End-of-year data compiled by the Canada Border Services Agency reveal that 18,969 foreign nationals were removed from Canada in 2025—the highest annual total since record-keeping began in 1950. The figures, published December 19, follow Ottawa’s decision to tighten study-permit and temporary-worker caps and mark the first time removals have climbed above 18,000 in two decades.
Deportation orders—permanent bans that require special authorisation to re-enter—made up nearly half of the removals, rising 30 percent year-over-year. Exclusion and departure orders accounted for the remainder. Quebec and the Greater Toronto Area saw the largest absolute numbers, reflecting their concentration of asylum seekers and temporary residents.
CBSA officials attribute the surge to stepped-up enforcement against visa overstays, criminal inadmissibility and misrepresentation. They also point to liaison-officer interventions overseas that prevented almost 6,000 improperly documented travellers from boarding flights to Canada.
![CBSA reports record 19,000 deportations in 2025 amid stricter visa controls]()
Whether you’re an international student, temporary worker, or an employer trying to keep your staff compliant, VisaHQ can streamline the paperwork and minimise the risk of costly mistakes. Its platform (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) offers real-time eligibility checks, step-by-step application support, and professional review services that help applicants secure the right documentation before travelling to—or remaining in—Canada.
The crackdown coincides with Statistics Canada data showing the steepest quarterly population drop since World War II, largely driven by a decline in international students and other non-permanent residents. Economists note that lower population growth is easing rental-housing pressure but could exacerbate labour shortages in sectors like hospitality and agriculture.
For employers, the data underscore the importance of rigorous compliance with work-permit conditions and highlight the risk that foreign staff could be removed for relatively minor violations. Immigration counsel advise conducting internal audits of employee status and record-keeping to avoid penalties or sudden workforce disruptions.
Deportation orders—permanent bans that require special authorisation to re-enter—made up nearly half of the removals, rising 30 percent year-over-year. Exclusion and departure orders accounted for the remainder. Quebec and the Greater Toronto Area saw the largest absolute numbers, reflecting their concentration of asylum seekers and temporary residents.
CBSA officials attribute the surge to stepped-up enforcement against visa overstays, criminal inadmissibility and misrepresentation. They also point to liaison-officer interventions overseas that prevented almost 6,000 improperly documented travellers from boarding flights to Canada.
Whether you’re an international student, temporary worker, or an employer trying to keep your staff compliant, VisaHQ can streamline the paperwork and minimise the risk of costly mistakes. Its platform (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) offers real-time eligibility checks, step-by-step application support, and professional review services that help applicants secure the right documentation before travelling to—or remaining in—Canada.
The crackdown coincides with Statistics Canada data showing the steepest quarterly population drop since World War II, largely driven by a decline in international students and other non-permanent residents. Economists note that lower population growth is easing rental-housing pressure but could exacerbate labour shortages in sectors like hospitality and agriculture.
For employers, the data underscore the importance of rigorous compliance with work-permit conditions and highlight the risk that foreign staff could be removed for relatively minor violations. Immigration counsel advise conducting internal audits of employee status and record-keeping to avoid penalties or sudden workforce disruptions.
