New international student arrivals to Canada surged 92 percent in July 2026 compared to the previous month, while temporary worker entries declined. This shift comes as the federal government continues its efforts to reduce temporary immigration, aiming to bring temporary residents to less than five percent of Canada’s population by the end of 2027.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada data shows 5,820 new international students arrived in July, up from 3,020 in June. Concurrently, new worker arrivals fell about 24 percent, from 20,295 in June to 15,395 in July. These July figures for both categories remain considerably lower than in previous years.
Between January and July 2026, new student arrivals were down 80 percent compared with the same period in 2024. Worker arrivals saw a 59 percent decrease over the same timeframe. July 2026 student arrivals were about 23 percent lower than July 2025 and 66 percent lower than July 2024. July 2026 worker arrivals were 16 percent lower than July 2025 and 48 percent lower than July 2024.
As of July 31, 2026, approximately 590,205 people held a study permit in Canada, a decrease from a peak of more than 1.032 million in June 2024. The number of people holding only a work permit increased from about 1.48 million in January to 1.56 million in July 2026. In July 2026, Canada welcomed 3,580 workers through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and 11,815 workers through the International Mobility Program.
The federal government has implemented several measures over the last two years to reduce international student numbers. These include a cap on study permits, stricter Post Graduation Work Permit eligibility rules, and higher financial requirements for study permit applicants. Tighter rules for low wage hiring through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, changes to Post Graduation Work Permit eligibility, and restrictions on spousal open work permits could further limit new worker arrivals.
For prospective international students, the 92 percent increase in July is significant, but it follows several months of historically low arrivals. The overall number of students coming to Canada remains much lower than in recent years. Prospective temporary workers saw a noticeable slowdown in July after stronger arrival numbers in the spring and early summer. Canada’s tighter temporary worker rules mean that eligibility will depend heavily on work permit category and circumstances.
For temporary residents already in Canada on a study or work permit who hope to stay permanently, exploring permanent residence options early is advised. A growing share of Canada’s new permanent residents previously held temporary status. However, studying or working in Canada does not guarantee qualification for permanent residence. Between January and July 2026, 127,135 former temporary residents became permanent residents, accounting for 57 percent of all new permanent residents admitted during that period.
Student arrivals are likely to increase again in August and September ahead of the fall term, aligning with seasonal trends. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada historical data shows a clear spike in August for student arrivals. Temporary worker arrivals could remain below the levels seen in recent years through the rest of 2026. IRCC has a target of 155,000 new student arrivals and 230,000 new worker arrivals for 2026. Between January and July 2026, 28,200 new international students and 113,360 new workers arrived. At the current pace, IRCC seems well off track to meeting its 2026 target of 155,000 new student arrivals, even with expected spikes.
July’s numbers show that Canada’s student and worker arrival trends are not moving in the same direction month to month. However, year over year, both student and worker arrivals have declined significantly. This reflects the federal government's ongoing efforts to reduce temporary immigration.