Canada Raises Study Permit Proof-of-Funds Requirements

Canada will require international students applying for study permits outside Quebec to show more money for living expenses starting September 1, 2026.

The new financial requirement raises the amount for a single applicant by $553. A student travelling with six additional family members will need $1,465 more than under the previous requirement.

The updated amounts cover living costs and sit on top of money applicants must show for first-year tuition and travel to and from Canada.

New financial requirements

According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the amount for one applicant will rise to $23,448. For two family members, the requirement will be $29,192. Three family members will need $35,888, while four will require $43,572.

For five family members, the amount rises to $49,419. Six will require $55,736, and seven will need $62,054. Each additional family member will add $6,318.

The new figures apply to applications received on or after September 1. Applications submitted before that date will be assessed using the financial requirements in effect when they were received.

Applicants must prove access to funds

Students whose programs last longer than one year must explain how they will pay for the remaining years.

IRCC accepts forms of financial evidence. These include proof of paid tuition and housing, education loans, Canadian bank accounts, guaranteed investment certificates, six months of bank statements, pension documents and rental income.

Students can also show scholarships, employment pay stubs or financial support from another person or institution. A support letter must identify the relationship with the applicant, the supporter’s occupation, dependants and the amount they plan to provide. Supporting documents must verify the connection and the supporter’s identity or business registration.

The department says these examples are not complete. Applicants may need additional documents depending on their circumstances and country of application.

Financial checks face closer scrutiny

Canada updates study permit proof-of-funds amounts every year to reflect changes in living costs. The federal government sets the figures at 75 per cent of Statistics Canada’s Low Income Cut-Off for the family size.

IRCC has also increased scrutiny of financial documents. Under officer instructions updated in July 2026, officers must assess where an applicant’s money comes from in every case, rather than only in situations previously considered high risk.

Applicants from countries with foreign exchange controls must also prove they can legally transfer enough money abroad to cover their expenses.

Quebec follows separate rules

The new federal amounts do not apply to students planning to study in Quebec. Those applicants must first obtain a Quebec Acceptance Certificate before applying for a federal study permit.

Quebec uses its own financial requirements. As of January 1, 2026, a single applicant must show $24,617 for one year of living expenses. The amount rises with family size, reaching $60,299 for six people, with $5,254 required for each additional family member.

These Quebec figures do not include tuition or transportation costs. Students must show they can cover those expenses separately.