August 31, 2026
International students planning to study in Canada should take note of an important update to the country’s study permit requirements.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has increased the minimum amount that international students must demonstrate for their living expenses. The new requirement applies to study permit applications submitted on or after September 1, 2026.
For a single student studying outside Quebec, the minimum annual living expense requirement has increased to CAD $23,448, excluding tuition fees and transportation costs.
New Canada Study Permit Financial Requirement
Under the updated requirement, a single applicant must demonstrate access to at least CAD $23,448 for one year of living expenses.
This amount is in addition to the money required for:
- First-year tuition fees
- Travel or transportation costs to Canada
- Additional living expenses for accompanying family members, where applicable
The new requirement applies based on the date the study permit application is submitted.
Living Expense Requirement – Outside Quebec
| Application submission date | Minimum living expenses for 1 person |
|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 onward | CAD $23,448 |
| September 1, 2025 – August 31, 2026 | CAD $22,895 |
This represents an increase of CAD $553 compared with the previous requirement.
Important: The CAD $23,448 amount is for living expenses only. It does not include tuition fees or transportation costs.
Who Does the New Requirement Apply To?
The updated financial requirement applies to:
- Students applying for a new study permit
- Current international students applying to extend their study permit from within Canada
Therefore, students planning to submit a new application or study permit extension on or after September 1, 2026, should ensure their financial documents reflect the updated minimum.
How Much Money Does a Student Need to Show?
Students should understand that CAD $23,448 is not the total amount required for a Canadian study permit.
An applicant generally needs to demonstrate sufficient financial resources to cover:
First-year tuition + CAD $23,448 living expenses + applicable travel costs
For example, if a student’s first-year tuition is CAD $20,000, they would need to demonstrate funds for at least:
CAD $20,000 tuition
+ CAD $23,448 living expenses
+ transportation costs
Therefore, the actual amount required will vary depending on the student’s tuition fees and circumstances.
What Does IRCC Look for When Assessing Funds?
Having the required amount is important, but students should also be able to demonstrate that the money is genuinely available to support their studies.
When assessing an applicant’s financial capacity, IRCC considers factors including whether:
- The funds are readily available
- The applicant’s ability to pay is not dependent on working in Canada
- There is a reasonable likelihood that sufficient funding will remain available for future years of study
- The financial documents provide credible evidence of the applicant’s ability to support themselves during their studies
Students should therefore prepare clear and convincing financial documentation rather than relying only on the minimum figure.
What About Students Bringing Family Members?
The financial requirement increases when a student is accompanied by a spouse, partner or dependent children. The required amount depends on the number of family members accompanying the student. These amounts are separate from tuition and applicable transportation costs. Students planning to bring family members should check the latest IRCC financial-support requirements before submitting their applications.
Quebec Has Different Requirements
The CAD $23,448 requirement applies to students studying outside Quebec.
Quebec has its own financial-capacity requirements and immigration process, including requirements associated with the Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ). Students planning to study in Quebec should therefore check the applicable Quebec requirements rather than relying on the figures for other Canadian provinces and territories.
What Should Students Do Now?
Students planning to apply for a Canadian study permit should review their financial documents before submitting their application. From September 1, 2026, a single student studying outside Quebec should plan around the updated minimum of:
CAD $23,448 per year for living expenses
Remember that this is in addition to tuition fees and applicable travel costs.
Students should also ensure that their financial evidence is consistent, genuine and sufficient to demonstrate that they can support themselves throughout their studies. The increase in Canada’s study permit financial requirement reflects IRCC’s annual adjustment of the amount considered necessary for international students’ living expenses. For applications submitted from September 1, 2026, a single student studying outside Quebec must demonstrate a minimum of CAD $23,448 in living expenses for one year.
CAD $23,448 is not a tuition amount and it is not the total study permit fund requirement. Students must also account for tuition and applicable travel expenses when preparing their financial evidence.
For the most up-to-date requirements, students should always check the official IRCC Proof of Financial Support information before submitting their study permit application.
