International students outside Quebec must show C$23,448 for living costs from September 1, excluding tuition and travel

Canada will introduce a higher study permit funds requirement for international students applying from September 1, 2026, with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada requiring a single applicant outside Quebec to demonstrate access to C$23,448 for one year of living expenses.

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The revised threshold, announced by IRCC as part of its annual adjustment to reflect the cost of living, represents an increase of C$553, or about 2.4 per cent, from the current C$22,895 requirement. (Canada)

The new amount applies to students seeking to study in Canadian provinces and territories outside Quebec. It is separate from tuition fees and transportation costs, which applicants must also show they can afford.

For international students travelling with family members, the financial threshold will rise according to the size of the household.

A student accompanied by one family member will need to demonstrate C$29,192, while the requirement rises to C$35,888 for three people and C$43,572 for four.

The threshold reaches C$49,419 for a family of five, C$55,736 for six and C$62,054 for seven people. Each additional family member beyond seven will require a further C$6,318 in demonstrated living funds. (Vanguard News)

The adjustment continues Canada’s policy of reviewing the financial requirement annually. IRCC says the measure is intended to ensure international students have sufficient resources to support themselves rather than arriving in Canada financially vulnerable.

The department has previously said that higher financial requirements can help protect students from hardship and exploitation by ensuring they have adequate funds for life in Canada. (Canada)

What students must prove

Applicants must demonstrate that they have enough money to cover their tuition, living expenses and return transportation for themselves and any accompanying family members.

IRCC’s current guidance states that applicants must demonstrate sufficient resources for at least the first year of study. Where a programme lasts longer than one year, applicants must also explain how they intend to finance the remainder of their studies. (Canada)

Evidence can include bank statements, proof of tuition or housing payments, education loans, scholarships, guaranteed investment certificates and financial-support letters accompanied by supporting evidence.

Students can also use proof of a Canadian bank account, where applicable, as evidence of available funds. (Canada)

The financial threshold does not mean that an applicant can simply show C$23,448 and disregard other costs. Tuition and transportation remain separate financial obligations under the study permit rules.

IRCC also requires applicants to satisfy other conditions, including enrolment at a designated learning institution and demonstrating that they will leave Canada when their study permit expires. (Canada)

A continuing tightening of Canada’s student system

The latest increase comes as Canada continues to reshape its international student programme after years of rapid growth.

The federal government introduced a significantly higher cost-of-living threshold in January 2024, raising the amount from the long-standing C$10,000 level to C$20,635 for a single applicant.

The threshold was subsequently increased to C$22,895 from September 1, 2025. IRCC has said the figure will continue to be adjusted annually in line with changes in the cost of living. (Canada)

Canada has also introduced broader measures to moderate the growth of the international student population.

IRCC said the government established an intake cap on most study permit applications in 2024, while the 2025 to 2027 Immigration Levels Plan introduced temporary resident admission targets.

For 2026, Canada’s target for new student arrivals was reduced to 155,000. (Canada)

The financial changes therefore form part of a wider effort to bring Canada’s international education system into closer alignment with housing, public services and economic pressures.

For prospective students, particularly those planning to travel with dependants, the increase means that financial planning will become even more important before submitting a study permit application.

Applicants should also distinguish between the federal requirement for provinces and territories outside Quebec and Quebec’s separate financial rules. Quebec operates its own immigration and financial requirements for international students. (Canada)

The new thresholds will apply to study permit applications submitted on or after September 1, 2026. Applications submitted before that date remain subject to the applicable existing threshold.

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For students preparing to study in Canada, the change is a reminder that securing admission to a Canadian institution is only one part of the process. Demonstrating credible financial capacity remains a critical condition for obtaining a study permit.