-263,47510,345
Apr-266,40515,300
May-264,58514,980
Jun-263,97016,305
Jul-263,56511,790
Aug-262,77014,080

More information on new workers arrivals to Canada

We count temporary worker arrivals based on the number of people that were issued a work permit in that month. If a person was issued both a study and a work permit within the same month, they will be counted under the study permit group.

This temporary worker arrivals data excludes:

  • asylum claimants
  • permit extensions
  • agricultural workers
  • workers under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program who are in Canada for 270 days or less, where the start and end dates fall within the same calendar year

 57% fewer

new worker arrivals between January and August 2026, compared to the same period in 2024 – down 170,455

Total number of students and temporary workers in Canada

The charts below show the total number of students and temporary workers currently in Canada and how that number has changed over time.

While we have committed to reducing the number of temporary residents in Canada, it will take time for the full effects to appear in the data. That’s because inventories of existing applications continue to be processed under the rules that were in place when they were submitted.

As a result, more significant effects of the new measures will only start to appear a few months after they begin.

These totals do not include asylum claimants, protected persons or related groups who may hold a study or work permit. Numbers reflect data from the last day of each month.

Can someone hold a work and a study permit at the same time?

Yes, it is possible to hold both a work and study permit at the same time. In the data shown on this page, we count these people as study permit holders.

  • People who hold a study permit

    602,115

    in Canada as of August 31, 2026

    People who hold a study permit - Table
    People who hold a study permit
    Month Number of permit holders
    Dec-23994,665
    Jan-241,023,450
    Feb-241,030,600
    Mar-241,004,595
    Apr-241,021,400
    May-241,030,690
    Jun-241,032,950
    Jul-24974,980
    Aug-241,019,545
    Sep-24967,390
    Oct-24979,135
    Nov-24950,980
    Dec-24928,195
    Jan-25943,160
    Feb-25947,285
    Mar-25897,700
    Apr-25860,975
    May-25861,430
    Jun-25856,845
    Jul-25783,685
    Aug-25799,665
    Sep-25722,155
    Oct-25736,200
    Nov-25717,925
    Dec-25687,760
    Jan-26692,470
    Feb-26695,990
    Mar-26658,580
    Apr-26630,120
    May-26631,425
    Jun-26631,620
    Jul-26589,580
    Aug-26602,115

  • People who only hold a work permit

    1,550,215

    in Canada as of August 31, 2026

    People who only hold a work permit - Table
    People who only hold a work permit
    Month Number of permit holders (TFW) Number of permit holders (IMP)
    Dec-23185,9301,048,530
    Jan-24187,8551,058,930
    Feb-24192,3251,084,010
    Mar-24201,4401,140,675
    Apr-24219,2251,157,730
    May-24233,0051,159,845
    Jun-24244,2701,163,640
    Jul-24250,8801,178,370
    Aug-24255,5851,176,515
    Sep-24259,6251,201,930
    Oct-24260,3901,202,620
    Nov-24259,3501,204,960
    Dec-24233,1251,232,060
    Jan-25233,0051,239,865
    Feb-25231,0351,237,225
    Mar-25238,0951,241,320
    Apr-25253,7301,252,910
    May-25262,2401,246,230
    Jun-25268,3851,237,915
    Jul-25272,3251,223,050
    Aug-25272,9101,216,460
    Sep-25273,9301,220,495
    Oct-25272,6001,218,445
    Nov-25269,5651,220,205
    Dec-25230,0851,231,700
    Jan-26225,6151,252,860
    Feb-26226,2801,263,195
    Mar-26232,5801,274,945
    Apr-26246,6301,302,955
    May-26249,5251,307,825
    Jun-26252,3651,299,180
    Jul-26253,8301,305,295
    Aug-26251,8651,298,350

Helping temporary residents stay and contribute long term

Canada’s immigration system is evolving to support long-term economic growth while achieving sustainable immigration levels. That’s why we’re helping more temporary residents (TRs), people who are already working, studying, and contributing to their communities, become permanent residents (PRs).

They are well-integrated, as they usually have a Canadian education, Canadian work experience and strong skills in one or both official languages. Most of them apply for permanent residence through economic programs like Express Entry and the Provincial Nominee Program, which are designed to select people who meet Canada’s labour market and regional priorities.

Former temporary residents who became permanent residents

By building on the contributions of those already here, Canada can continue to attract the best and brightest from around the world, while easing pressures on infrastructure, housing and services.

Period Number of former TRs who became PRs % of total new PRs during the period
2024 215,050 44%
2025 188,790 48%
2026 (Jan-Aug) 153,005 58%

Additional resources

Statistics on temporary workers

Get detailed data on the Open Government Portal

Statistics on international students

Get detailed data on the Open Government Portal

Additional resources

Asylum claimants

Monthly data on asylum claimants at a border crossing, in Canada and RCMP apprehensions between ports of entry

Additional resources

IRCC’s application inventory

Information on how many applications are within or exceeding our service standards, as well as how many we’ve processed

Immigration Levels Plan

Tabled each year, a forward-looking snapshot of immigration targets for the next 3 years

Page details

2026-10-20