New data from the government show a decline in both the number of international student arrivals and the overall international student population, when compared to the same period last year.

In August 2025, there were 45,380 new student arrivals to Canada, compared to 79,795 new student arrivals in August 2024.

That is a decline of 43.1%.

In this article, “arrivals” refers to the issuance of new study or work permits.

When comparing year-over-year, there have been 132,505 fewer new student arrivals between January and August 2025, as compared to the same period in 2024.

The decrease in arrivals comes after a series of policy changes made by the government with the intention of reducing Canada’s temporary resident levels to below 5% of Canada’s overall population.

Continued decline of temporary resident levels in 2025

International student arrivals

From January to August 2025, there were 89,430 new student arrivals in Canada.

According to the government, this is a decrease of 132,505 new student arrivals, as compared to the same period in 2024.

In last year’s Immigration Levels Plan, the government announced a target of 305,900 for new international student arrivals in 2025.

The number of new student arrivals through to August 2025 is only 29.24% of the target for the year.

The government would have to issue 216,470 study permits in the remaining months of 2025 to meet its midpoint target for new student arrivals outlined in last year’s Immigration Levels Plan.

New worker arrivals

In August 2025, Canada recorded 16,890 new temporary foreign worker arrivals.

This figure is slightly lower than the previous month’s total of 18,450.

Year over year, the drop is much more pronounced. From June through August 2025, the total number of new worker arrivals in Canada was 59,365.

This is a 35% decrease from the same period last year, during which there were 91,695 new worker arrivals.

In total

From January to August 31, there were 243,945 student and temporary worker arrivals in Canada.

This 278,900 fewer arrivals than the same period last year.

In last year’s Immigration Levels Plan, the government announced a target for overall temporary resident arrivals in 2025 of 673,650.

The department would have to issue 429,705 new permits in the remainder of 2025 to meet its midpoint target.

Current temporary level populations

People who only hold a study permit

From August 2024 to August 2025, the international student population in Canada fell by 26%.