Between January and March, Canada admitted 83,130 new permanent residents, down from 104,320 during the same period in 2025. Study permits also dropped by 24 per cent, while asylum claims fell 35 per cent.
Association for Canadian Studies president Jack Jedwab said the decline reflects a planned shift in Canada’s immigration policy rather than a temporary slowdown.
Nearly half of the drop in permanent residents came from India. The number of Indian citizens granted permanent residence fell from 31,690 to 21,565, accounting for almost 48 per cent of the national decline. Study permits for Indian students also dropped 42 per cent.
Other countries also saw fewer newcomers. Permanent resident admissions from the Philippines fell 13 per cent, while China saw a 25 per cent decline.
Ontario and British Columbia experienced the largest decreases in new permanent residents, while Quebec recorded a 12 per cent increase.
The federal government’s tighter immigration rules have also reduced asylum claims. Jedwab said stricter visa screening, stronger border controls and new eligibility rules have made it harder for people to file asylum claims in Canada.
He said the lower immigration levels are expected to slow population growth and reduce pressure on housing, transportation and public services, but they could also slow economic growth over time.
