Canada’s study permit submission date determines which living-expense threshold applies

IRCC assesses both the amount available and its source, including whether funding will remain accessible throughout the studies.

For study permit applications submitted on or after September 1, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) requires CAD 23,448 for 1 person’s annual living expenses outside Quebec. For submissions from January 1, 2025, through August 31, 2026, inclusive, IRCC sets that amount at CAD 22,895; the application date determines the table, rather than the course start date.

Tuition and transportation to and from Canada sit outside those amounts. Applicants must demonstrate sufficient resources for year 1 without relying on work in Canada, and explain how they will finance the remaining studies when the program lasts longer than 1 year. Paying tuition in advance therefore does not complete the financial evidence: living expenses and transportation still need support.

Bank statements used as evidence should cover the past 6 months, including either the submission month or the preceding month, with documents explaining the income shown. A Canadian account holding transferred funds, a guaranteed investment certificate or a bank education loan can also provide evidence. IRCC’s examples are not an exhaustive checklist, and applicants do not have to supply every document listed.

Financial support from another person or institution needs documentation beyond a promised contribution. A support letter should identify the provider’s occupation, relationship to the applicant, dependants and contribution amount; evidence must also substantiate the relationship and financial backing, with photo identification or business registration. Build that evidence alongside the account records so the application explains who controls the money and how it reaches the student.

Quebec is outside these federal living-expense tables: applicants seeking a Quebec Acceptance Certificate must demonstrate coverage of the costs specified by Quebec’s immigration ministry. Applicants elsewhere should also check visa office instructions for their country or region, since additional documents may be required. Where foreign exchange controls apply, proof must establish permission to export funds for all expenses.

Household size includes the applicant and accompanying family members. Under the September table, the annual amounts are CAD 29,192 for 2 people, CAD 35,888 for 3, CAD 43,572 for 4, CAD 49,419 for 5, CAD 55,736 for 6 and CAD 62,054 for 7, with CAD 6,318 per additional member. For a household of 3, the calculation is CAD 35,888 − CAD 35,040 = CAD 848: a family funded exactly to the earlier threshold must document that additional amount for living expenses before submitting under the later table.

Before submission, reconcile the selected household row with the accompanying relatives named in the application, then match the available funding to living expenses, tuition and transportation separately. Check that the statement period reaches the permitted month and that supporting records explain the funds shown; an unexplained balance leaves a different evidentiary gap from an insufficient balance.