Experts noted that the total number of temporary residents in Canada increased from 2.7 million at the beginning of 2024 to 3.02 million by January 1, 2025. This increase of 291,165 temporary residents is almost three times less than the increase observed during 2023.
So why is the growth of the temporary resident population in Canada slowing?
There are several main reasons:
- Temporary residence levels under the Immigration Plan were set for the first time;
- Increased financial requirements for study permits;
- A moratorium on the processing of Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) for low-paid occupations under the Temporary Foreign Worker Scheme in metropolitan areas where unemployment is 6% or higher;
- Changes to Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility and additional field of study and language requirements for new graduates.
