Canada study permit proof of funds rises to CAD 23,448
From 1 September 2026, a single study permit applicant outside Quebec must show CAD 23,448 for living costs, up from CAD 22,895, plus tuition and travel.
Canada has raised the living-cost amount study permit applicants must show. For applications submitted on or after 1 September 2026, a single applicant studying outside Quebec needs CAD 23,448 for the first year, up CAD 553 from CAD 22,895. Tuition and travel costs are extra, and Quebec sets its own figures.
Key numbers
Just you: CAD 23,448 (was CAD 22,895). You plus one family member: CAD 29,192. Three people: CAD 35,888. These cover first-year living costs outside Quebec for applications from 1 September 2026. Tuition and travel are extra.
What changed
IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) updates its living-cost figures every year. The new table on its proof of financial support page applies to study permit applications submitted on or after 1 September 2026. The amounts cover living expenses for your first year in Canada. They don't include tuition or the cost of travelling to Canada, which you have to show on top.
The amount depends on how many people are coming, including you:
- 1 person: CAD 23,448, up from CAD 22,895
- 2 people: CAD 29,192, up from CAD 28,502
- 3 people: CAD 35,888, up from CAD 35,040
- 4 people: CAD 43,572, up from CAD 42,543
Families of five to seven have their own figures, and each person beyond seven adds CAD 6,318. IRCC's rule is that you must show you can pay for tuition, living costs and travel without working in Canada.
Who it affects
Anyone who submits a study permit application on or after 1 September 2026 for a school outside Quebec. If you submitted between 1 January 2025 and 31 August 2026, the old table applies to your application.
Quebec works differently. To study there you need a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) first, and Quebec's immigration ministry sets its own amounts, so use its figures rather than IRCC's table.
The figures are the same whether you apply from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal or Sri Lanka. What differs is paperwork, so read the visa office instructions for your country alongside IRCC's document checklist.
What to do now
- Recalculate your total: CAD 23,448, plus the first-year tuition on your letter of acceptance, plus travel. Convert it at today's rate and leave a margin for currency swings.
- If your programme is longer than a year, be ready to explain how you'll pay for the later years. IRCC asks you to show funds for the first year and to tell it how you'll cover the rest.
- Choose documents IRCC lists as examples: bank statements for the past six months, a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) from a Canadian financial institution, an education loan, a scholarship letter or receipts for tuition you've already paid.
- Show where the money came from. IRCC says bank statements must come with documents showing the source of the funds, such as salary records or savings transfers.
- If a parent or relative is paying, include their letter with their occupation, their relationship to you and how much they'll provide.
Work out the full figure in your own currency with the study abroad cost calculator, then use our Canada study guide for PAL rules and the rest of the permit process.
FAQ
Does CAD 23,448 include tuition?
No. It covers one person's living costs for the first year. Tuition and travel are on top.
I applied in August 2026. Do I need the new amount?
No. Applications submitted between 1 January 2025 and 31 August 2026 use the previous table, which is CAD 22,895 for one person.
Can I count money I'll earn from a part-time job?
No. IRCC says you must show you can pay your costs without working in Canada.