| Category | Change vs. June 2024 |
|---|---|
| International students arriving | Down 73% |
| Temporary workers arriving | Down 44% |
| Asylum claims (Jan–June 2026 vs. Jan–June 2024) | Down 68% |
| Permanent resident targets | On track across all categories |
Canada's immigration numbers have dropped sharply in 2026. IRCC released new data this week showing that student arrivals are down 73%, worker arrivals are down 44%, and asylum claims for the first half of this year are down 68%, all compared to the same periods in 2024.
These are not minor dips. They represent some of the biggest single-year contractions in temporary immigration Canada has ever recorded. If you are an international student, a temporary foreign worker, or someone thinking about coming to Canada, this data directly affects what the pathway looks like for you right now.
The government says these drops are intentional. IRCC framed the release as evidence of progress toward restoring immigration to what it calls "sustainable levels." At the same time, permanent resident targets remain on track across all categories, which means the door to permanent residency has not closed. It has just gotten narrower on the temporary side.
Students: A 73% Drop Is Not a Rounding Error
The student number is the most striking figure in the release. Arrivals of international students in June 2026 are down 73% compared to June 2024. That is not a policy wobble. That is a deliberate policy wall.
The cap on new study permit approvals that IRCC introduced in 2024 has had real downstream effects. Fewer approvals in 2024 and 2025 mean fewer students physically arriving in 2026. If your study permit application is still pending, or if you are planning to apply, you are operating in a very different environment than the one that existed two years ago. Processing times, approval rates, and institutional allocations have all shifted. Check the IRCC processing times page before assuming your timeline from a friend who arrived in 2023 still applies.
Consider someone like Priya, an engineering student from India whose study permit was approved in early 2026 under her designated learning institution's reduced allocation. She made it in. But her classmates who applied three months later are still waiting, and their applications sit in a much smaller approval pool than existed when she applied. Same program, same grades. Different year, different odds.
The drop also has consequences for students already in Canada. If you are looking at a post-graduation work permit or a pathway to permanent residence through the Canadian Experience Class, the pipeline behind you is thinner. That changes how employers perceive the supply of international graduates going forward.
Workers: 44% Fewer Arrivals and What That Means
Temporary foreign worker arrivals are down 44% compared to June 2024. This affects the full range of work permit categories, from the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to the International Mobility Program. Canada tightened Labour Market Impact Assessment requirements, reduced low-wage stream caps in high-unemployment regions, and let some sector-specific agreements expire without renewal.
If you are currently in Canada on a work permit, your immediate status is not affected by this data. But if your permit is expiring and you are applying for renewal or a new employer-specific permit, expect tighter scrutiny and longer processing times. The volume of new approvals has shrunk, which means IRCC officers are applying the same rules more strictly to a smaller pool of applications.
Employers who relied heavily on temporary foreign workers are feeling this too. That matters to you if you are job hunting, because companies that used to hire internationally are now competing harder for the smaller pool of foreign workers who do arrive. In some sectors, that shifts negotiating power toward workers. In others, employers have simply pivoted to domestic hiring and reduced their international recruitment altogether.
For anyone on an open work permit, the data is a reminder that the open work permit programs, particularly those tied to spousal sponsorship or post-graduation, remain among the more stable pathways. IRCC has not signalled cuts to those specific streams in this release.
Asylum Claims Down 68%: What Changed
Asylum claims made from January to June 2026 are down 68% compared to the same period in 2024. That is a dramatic fall in a short time. Several policy changes contributed: Canada and the United States expanded the Safe Third Country Agreement in 2023 to cover the entire land border, which cut irregular crossings sharply. IRCC also accelerated removals and tightened eligibility screening at ports of entry.
If you are in Canada and have an active asylum claim, your file is still processed through the Immigration and Refugee Board. The drop in new claims does not speed up or slow down your existing case. But it does mean the IRB's incoming backlog is growing more slowly, which could eventually reduce wait times for hearings. For now, the IRCC website remains the primary source for claim status updates.
The 68% drop also reflects stricter enforcement at the border. If you are outside Canada and considering making an asylum claim, the legal entry points and eligibility rules have changed significantly since 2024. Get legal advice before you act.
Permanent Residence: Still On Track
Amid all the reductions on the temporary side, one number holds steady. IRCC says Canada is on track to meet its annual targets in all permanent resident categories as of June 2026. That matters. It means the government is not pulling back on permanent immigration. It is pulling back on temporary immigration specifically.
This distinction is important for anyone planning a long-term path to Canadian permanent residence. Express Entry draws are continuing. Provincial Nominee Programs are still issuing invitations. Family sponsorship is processing. The policy shift is about volume and composition, not about closing off PR entirely.
If you are currently a temporary resident with the right profile, your path to PR is still open. In fact, with fewer temporary residents in the pool, competition in some Express Entry categories may look different than it did a year ago. Visit the IRCC immigration services page to review current program requirements before your next step.
IRCC has also published updated information on immigration application inventories and processing data alongside this release. If you have an application in process, check the IRCC help centre for the latest inventory figures for your specific category.
The broader picture from this data is a Canada that is actively managing the size and shape of its immigration flows in a way it was not doing two years ago. Temporary pathways are tighter. Permanent pathways remain open. If your goal is to live and work in Canada long-term, the strategy has to reflect the new reality: prioritize permanent residence where you qualify, and treat temporary status as a shorter bridge than it used to be.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources: Government of Canada (canada.ca), IRCC Help Centre. Last verified: August 21, 2026. This article is general information, not legal advice. Consult IRCC or a qualified legal aid service for guidance on your specific situation.
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