Canada saw a 53 per cent drop in admissions of new international students and temporary foreign workers last year, with more than 2.1 million migrants with valid study and work permit holders in the country, according to new data.

That number did not include the estimated 505,000 refugee claimants, protected persons and other out-of-status migrants, who resided in Canada as of December, although there were 34 per cent fewer new asylum seekers reported than a year ago. 

In total, there were about 2,660,000 temporary residents in the country, accounting for 6.4 per cent of the overall population, which was still far above the five per cent target that Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government has vowed to reach by the end of 2027.

According to the Immigration Department data released Tuesday, Canada saw an estimated 361,935 fewer arrivals of new students and temporary foreign workers compared to 2024. The number of students fell by 61 per cent to 115,470, while the number of foreign workers decreased by 47 per cent to 153,880.

As of Dec. 31, 461,565 people had a study permit, 1,463,805 had a work permit and 229,650 held both documents.

“This downward trend reflects our commitment to a well-managed and sustainable immigration system,” the department said in its year-end updates.

In the last two years, the Liberal government has capped the number of new study permits issued and tightened up the rules on work permits in the wake of a public outcry against high immigration intakes, which have been blamed for the lack of affordable housing and straining public resources such as health care.

The latest data also showed the number of new asylum claims submitted dropped significantly to 113,090 in 2025 from 171,830 in 2024. Officials attributed the decline to the new visa requirement for Mexican travellers, tightened border enforcement against irregular migrants and heightened scrutiny of visa applications.

“Canada is regaining control of its immigration system to restore balance and sustainability, while continuing to uphold its humanitarian commitments,” said the Immigration Department.

“Our approach puts immigration on a responsible path that allows Canada to meet the needs of communities and fulfil its promise of offering opportunities to those who see this country as their home.”

Source: The Toronto Star