Canada has important information for international students: Starting September 1, we are changing the …

Canada has introduced higher financial requirements for international students applying for study permits starting today (September 1). According to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, applicants must now show increased proof of funds to demonstrate their ability to support themselves during their studies. The change is aimed at reflecting rising living costs and ensuring that students are financially prepared. This new requirement put forward by IRCC sets the cost-of-living proof at 75% of Statistics Canada’s Low Income Cut-Off (LICO), in addition to tuition and travel expenses. “Important information for international students: starting September 1, 2026, the amount of funds you will need to demonstrate when applying for a study permit will increase. We update the financial resource requirements applicable to study permit applicants each year to adjust them to the cost of living and to help protect international students from any exploitation,” wrote IRCC in a post shared on X (formerly knonw as Twitter).For a single applicant outside Quebec, the minimum proof of funds has risen to CAD $23,448, an increase of $553 over the previous threshold. The amounts scale higher depending on family size, with applicants required to show additional funds for each dependent.In Quebec, students must meet separate financial thresholds tied to the Quebec Acceptance Certificate (QAC). As of January 1, 2026, a single applicant must show CAD $24,617, with higher requirements for families.

Canada student visa: Who’s affected and by how much

The increase applies to applicants intending to study anywhere in Canada outside Quebec, which has its own separate requirements. A single applicant with no dependants will need to show $553 more than under the previous threshold. Larger families face steeper jumps — an applicant bringing six additional family members will need $1,465 more than before.These cost-of-living figures are added on top of whatever amount is already required to cover the first full year of tuition and travel to and from Canada, meaning the total financial bar for approval is rising across the board, not just the cost-of-living component in isolation.

The new dollar amounts

According to the immigration department’s updated guidance, published August 28, 2026, the new required amounts by family size are as follows:•1 applicant (principal only): $23,448 (up $553)•2 family members: $29,192 (up $690)•3 family members: $35,888 (up $848)•4 family members: $43,572 (up $1,029)•5 family members: $49,419 (up $1,167)•6 family members: $55,736 (up $1,316)•7 family members: $62,054 (up $1,465)•Each additional family member beyond seven: $6,318 (up $148)Applications submitted before September 1, 2026 will still be assessed under the previous cost-of-living amounts that were in effect at the time they were received. Applicants whose study programs run longer than one year must also explain how they intend to fund the remainder of their studies beyond that first year.

What counts as acceptable proof of funds

IRCC accepts documentation across three broad categories. The first covers fees already paid, such as a receipt showing tuition and housing costs have been settled — though this must still be paired with separate evidence of funds available for living and travel expenses.The second category covers funds currently available, which can include proof of a student or education loan from a bank, a Canadian bank account in the student’s name showing transferred funds, a guaranteed investment certificate from a Canadian bank, bank statements from the past six months (Canadian or foreign), pension plan documentation, or proof of rental income.The third category covers expected or promised support, including proof of a scholarship or a Government of Canada-funded education program, recent pay stubs, or a letter from a financial supporter. That letter must confirm the supporter’s relationship to the applicant, their occupation, any dependants they have, and the specific amount of support they intend to provide — along with supporting evidence verifying the applicant’s connection to that person and a copy of the supporter’s identification or business registration.IRCC notes these examples aren’t exhaustive, and applicants may need to provide additional documentation depending on their country and individual circumstances. Applicants from countries with foreign exchange controls must also show they’ll be permitted to export the necessary funds to Canada.

Separate, higher requirements for Quebec

Students planning to study in Quebec face a different process entirely. They must first obtain a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (QAC) before applying to IRCC for a study permit, and must meet Quebec-specific living expense requirements that are notably higher than the federal amounts. Those figures, last updated January 1, 2026, range from $24,617 for a single applicant up to $60,299 for six family members, with each additional family member requiring $5,254 — figures that, notably, don’t include tuition or transportation costs.Both the Quebec provincial government and the federal government assess an applicant’s proof of financial support, but they evaluate the same pool of funds — applicants aren’t required to show separate or additional funds for the federal IRCC assessment on top of what they’ve already demonstrated to Quebec.