Starting September 1, 2026, Canada will increase the amount of money international students must show for living expenses when applying for a study permit.
According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, a single student applying from outside Quebec will need to prove access to C$23,448 for living expenses, up from the current requirement of C$22,895.
The new figure represents a 2.4% increase of C$553. The financial requirement covers living expenses only and excludes tuition and transportation costs.
Applicants must also prove that they have enough money to cover these expenses for themselves and any family members accompanying them to Canada.
The amount international students must show will rise with the number of family members accompanying them.
Students travelling with three family members will need to show C$35,888, while those travelling with five family members will need C$49,419.
Applicants travelling with six family members must provide proof of C$62,054 in living expenses. For every additional family member beyond seven, applicants must show an extra C$6,318 in living expenses.
IRCC reviews the financial requirements annually to ensure they reflect changes in Canada’s cost of living.
The agency said the requirements also aim to protect international students from financial hardship and exploitation.
Applicants must demonstrate that they can cover their own living expenses, tuition and travel costs, as well as those of any accompanying family members.
Applicants must also explain how they plan to finance their education throughout any study program that lasts longer than one year.
Study permit applications submitted from September 1, 2026, will face the new, higher financial requirements.
Backstory…
Canada has been steadily tightening its international student rules since 2024, after a rapid increase in the number of international students put additional pressure on housing, public services and the cost of living.
Study permit applications had increased by 121% between 2019 and 2023, prompting the federal government to introduce a cap on new study permit applications in January 2024.
As part of those reforms, Canada also began requiring students to demonstrate more money for their living expenses.
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