Canada Dramatically Reduces the Number of Foreigners It Accepts Into the Country

Canada Drastically Cuts Immigration

International Students Down 70%

Carney Tightens Immigration Policy

According to EFE, in the first half of 2025, Canada drastically reduced the admission of international students, temporary foreign workers, and permanent residents.

The decision is part of the new immigration policy promoted by the Government to control population growth.

According to official data from the Ministry of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, the number of permanent residents accepted fell by 19% in the first six months of the year.

In total, 207,650 people obtained permanent residency during that period.

Fewer Temporary Workers and International Students

Canada dramatically reduced the number of foreigners it accepted into the country in the first half of 2025. https://t.co/WiBZwpXcKt

— EFE Noticias (@EFEnoticias) September 4, 2025

The decline also affected temporary foreign workers, who dropped by 3.8%, totaling 105,195.

But the sharpest drop was in the category of international students, one of the pillars of Canada’s recent immigration trends.

Between January and June, only 36,417 international students were admitted.

This figure represents a 70% plunge compared to the same period in 2024.

Sharp Decline in Study Applications

Canada Drastically Cuts Immigration – PHOTO: EFE

The impact is significant, considering that in previous years Canada had been one of the most popular educational destinations in the world.

The data also show a steady decline in the number of study applications.

In the first half of 2025, 302,795 applications were filed.

In 2024 there had been 398,675, and in 2023, 575,535.

Canada Cuts Immigration in 2025 Due to Domestic Pressure

Canada reduces immigration PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

The trend reflects both the enforcement of new measures and the effect of a more restrictive policy on access to academic programs.

The Government justifies the cuts as necessary to respond to domestic problems.

Canada has faced a housing shortage for years, growing pressure on its social programs, and challenges in infrastructure.

Until 2023, the country had the highest demographic growth in the G7, with a 2.7% annual increase.

Migration Boom Over the Last Decade

That growth was driven mainly by the massive arrival of immigrants.

In 2015, Canada received about 300,000 immigrants.

By 2022, the figure had risen to 431,645, and in 2023 reached 465,000.

In 2024, the number hit a record 485,000 new permanent residents.

Impact of Students and Foreign Workers

To these figures were added more than 682,000 international students arriving in Canada in 2023.

There was also nearly one million temporary foreign workers that same year.

Then–Prime Minister Justin Trudeau admitted at the beginning of 2024 that the country could not absorb such numbers.

Trudeau explained that housing capacity and basic services were at their limit.

Trudeau in Political Decline

The share of temporary foreign workers relative to the national population rose from 2% in 2017 to 7.5% in 2024.

That accelerated growth increased social and political pressure on his government.

The drop in popularity led Trudeau to resign at the beginning of 2025.

He was replaced by Mark Carney, who is maintaining the strategy of drastically reducing immigration.

Canada Promises More Immigration Cuts

On Wednesday, Carney reaffirmed his commitment to reduce the proportion of temporary foreign workers.

They currently represent 7% of the population, and the goal is to bring it down to 5% in the coming years.

The restrictive measures also extend to the asylum system.

In June, the Government announced reforms to tighten the admissibility of asylum applications in Canada.

Tightening of the Asylum System

The change will increase the number of petitions rejected in the initial stages.

This will affect thousands of migrants each year who seek international protection in Canada.

The new Government’s immigration policy marks a shift from the previous era.

For nearly a decade, Canada was considered a leading country in welcoming migrants.