Canada has significantly cut the number of new international students, according to a new report from the federal government.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) released new data for September 2025, including an update to its international students and temporary worker numbers.
“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,” reads the report. “This downward trend reflects our commitment to a well-managed and sustainable immigration system.”
IRCC
According to the data, the number of new students and worker arrivals to Canada dropped by 53 per cent between January and September 2025, compared to the same period in 2024, down 308,880.
Broken down, Canada saw 60 per cent fewer new international students arrive between January and September 2025 compared to the same period last year. That’s a 150,220 drop in arrivals.
There were 11,390 new student arrivals in Canada in September this year. According to the IRCC, that’s a drop of about 17,500 international students compared to September 2024.
IRCC
This decline is a part of the Government of Canada’s immigration level plans, which include reducing the number of international students and temporary workers coming to Canada in an attempt to help ease pressures on housing, infrastructure, and services.
“We have committed to returning immigration to sustainable levels, including reducing Canada’s temporary population to less than 5 per cent,” reads the report.
Ottawa has implemented several measures to reach this goal, including an annual cap on international student study permits, more comprehensive reviews of acceptance letters and raising the financial requirements.
As part of the Liberal government’s 2025 federal budget, Canada also pledged to cut permits for international students in half.
Last year, the government had planned to issue 305,900 student permits in 2026 and 305,900 in 2027. However, projected numbers will see those drop by more than half, with the government planning to reduce the number of student permits issued to 155,000 in 2026 and 150,000 in 2027.
The number of temporary workers who arrived in Canada between January and September 2025 decreased by 48 per cent (down 158,660) compared to the same time last year.
IRCC
“As Canada’s economy evolves, it’s important that we focus on providing job opportunities to those who are already in Canada, including newcomers,” reads the new data.
There were 17,515 new worker arrivals in Canada in September 2025, which the IRCC says is a 12,100 decline compared to last year.
Canada implemented policies, including a cap on temporary foreign workers (TFWs), tightening work permit eligibility for spouses of international students and TFWs, and accelerated permanent residence for select temporary skilled workers.