Proof of Funds for a Study Permit
How much money you must show for a Canadian study permit, what can be used as evidence, and how to document financial support clearly.
A study permit applicant must show enough money, without working in Canada, to cover tuition, living expenses and transportation for the applicant and accompanying family members. The financial evidence should show that the required resources are available and supported by the documents submitted.
How much you must show
IRCC's updated proof-of-financial-support table applies to study permit applications submitted on or after September 1, 2026. Outside Quebec, required first-year living expenses are $23,448 for 1 family member, $29,192 for 2, $35,888 for 3, $43,572 for 4, $49,419 for 5, $55,736 for 6 and $62,054 for 7. Each additional family member requires $6,318. Applications submitted between January 1, 2025 and August 31, 2026 inclusive remain under the previous table, including $22,895 for one person. Tuition and transportation must be shown separately. IRCC updates the living-expense amounts annually, so applicants should confirm the current table immediately before filing. For programs longer than one year, you must also explain how you plan to pay for the full duration of your studies. Quebec sets its own requirements.
What counts as proof
- Proof you paid first-year tuition and housing, together with other evidence showing sufficient living-expense and transportation funds
- A Canadian bank account or Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) in your name
- Bank statements for the past 6 months, including the month you submit the application or the month before, with documents showing the source of the income shown in the statements
- Education or student loan approval
- A letter from a sponsor with supporting documents
This is not a complete list, and the right combination depends on your situation.
Documenting financial support consistently
The documents should support the amount claimed and show where the financial support comes from. Recent deposits, sponsor or funder support, loans and transferred funds should be documented consistently with the rest of the application.
How a licensed RCIC helps
We check whether your funds meet the current threshold for your family size, whether the money is properly sourced and documented, and how to present it clearly. We cannot guarantee approval; final decisions are made by IRCC.
Related pages
Official IRCC sources
Official IRCC sources last checked August 31, 2026. Living-expense amounts are updated annually; confirm the current table before filing.
