International Students in Canada 2026: Arrivals Down 82% From 2024 Levels

Canada recorded 22,405 new international student arrivals from January through June 2026, according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada data updated through June 30. Using IRCC’s monthly figures, that is about 82% lower than the same six-month period in 2024, when 124,930 new study permit holders arrived.

The decline is significant, but the numbers need context. They do not mean that Canada has stopped accepting international students, and they should not be confused with the total number of study permits Canada expects to issue in 2026. The federal government has separate measures for new arrivals, permit issuance, extensions and the total number of study permit holders already in Canada.

Latest 2026 Student Numbers

How much have student arrivals fallen?

IRCC’s monthly data show the following totals for the first six months of each year:

The 82% figure is calculated from IRCC’s published monthly arrival numbers. It compares the same January-to-June period rather than comparing a full year with a partial year.

Monthly student arrivals in 2026

IRCC notes that student arrivals are seasonal. Canada often sees increases before the beginning of academic terms, particularly ahead of the fall semester. For that reason, the first-half total should not be treated as a final forecast for the entire 2026 calendar year.

Why are the numbers lower?

IRCC says the federal government is reducing the number of international students and temporary workers entering Canada as part of a broader effort to reduce the temporary population. The department has also changed several parts of the International Student Program since the study-permit cap was introduced in 2024.

Measures cited by IRCC include annual limits on study permits, stronger verification of letters of acceptance and higher financial requirements. Other changes have affected post-graduation work permit eligibility and some family work-permit rules. These policies do not all operate in exactly the same way, but together they have changed the environment in which schools recruit and students apply.

The 155,000 target is not the same as the 408,000 permit figure

This is one of the easiest parts of the 2026 system to misunderstand.

Canada’s 2026 plan includes a target of 155,000 newly arriving international students. Separately, IRCC said it expects to issue up to 408,000 study permits in 2026. That larger figure includes both new arrivals and permits for people already in Canada, including extensions.

In the November 2025 allocation notice, IRCC explained the 408,000 issuance target as 155,000 permits for newly arriving international students plus 253,000 extensions for current and returning students.

So a headline saying “Canada has 408,000 new international student places in 2026” would be inaccurate. People following international student updates should distinguish between new arrivals, study-permit applications accepted for processing, permits issued and extensions.

What does the 2026 cap look like?

IRCC’s national issuance target is divided among different student cohorts. The government expects up to:

• 49,000 permits for master’s and doctoral students at public designated learning institutions who are PAL/TAL-exempt;
• 115,000 permits for primary and secondary school students who are PAL/TAL-exempt;
• 64,000 permits for other PAL/TAL-exempt applicants; and
• 180,000 permits for applicants who require a provincial or territorial attestation letter.

These figures add up to the national target of 408,000 study permit issuances. The number of applications IRCC accepts for processing can be higher than the issuance target because not every application is approved.

Master’s and doctoral students have a different PAL/TAL position in 2026

As of January 1, 2026, master’s and doctoral students enrolling at a public designated learning institution do not need to submit a provincial or territorial attestation letter with their study permit application. IRCC said this exemption is intended to support efforts to attract high-level talent.

That does not remove the rest of the study-permit requirements. Graduate applicants still need to meet the requirements that apply to their situation and their chosen institution. Students should confirm admission requirements directly with the institution and current immigration requirements with IRCC.

For broader planning information, see Canadanship’s Study in Canada coverage and scholarship updates.

How many study permit holders are currently in Canada?

IRCC reports 632,535 people holding a study permit in Canada as of June 30, 2026. The department’s historical data show that this total has fallen from the much higher levels recorded in early 2024.

This measure is different again from “new arrivals.” It is a stock measure: how many people hold a study permit at a point in time. Someone who arrived in a previous year can still be included, while a newly approved applicant who has not yet arrived is not the same thing as a new arrival counted at the border.

What the data means for students considering Canada

The lower national numbers mean Canada is operating a tighter international-student system than it did during the 2023-2024 peak. Applicants should therefore pay close attention to whether their program and institution fit current study-permit rules, whether a PAL/TAL is required, and whether they have enough time to complete both admission and immigration steps.

Students should also avoid assuming that lower arrivals automatically mean admission is easier. University and college admissions are separate from IRCC study-permit decisions, and program capacity, academic standards and institutional deadlines still apply.

What the data does not tell us

• It does not show that Canada has stopped issuing study permits.
• It does not mean every province has the same number of available spaces.
• It does not tell an individual applicant whether they will be approved.
• It does not mean 408,000 new students will arrive in 2026.
• It does not remove institution-specific academic or language requirements.

What applicants should check before applying

Prospective students should verify the status of their designated learning institution, admission requirements, tuition and funding, PAL/TAL requirements where applicable, proof-of-funds requirements and the immigration documents required for their particular situation. Rules can differ by level of study and can change during an application cycle.

Students looking for funding can follow Canadian scholarship opportunities, while current immigration-rule updates are organized in the International Students section.

What to watch during the rest of 2026

The next major data point will be the effect of the summer and fall intake. IRCC itself notes that study-permit arrivals often increase before a new academic term, especially in August. That means the full-year total may rise sharply from the June level even while remaining within the government’s annual target.

It will also be important to watch how the PAL/TAL allocations are used across provinces and whether any further changes are made to the International Student Program.

Official sources

Data checked on August 25, 2026. IRCC states that its operational data is approximate and subject to change.