Recent data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has revealed a looming “permit cliff” as more than 1.8 million temporary residents in the country are set to lose their status in 2026.
This wave of expirations follows a record-breaking surge in temporary arrivals over the last three years.
For many international students and foreign workers, the challenge of maintaining their Canada immigration status in 2026 has become a race against time, as the federal government shifts from a policy of rapid expansion to one of strict stabilization and reduction.
The 1.8 million figure represents a mix of work permits, study permits, and visitor records that are scheduled to lapse by December 31, 2026.
While some residents will successfully transition to permanent residency, thousands of others may find themselves without a legal pathway to remain in the country.
Over 265,000 study permits will expire this year, with many students ineligible for the previously common “automatic” extensions.
Roughly 1.4 million work permits, including Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWP) and Spousal Open Work Permits, are set to lapse.
The development is heightening uncertainty for international students, foreign workers, and visitors who had hoped to transition to permanent residency.
Temporary residents are individuals legally allowed to stay in Canada for a fixed period for study, employment, or short-term visits, making them a key part of Canada’s labour and education ecosystem.
Immigration lawyer Mario Bellissimo said that 1.8 million temporary residents are set to lose their status because of a backlog built over several years, driven by surges in international student admissions and work permits.
“The scale of expiring permits is not unexpected,” Bellissimo said, noting a “runaway inventory” of temporary residents accumulated in recent years.
He added that Canada’s permanent residency intake is tightening, with the federal government planning to admit 380,000 permanent residents in 2026, nearly 15,000 fewer than last year.
“Many temporary residents now feel the rules have shifted,” Bellissimo said. “Individuals who believed they would eventually be allowed to remain in Canada now feel the understanding they had with the government has changed, creating frustration and uncertainty.”
The reduced intake has dampened expectations for those hoping for a clear path to citizenship, leaving many in limbo.
Enforcement is also increasing. The Canada Border Services Agency reported over 22,000 removals in 2025, with nearly 30,000 cases still pending as of October.
Despite tightening measures, more than 177,000 former temporary residents became permanent residents between January and November 2025.
New international student and temporary worker arrivals fell by 53% between January and September 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, part of Canada’s strategy to reduce pressures on housing, infrastructure, and services.
The expiration of millions of temporary permits highlights the challenges facing Canada’s immigration system as it balances economic needs with sustainable migration management.
Ontario has emerged as a hotspot of tension, with temporary residents affected by rejections under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) staging protests.
In 2025, the federal government cut Ontario’s nomination allocation by half, citing compliance and fraud concerns claims strongly disputed by applicants.
