On This Page You Will Find
- How much Statistics Canada revised its non-permanent resident estimate
- Why the April 2026 figure increased by about 240,000
- How permit extensions contributed to the revision
- Why maintained status makes non-permanent residents harder to count
- What the latest numbers show about Canada’s temporary population
Statistics Canada has sharply revised its estimate of the number of non-permanent residents in Canada, adding about 240,000 people to the figure it published just three months ago.
The agency estimated in June that Canada had 2,558,562 non-permanent residents on April 1, 2026. Its newly revised data puts the figure for the same date at 2,798,649.
That represents an increase of 240,087 people, or about 9.4 per cent, compared with the preliminary estimate.
The revision is significant because it changes the picture of how quickly Canada’s non-permanent resident population has been falling following a series of federal measures aimed at reducing temporary immigration.
Statistics Canada said the larger-than-usual revision mainly resulted from more complete information on permit extensions and methodological changes designed to better count people who remain legally in Canada while waiting for an extension decision.
Previous And Revised Canada Non-Permanent Resident Estimates
| Reference date | Previous estimate | Revised estimate | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 1, 2026 | 2,558,562 | 2,798,649 | +240,087 |
| Change | – | – | +9.4% |
Statistics Canada published the original April estimate on June 17. It showed the number of non-permanent residents had fallen by 4.4 per cent during the first quarter of 2026.
The revised figure can be calculated from Statistics Canada’s September data. The agency reported 2,779,774 non-permanent residents on July 1 and said their number had fallen by 18,875 during the second quarter. This puts the revised April 1 estimate at 2,798,649.
Why Did Statistics Canada Revise The Number?
Statistics Canada updates its demographic estimates as more complete information becomes available.
However, the agency described the 2026 changes to its non-permanent resident estimates as larger than usual.
It identified two main reasons.
First, newer Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada administrative data contained substantially more records of permit extensions than the information available when Statistics Canada prepared its preliminary estimates.
Second, Statistics Canada introduced two new adjustments to improve the way it estimates how many permit holders are actually living in Canada.
One adjustment uses Canada Border Services Agency entry and exit data to estimate the proportion of permit holders who leave Canada before their permits expire.
The other addresses a growing challenge involving people who apply to extend their temporary status.
Maintained Status Has Complicated Canada’s NPR Count
A foreign national can in many cases remain legally in Canada after a work or study permit expires if they applied to extend their status before the expiry date.
This is known as maintained status.
Statistics Canada said increases in permit extension applications, combined with the time needed to process them, have made it more important to account accurately for people who remain in Canada while awaiting decisions.
The problem for preliminary population estimates is that the renewed or extended permit may not yet appear in the IRCC administrative data available to Statistics Canada.
This can temporarily make it appear that someone is no longer part of the non-permanent resident population even though they remain legally in Canada.
Statistics Canada has therefore changed its methodology to better anticipate permit extensions that have not yet appeared in the available IRCC data.
Statistics Canada Revised NPR Estimates Back To 2021
The changes do not affect only the April 2026 figure.
Statistics Canada revised its non-permanent resident estimates from July 1, 2021, onwards as part of its September update.
The agency normally updates earlier demographic estimates when it releases its July 1 population figures each September.
However, it specifically described the 2026 revision to NPR estimates as larger than usual because of the additional permit extension records and the two new methodological adjustments.
The revision underlines the difficulty of measuring Canada’s rapidly changing temporary population in real time.
Preliminary figures can change when Statistics Canada receives more complete administrative information, particularly when there is a gap between the expiry of one permit and the issuance of another.
Canada’s NPR Population Is Still Falling
The substantial revision does not mean the broader trend has disappeared.
Statistics Canada estimates Canada had 2,779,774 non-permanent residents on July 1, 2026, representing 6.7 per cent of the total population.
That was down 18,875 from the revised April figure.
It was also 154,614 lower than one year earlier, marking the largest July-to-July decline since comparable records began in 1971/1972.
Canada’s non-permanent resident population reached a revised peak of 2,984,285 on October 1, 2024, when it accounted for 7.2 per cent of the population.
The latest numbers therefore still show a decline from that peak, but the revised data indicates that the temporary population remained significantly larger during early 2026 than previously reported.
International Students Account For A Large Share Of The Decline
The federal government has introduced a series of measures since 2024 designed to slow the growth of temporary immigration.
These have included caps on international student permits, tighter eligibility rules for post-graduation work permits and restrictions affecting temporary foreign workers.
Statistics Canada said the number of study permit holders fell by 140,827 between July 2025 and July 2026.
The number of people holding both work and study permits fell by 81,163 during the same period.
These reductions helped bring the overall number of non-permanent residents down despite the upward revisions to previous estimates.
Why The Revision Matters
The revised figures are important when assessing the impact of Canada’s efforts to reduce its temporary population.
The June estimate suggested there were about 2.56 million non-permanent residents in Canada at the beginning of April.
The revised data shows there were actually closer to 2.8 million.
The difference does not mean 240,000 new temporary residents suddenly arrived in Canada. Instead, Statistics Canada’s improved data and methodology found more people who should already have been included in the estimate.
It means that earlier figures understated the size of the non-permanent resident population at that point in time.
Statistics Canada says its new approach should improve its ability to determine when permit holders have actually left Canada and better account for people awaiting decisions on permit extensions. It also expects the changes to reduce the size of similar revisions in future, provided current trends continue.
Who Does Statistics Canada Count As A Non-Permanent Resident?
Statistics Canada’s definition of a non-permanent resident goes beyond international students and temporary foreign workers.
It includes people from another country whose usual residence is in Canada and who hold a work or study permit. It also includes asylum claimants, protected persons and related groups.
Certain family members living with work or study permit holders can also be included.
Statistics Canada warns that its non-permanent resident estimates should not be directly compared with IRCC figures for temporary residents and asylum claimants because the organizations collect and use their data for different purposes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many non-permanent residents were in Canada on April 1, 2026?
Statistics Canada originally estimated that 2,558,562 non-permanent residents were living in Canada on April 1, 2026. Revised figures put the total at 2,798,649 – an increase of 240,087, or about 9.4 per cent, from the preliminary estimate.
Why did Statistics Canada revise its non-permanent resident numbers?
Statistics Canada received more complete IRCC information showing substantially more permit extensions. It also introduced new adjustments using CBSA entry and exit information and a method designed to better estimate people who remain legally in Canada on maintained status while their permit extension applications are processed.
What is maintained status in Canada?
Maintained status can allow temporary residents who apply to extend their status before it expires to remain legally in Canada while IRCC processes the application. This can complicate population estimates because the new permit may not yet appear in the administrative data available to Statistics Canada.
Is Canada’s non-permanent resident population still falling?
Yes. Statistics Canada estimates there were 2,779,774 non-permanent residents in Canada on July 1, 2026, down 154,614 from a year earlier. The revised figures show that the decline is continuing, but from a larger temporary population than some earlier preliminary estimates indicated.
Who counts as a non-permanent resident in Canada?
Statistics Canada counts people from other countries whose usual residence is in Canada and who hold work or study permits, as well as asylum claimants, protected persons and related groups. Some family members of work and study permit holders are also included in the estimates.