Canada has experienced a decline in the number of study and work permit holders for the first time in years, reflecting the impact of tightening immigration regulations on temporary residents. Between 2024 and 2025, there was a net decrease of 14,954 temporary residents in the country, with the largest reductions observed in major metropolitan areas. This shift marks a significant change in immigration policy compared to previous years when Canada saw an increase of 781,075 non-permanent residents before the implementation of stricter regulations.

The majority of the decrease in temporary residents over the past two years occurred in Canada’s largest metropolitan areas, with a net decrease of 20,611 temporary residents. While Ontario, British Columbia, and Manitoba experienced significant losses, Quebec and Alberta saw gains. In contrast, smaller population centers in Canada saw a slight increase of 3,524 temporary residents.

It is important to note that these figures represent the total number of temporary residents and do not reflect the rate of new arrivals, which has been declining since 2024. Temporary resident levels are expected to lag behind new arrival trends as individuals already in Canada with existing study and work permits will only feel the impact of stricter regulations when renewing or extending their status.

Additionally, a total of 120,016 people emigrated from Canada between 2024 and 2025.

Regions with the Largest Departures of Temporary Residents

The table below highlights the major net decreases in temporary residents by Census Metropolitan Area (CMA):

CMA	Net non-permanent residents
Toronto, ON	-44,792
Vancouver, BC	-10,098
Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo, ON	-7,365
London, ON	-1,777
Hamilton, ON	-1,695
Winnipeg, MB	-1,559
Victoria, BC	-1,222
Brantford, ON	-793
Halifax, NS	-788
Québec, QC	-757

Notably, Toronto experienced the largest decrease in temporary residents among CMAs.