Canada’s temporary residents are being reshaped by a sharp fall in new arrivals, even as the number of people holding only a work permit remains above 1.55 million.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada data updated October 20 and covering August 31, 2026, shows that combined student and worker arrivals fell 63 per cent between January and August compared with the same period in 2024.
The decrease represents 326,900 fewer new arrivals, reflecting the federal government’s effort to reduce temporary migration and bring the temporary population below 5 per cent of Canada’s total population by the end of 2027.
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Temporary Residents: Student and worker arrivals fall sharply
Canada recorded 65,240 new student arrivals during the first eight months of 2026, compared with an annual target of 155,000.
Student arrivals were down 71 per cent from the same period in 2024, a reduction of 156,440 people.
August remained the busiest month for new students, with 37,090 study permit holders recorded ahead of the fall academic term.
The number of people holding a study permit in Canada stood at 602,115 on August 31, down from a peak of 1,032,950 in June 2024.
That represents a reduction of roughly 42 per cent from the peak, although IRCC cautions that monthly student figures are affected by seasonal enrolment patterns.
Worker arrivals totalled 130,095 from January through August, putting the country at about 57 per cent of its 2026 target of 230,000.
Compared with the first eight months of 2024, worker arrivals were down 57 per cent, or 170,455 people.
August recorded 16,850 new workers, including 2,770 people under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and 14,080 under the International Mobility Program.
Work permit population remains elevated
The decline in new arrivals has not yet produced a matching fall in the existing work permit population.
IRCC counted 1,550,215 people holding only a work permit at the end of August.
That total included 251,865 Temporary Foreign Worker Program holders and 1,298,350 International Mobility Program participants.
In August 2024, the comparable total was approximately 1.43 million, meaning the work-permit-only population was about 8 per cent higher two years later.
The two figures measure different things.
New-arrival data counts people issued a permit during a particular month, while the population figure includes people whose valid permits were issued earlier.
Extensions, continued employment, delayed departures and processing under rules that existed when applications were filed can all keep the existing population high.
IRCC says the full effect of newer restrictions will take time to appear because applications already in the system continue to be processed.
Permanent residence is increasingly focused on people already in Canada
IRCC admitted 216,600 new permanent residents under the 2026 Immigration Levels Plan between January and August.
The annual target is 380,000, leaving 163,400 admissions for the final four months of the year.
Meeting the target would require an average of about 40,850 admissions per month from September through December, compared with roughly 27,075 per month during the first eight months.
Monthly volumes can vary, so the pace does not by itself determine whether the target will be reached.
The government’s figures also show that two temporary initiatives are operating outside the regular levels-plan target.
The in-Canada workers initiative had produced 15,100 permanent residents by the end of August against a 2026 target of 20,000.
A separate pathway for protected persons and their in-Canada dependants had produced 31,300 permanent residents against a target of 46,000.
Combined, those initiatives had delivered 46,400 additional permanent residents by the end of August.
The shift is also visible in the composition of new permanent residents.
According to the supplied IRCC figures, former temporary residents accounted for 58 per cent of new permanent residents between January and August 2026, compared with 48 per cent in 2025 and 44 per cent in 2024.
That means some people who entered Canada as students or workers are moving into permanent status rather than remaining in the temporary-resident pool or leaving the country.
Asylum claims decline by 68 per cent
Asylum claims also fell considerably during the first eight months of 2026.
IRCC reported 68 per cent fewer people submitting asylum claims than during the same period in 2024.
Claims made at ports of entry fell from 44,000 in January through August 2024 to 9,640 during the comparable period in 2026.
IRCC attributes the broader decline to several measures, including a partial visa requirement for Mexican nationals, the Additional Protocol to the Safe Third Country Agreement, increased scrutiny of temporary resident visa applications and new eligibility measures under Bill C-12.
The legislation known as the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act came into force on March 26, 2026.
Claims from temporary resident visa holders fell to 1,990 in August 2026 from 7,405 in August 2024, a decline of 73 per cent.
Processing volumes remain substantial
Despite the lower intake, IRCC finalized 2,076,745 temporary residence applications between January 1 and August 31, 2026.
Another 365,425 temporary residence applications remained pending at the end of the reporting period.
Family-class processing continued to face capacity pressures, with 167,170 applications still pending and 42 per cent waiting for space under yearly targets.
The protection inventory stood at 291,615 applications, with 43 per cent waiting for space under annual targets.
IRCC also granted citizenship to 217,960 people through August, while 327,125 citizenship grant applications remained pending.
What the numbers mean for newcomers
The latest data points to a two-track immigration system.
New student, worker and asylum volumes are falling as federal restrictions take effect, while permanent residence pathways increasingly prioritize people who are already working, studying or protected in Canada.
However, the existing work permit population will not automatically decline at the same speed as new arrivals.
Its direction will depend on permit expiries, extensions, departures, transitions to permanent residence and the number of applications still being processed under earlier rules.
The federal government is expected to use the August figures as it prepares the next Immigration Levels Plan for 2027 to 2029.
For applicants, the data reinforces the importance of checking the specific rules, deadlines and processing standards for the program involved rather than relying on overall immigration numbers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many new student and worker arrivals did Canada record in 2026?
Canada recorded 65,240 new student arrivals and 130,095 new worker arrivals between January and August 2026.
How many people held only a work permit in Canada at the end of August 2026?
IRCC counted 1,550,215 people holding only a work permit on August 31, 2026.
How many permanent residents had Canada admitted by August 2026?
Canada admitted 216,600 permanent residents under the 2026 Immigration Levels Plan between January and August.
Why is the work permit population still high despite fewer new arrivals?
The population includes people with permits issued earlier, including those who remain in Canada, receive extensions or are waiting for transitions to another status.
Did asylum claims fall in 2026?
Yes. IRCC reported 68 per cent fewer asylum claimants between January and August 2026 than during the same period in 2024.
Fact-Checked: Key figures were checked against IRCC’s official temporary-resident, permanent-residence, asylum and application-processing statistics updated through August 31, 2026.
Disclaimer: Immigration rules and processing outcomes can change, so applicants should confirm requirements directly with IRCC or a qualified immigration professional.