Canada's population of international students holding only a study permit has dropped sharply over the past two years, signalling a clear structural shift in federal immigration policy. According to the latest data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the number of study-permit-only holders fell from 673,920 in December 2023 to 460,695 in January 2026, a net reduction of more than 210,000 people, or over 30 percent. The decline became visible from mid-2024, accelerated sharply between March and July 2025, and has remained consistently below 500,000 since late 2025. Analysts broadly attribute the drop to Ottawa's systematic effort to cap international student volumes — a policy first introduced under Justin Trudeau's government in January 2024 and since extended and tightened under Prime Minister Mark Carney, whose 2025 budget slashed the 2026 new study permit allocation from 305,900 to 155,000 (a 49 percent cut), alongside stricter eligibility rules, tougher scrutiny of designated learning institutions (DLIs) and explicit links between intake and housing and labour market capacity. Observers say this is not a short-term correction but a structural turning point that will reshape tuition revenues at Canadian post-secondary institutions, the future pool of permanent resident candidates and housing demand in major cities.

On April 15, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held its fourth Express Entry draw of the year targeting candidates with French-language proficiency, issuing 4,000 invitations to apply (ITAs) with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off of 419 for candidates who had created their Express Entry profiles before 7:14 a.m. UTC on November 14, 2025; this was the second consecutive French-category draw with a reduced invitation count, and the twenty-third overall Express Entry draw of 2026, reinforcing the broader trend of IRCC prioritizing in-Canada candidates—particularly those holding provincial nominations or Canadian work experience—while year-to-date invitations across all categories have now reached 65,154.

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) conducted four targeted draws on April 8, 2026, issuing a total of 1,828 invitations to apply (ITAs) across four categories: healthcare and early childhood education, Francophone candidates, the Regional Economic Development through Immigration (REDI) pilot, and physicians. The healthcare and early childhood education draw dominated with 1,635 invitations — nearly 90% of the total — while the Foreign Worker stream minimum score dropped to just 20, down sharply from 36 in the February 2 healthcare draw, signaling Ontario's intensified push to fill critical staffing gaps in these sectors. This marked the province's sixth set of draws in 2026, with all targeted candidates required to hold a valid work or study permit and currently reside in Canada. Notably, these draws come as Ontario prepares for a sweeping overhaul of its immigration system, with legal amendments to the Ontario Immigration Act set to take effect on May 30, 2026, revoking all existing nomination categories — including the Foreign Worker, International Student, and In-Demand Skills streams used in these draws.

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) has set a concrete annual target for its Foreign Credential Recognition (FCR) Program in its 2026-27 Departmental Plan: 58 funding agreements expected to benefit approximately 32,000 internationally trained professionals (ITPs) seeking to work in their fields in Canada. Alongside this target, the federal government has formally committed $97 million CAD over five years, beginning in 2026-27, to establish the FCR Action Fund — a dedicated funding stream designed to work with provinces and territories to improve the fairness, transparency, timeliness, and consistency of credential recognition processes, with a particular focus on the healthcare and construction sectors. These developments signal a shift in Ottawa's approach from project-level funding toward systemic reform of Canada's credential recognition framework.

On March 25, 2026, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) held five targeted invitation rounds, issuing a total of 1,112 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates currently in Canada who hold valid work or study permits and have qualifying job offers from eligible employers. The invitations covered the Foreign Worker, International Student, and In-Demand Skills categories under the Employer Job Offer streams, across the Greater Toronto Area, Southwestern Ontario, Central Ontario (excluding the GTA), Eastern Ontario, and Northern Ontario. At the same time, Ontario is moving ahead with a major restructuring of its provincial nomination system, with several existing categories expected to be repealed on May 30, 2026, when legislative changes come into force and new consolidated streams are introduced.

Canada welcomed 393,750 new permanent residents in 2025, down from 483,655 in 2024 and 471,820 in 2023, indicating that federal immigration policy has moved away from the high-growth post-pandemic phase toward a period more focused on sustainability and system capacity. Under the government’s existing plan, the 2025 total came very close to the annual target of 395,000. Looking ahead, Canada also plans to stabilize permanent resident targets at 380,000 per year from 2026 to 2028. At the same time, compared with the moderate reduction in permanent immigration, temporary resident numbers are set to decline more sharply, reflecting Ottawa’s attempt to strike a new balance among labour market needs, housing pressures, pressure on public services, and the pace of population growth.

On March 18, 2026, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) conducted its third round of invitations of the year and completed six targeted draws on the same day, issuing a total of 1,243 Invitations to Apply (ITAs). Among them, 1,107 ITAs were issued through the Master’s Graduate and PhD Graduate streams, marking the first invitations under these two streams since September 17, 2024. The draws mainly targeted international student graduates and foreign workers with Canadian work experience in specific National Occupational Classification (NOC) occupations. At the same time, Ontario also issued 136 ITAs through its Employer Job Offer streams. These invitations came as the province moves ahead with a major restructuring of its immigration system, with several current categories scheduled to be revoked on May 30, 2026, and replaced by a new framework.

On March 18, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 4,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence through the Express Entry system to candidates with French-language proficiency. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required in this round was 393, dropping below the 400-point threshold and marking a notable development in recent French-language category-based draws. This selection was not only the 17th Express Entry draw of 2026, but also the third consecutive day of invitations this week, and the third draw this year targeting candidates with French-language ability. Although only three French-language draws have been held in 2026 so far, the category has already received 18,000 ITAs, ranking second among all draw types after the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

The Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP) officially opened its Employer-Driven and Francophone Streams on March 9, 2026. The Employer-Driven Stream has transitioned to an Expression of Interest (EOI) selection model, with its inaugural draw scheduled for March 25, when up to 65 eligible candidates will be invited to submit full applications. The Francophone Stream will continue accepting direct applications on a first-come, first-served basis. For the 2026 cycle, the federal government has allocated 197 nomination spaces to the Northwest Territories.

On March 4, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted the 13th Express Entry draw of the year, issuing 5,500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates with French-language proficiency. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off score was set at 397, marking the lowest threshold for this category in more than a year. This was also only the second French-language category-based draw of 2026. Year-to-date, French-language category candidates have received a cumulative total of 14,000 invitations, ranking second among all programs and categories. Meanwhile, the overall trend in Express Entry draws throughout 2026 suggests that IRCC is prioritizing immigration candidates already residing in Canada, particularly those with provincial nominations and Canadian work experience.