Canada study visa rules change: Students must show more funds from September 1
PTC Web Desk: Students from Punjab and other parts of India planning to study in Canada will have to meet a higher financial requirement from September 1, 2026. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has updated the amount of money international students must show as proof of funds while applying for a study permit.
Under the revised rules, a student travelling alone to Canada will have to show at least CAD 23,448 to cover one year of living expenses. Depending on the exchange rate, this comes to around Rs 15-17 lakh. The amount is meant to cover expenses such as accommodation, food and other basic living costs.
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The new financial requirement applies to study permit applications submitted on or after September 1, 2026. For applications made between January 1, 2025 and August 31, 2026, the living-expense requirement for a single applicant was CAD 22,895.
More funds required when family members travel with the student
The financial requirement increases when a student is accompanied by family members. For two people, including the student, IRCC now requires CAD 29,192 for living expenses. For a three-member family, the amount is CAD 35,888, while a four-member family must show CAD 43,572.
The requirement continues to rise with every additional family member. For a five-member family, the amount is CAD 49,419, and it rises to CAD 55,736 for six people and CAD 62,054 for seven people. After seven members, an additional CAD 6,318 is required for each extra family member.
These figures cover living expenses only and do not include tuition fees or transportation costs.
Tuition fee and travel expenses have to be shown separately
Students applying for a Canadian study permit should keep in mind that the new living-expense figure is not the total amount they need for their visa application.
IRCC requires applicants to demonstrate that they have enough money for their first year of studies. This includes tuition fees, living expenses and transportation costs. Students enrolling in courses lasting more than one year also need to explain how they intend to pay for the remaining period of their studies.
For instance, if a student's first-year tuition fee is CAD 20,000, that amount would have to be considered separately from the CAD 23,448 required for living expenses, along with the applicable travel costs.
What can be used as proof of funds?
Students can use different documents to demonstrate their financial ability. IRCC accepts evidence such as bank statements, education loans, scholarships, guaranteed investment certificates and other financial documents showing access to sufficient funds.
If a student's education is being funded by parents or another sponsor, relevant financial documents can also be provided to establish the source of the funds and the financial support available to the applicant.
Students should ensure that their financial documents are clear and consistent and that they can demonstrate access to enough money to cover their expected expenses in Canada.
Quebec has separate requirements
The revised figures apply to students planning to study in Canadian provinces and territories other than Quebec. Quebec has its own financial requirements, so students heading to the province must follow the rules applicable there.
For Punjab students preparing to apply for a Canadian study permit, the change means financial planning will become an even more important part of the application process. Applicants should check the latest IRCC requirements before submitting their visa file, as the required amounts can be updated periodically.
The key change from September 1 is that students applying outside Quebec will have to show CAD 23,448 in annual living expenses if travelling alone, with tuition fees and transportation costs accounted for separately.
- With inputs from agencies
