Canada study permit proof of funds: how much money to show

Living funds are not the whole budget

Canada study permit proof of funds covers more than a living cost figure. IRCC says you must show enough for first-year tuition, living costs and transportation to and from Canada for yourself and accompanying family. The living amounts exclude tuition and transportation. Keep these as separate lines rather than treating the published living figure as the whole amount you need.

This guide uses the IRCC financial support page, issued 22 April 2024 and last modified 28 August 2026, and its fees page, last updated 21 September 2026. Both are checked 26 Oct 2026. Cost of living amounts are updated each year. Read the Canada country guide alongside the living cost guide, then confirm the current official figures before applying.

Living amounts by family size and application date

For applications on or after 1 September 2026, the yearly living amounts below apply to all provinces and territories except Quebec. Choose the row for the number of people, including accompanying family, and keep tuition and travel outside this living total.

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. 7 people: CAD 62,054. For each additional member beyond 7, add CAD 6,318.

For applications from 1 January 2025 to 31 August 2026 inclusive, the older table lists CAD 22,895 for 1 person and CAD 28,502 for 2 people. Do not mix an older row with the newer application period. The date of your application matters when you check which table applies.

At Rs 67.81 per CAD on 23 October 2026, the old and new single-person figures are about Rs 15.5 to 15.9 lakh. The newer 2-person figure is about Rs 19.8 lakh. These are rounded conversions, not fixed rupee requirements. The exchange rate will move, so check it again when preparing your budget.

Tuition, travel and Quebec need separate checks

IRCC gives no fixed tuition amount. You must show enough for the first year. A receipt from the designated learning institution for tuition and housing can be used. Keep that receipt with your funding papers, and distinguish payments already made from funds you still need to show.

There is no fixed transportation amount on this page either. You must show funds for transport to and from Canada for you and your accompanying family. For a Quebec Acceptance Certificate, or CAQ, applicants must meet amounts set by the Quebec ministry. This page gives no Quebec figures, so check the Quebec ministry rather than using the outside-Quebec table.

Ways the page lists to show funds

IRCC lists a receipt for first-year tuition and housing, a bank student or education loan, and a scholarship or Government of Canada funded programme. If a scholarship covers tuition only, you must also show funds for living and travel. Recent employment pay records are another listed option.

A letter from the person or institution providing money must state their job, relationship to you, number of dependants and the amount. It needs proof of relationship and ID or business registration proof. The page also lists proof of a Canadian bank account in your name if you transferred money to Canada, and a guaranteed investment certificate, or GIC, from a Canadian financial institution.

Other listed evidence includes bank statements for the past 6 months, including the application month or the month before, showing the income source; pension plan documents; and proof of rental property income. If your country has foreign exchange controls, you must prove you can export funds for all expenses. Other documents may be required. Check your country's visa office instructions and use our documents checklist to organise the papers.

Permit and biometrics fees are separate costs

The IRCC fee page lists a study permit, including extensions, at CAD 150 per person. Biometrics cost CAD 85 per person, or a maximum of CAD 170 for a family of 2 or more applying at the same time. Biometrics are required for some citizens, so check whether they apply to you.

At the dated rate above, CAD 150 is about Rs 10,000 and CAD 85 is about Rs 5,800. These separate fee lines range from about Rs 5,800 to Rs 10,000 each; they are not a combined application total. Rates will move. Add the fees that apply to your tuition, living and travel budget.

Confirm the loan evidence and payment plan

Ask the lender in writing whether the education loan sanction letter and disbursement plan will be accepted as proof, and how disbursement works. Do not assume. Check the visa office instructions too. This guide does not say which option is accepted for a specific applicant. For money sent abroad, read the TCS guide and ask about your own payment.

Add tuition and travel to living funds, then test the amount you will borrow in the calculator. Confirm the current IRCC amounts and your written funding plan before you act. This is general information, not financial advice.

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