Canada

Canada Study Permit Proof of Funds 2026: How Much to Show

5 min read · Checked against official sources in October 2026

The official figure and when it changed

For a Canada study permit, IRCC (the Canadian immigration department) asks you to show money for your first year. That means tuition, living costs and travel. Only the living-cost part has a fixed table.

For one person studying outside Quebec, the living-cost amount is CAD 23,448 for applications made on or after 1 September 2026. For applications from 1 January 2025 to 31 August 2026, it was CAD 22,895. IRCC says it now updates the amounts every year. The IRCC page shows 28 August 2026 in its page details, so this is a recent change.

If you applied before 1 September, the older table applied to you. If you apply now, use the new one. Read the IRCC page again on the day you submit. Do not rely on old videos or posts.

IRCC adds that officers look at the funds you have and their source, so the money must be real, available and explained. Showing the exact minimum leaves no room for rent that costs more than you planned, a change in the exchange rate, or a fee you forgot. Many families plan for a margin above the table.

Living costs by family size

These are the IRCC minimums for the first year, outside Quebec. They do not include tuition or travel. Count yourself and every family member who will come with you. For 7 people the amount is CAD 62,054, and each extra person adds CAD 6,318.

The table is by the number of people coming with you. A family of two means you and one family member. Only count people who will travel with you.

• 1 person: CAD 23,448
• 2 people: CAD 29,192
• 3 people: CAD 35,888
• 4 people: CAD 43,572
• 5 people: CAD 49,419
• 6 people: CAD 55,736

Tuition and travel come on top

IRCC asks for proof of money for your first year of tuition and housing fees, for example a receipt from your college or university. This must come with proof of money for living costs and travel. If a scholarship covers only tuition, you still need to show money for living and travel.

IRCC does not give a fixed travel amount. Get a real airfare quote for you and any family member who travels, and add it to your plan. Tuition depends on the school and programme, so use the figure in your offer letter.

Also plan your cash flow. For the provincial attestation letter (PAL), most students must accept their offer and pay some or all of the tuition first. You may need to pay before you know the permit result.

Keep your tuition receipt, housing fee receipt and airfare quote in the same file as your bank papers. Check that your offer letter shows the fee for the first year, not only one term.

Other costs sit outside the funds table. IRCC lists the study permit fee at CAD 150, and says fees are not refunded whatever the decision. Health insurance and school application fees are also extra.

GIC: is it required?

A GIC is a Guaranteed Investment Certificate from a Canadian bank or financial institution. IRCC lists it as one accepted way to show funds. It is not the only way. The Student Direct Stream closed on 8 November 2024, and everyone now applies through the regular stream, which accepts GICs as proof of financial support.

The amount, fees and rules of a GIC are set by the bank that sells it, so ask that bank. We have not stated a GIC amount here because we could not confirm it on an official source.

A GIC shows that money is held. It does not explain where the money came from, so keep the bank statements that show the source.

A rough picture in taka

Bangladesh Bank's page showed a CAD cross rate of about 88.6 taka on 29 October 2026. For this estimate we assume BDT 88 for CAD 1. Your bank's real rate will differ and changes daily, so every taka figure below is an estimate. Use the taka numbers for planning talks with your family. IRCC works in Canadian dollars, and your actual cost of buying them may be different.

Living costs only, at BDT 88:

• 1 person: CAD 23,448, about BDT 20.6 lakh
• 2 people: CAD 29,192, about BDT 25.7 lakh
• 3 people: CAD 35,888, about BDT 31.6 lakh
• 4 people: CAD 43,572, about BDT 38.3 lakh

Two worked examples and Quebec

Example one: a New Brunswick college lists CAD 10,260 tuition for 2026-27. Add CAD 23,448 for living. The total is CAD 33,708, about BDT 29.7 lakh, before travel, insurance and other fees. Example two: Memorial University lists CAD 22,500 tuition for new international students from fall 2026. With living costs the total is CAD 45,948, about BDT 40.4 lakh, before travel. These are examples, not offers.

Quebec uses its own amount and a CAQ (Quebec Acceptance Certificate). For applications from 1 January 2026, quebec.ca lists CAD 24,617 for one person, CAD 34,814 for two, CAD 42,638 for three and CAD 49,234 for four. Check quebec.ca for 2027 amounts if you apply later.

What IGC counsellors check with you

IGC counsellors list four things with you: tuition from your offer letter, the IRCC living-cost amount for your family size, an airfare estimate, and who is paying. We then check that the money and the papers match, because IRCC looks at the amount and where it came from. Only IRCC decides a study permit.

For a first meeting, bring your offer letter or the school fee page, your passport, your parents' income papers and your last six months of bank statements.

Frequently asked questions

Is CAD 23,448 the total I must show?

No. It covers living costs for one person for the first year, outside Quebec. You must also show first-year tuition and housing fees and money for travel. Add all three, then check the IRCC page.

Which date decides the amount, the offer date or the application date?

IRCC's page lists the new amounts for applications on or after 1 September 2026, and the older table for applications from 1 January 2025 to 31 August 2026. So the date you apply is what matters.

Do I need a GIC to get a Canada study permit?

IRCC lists a GIC as accepted proof of funds, not as the only proof. Other documents it names include bank statements and an education loan. Ask your bank about GIC rules before you buy one.

Should my family members be counted?

Yes, for those coming with you. IRCC's table is by family size, and the applicant counts as one person. A spouse and one child, for example, make a family of three.

Want to see your own number before you choose a school? Book a free profile assessment with IGC and we will go through your budget with you.