Canada’s Student and Temporary Worker Arrivals Plummet: 75% Drop in New International Students, 71% Drop in Workers – Full 2026 Data Analysis
New data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reveals that Canada’s temporary resident arrivals have collapsed. In February 2026, new international student arrivals were down 75% and new worker arrivals down 71% compared to early 2024. The government’s cap on study permits and restrictions on work permits are driving the steep decline, with the goal of reducing the temporary population to under 5% of Canada’s total population by 2027.