A statistical release analysed by ImmigCanada reveals Canada welcomed roughly 225,000 fewer temporary residents between January and May 2026 than during the same period in 2024—a drop of nearly 70 %. International student arrivals fell 83 %, while Temporary Foreign Worker Program arrivals declined 63 %. The contraction follows a series of policy measures: a national study-permit cap, tougher financial-proof rules, narrower Post-Graduation Work Permit eligibility and stricter wage thresholds for LMIA streams. Ottawa’s 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan explicitly aims to bring the stock of temporary residents below 5 % of Canada’s population by 2027, citing pressure on housing and services. While inflows are slowing, IRCC continues to transition large numbers of existing permit-holders to permanent residence. Former temporary residents accounted for 57 % of all new PR admissions in the first five months of 2026—up from 44 % two years earlier—through Express Entry and provincial nominee programmes. For employers, the numbers signal a tighter pool of new foreign talent and greater competition for study-permit and work-permit quotas. Companies may need to pivot toward recruiting workers already in Canada and support their PR applications to retain skills. Mobility budgets should also factor in higher government-fee outlays and longer lead times as demand exceeds reduced intake caps.
Source: ImmigCanada
