Canada says international student arrivals down 60%, foreign workers halve under immigration reset

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said new international student arrivals have fallen by about 60% and temporary foreign worker arrivals by half, as his government presses ahead with a tighter immigration policy aimed at reducing the country's temporary resident population.

Speaking about the government's immigration overhaul, Carney said asylum claims were also down by a third.

"Foreign workers' arrivals are down by half, and international student arrivals are down by 60%. We can now carefully rebuild

a sustainable immigration system consistent with Canadian values," he said.

The changes are being closely watched in India; Canada has long been one of the preferred overseas education destinations for Indian students because of its post-study work opportunities and pathways to permanent residency.

However, Ottawa has steadily tightened its intake over the past two years, cutting study permit targets and introducing stricter eligibility rules. Last year, Canada rejected about 74% of Indian study permit applications in August 2025, compared with roughly 32% in August 2023, Reuters reported.

According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the number of new study permit holders and work permit holders arriving in Canada has declined sharply following a series of restrictions introduced since 2024, including caps on international student permits and tighter rules for temporary foreign workers.

Official data shows new study permit arrivals fell 84% in the first four months of 2026 compared with the same period in 2024. These tougher measures on immigration, the government said, are intended to ease pressure on housing, healthcare, and other public services.