Canada Study Permit rules
For Indian students planning to study in Canada, the cost of proving they can afford to study there has just gone up.
To meet this requirement, students can submit proof that their scholarship extends beyond one year, evidence that their parents are employed and can continue supporting them, or other documentation that establishes ongoing financial capacity. IRCC assesses both the funds and their source before confirming that an applicant has sufficient money for the full length of their program. For students from India, the immediate task is documentation, not just savings. Bank statements, loan sanction letters, scholarship confirmations and sponsor documents all need to clearly establish where the money is coming from and that it is actually available. An account with the right balance but unclear ownership, or a loan letter without proper sanction details, can create complications during processing. Students are advised to prepare these documents well in advance and ensure every figure aligns with the amount required for their family size and course duration. For the most current details, applicants can check the official IRCC website before submitting their study permit application. Get the latest Education News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.
From September 1, 2026, international students applying for a Canadian study permit will need to demonstrate a higher amount in living expenses. Under the updated rule, international students must show at least CAD 23,448 in living expenses for one person. For applications submitted between January 1, 2025 and August 31, 2026, the required amount was CAD 22,895. The new figure applies to applications submitted from September 1, 2026 onwards. Students bringing family members to Canada must show proportionally higher funds, based on family size: CAD 23,448 for one family member CAD 29,192 for two family members CAD 35,888 for three family members CAD 43,572 for four family members CAD 49,419 for five family members CAD 55,736 for six family members CAD 62,054 for seven family members For every family member beyond seven, applicants must show an additional CAD 6,318 per year. A family of four does not need to show four separate amounts of CAD 23,448. It needs to show one combined figure of CAD 43,572 for the household.
The increase may look small in isolation, but IRCC periodically revises this figure to track the actual cost of living in Canada, which means the amount students are expected to show has been rising steadily rather than remaining fixed. The change comes from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the federal department responsible for processing study permits, and it affects every applicant regardless of which institution or province they are headed to. This figure excludes tuition fees and transportation costs, both of which are calculated separately. The financial requirement is not limited to solo applicants. These numbers are cumulative, not additional line items. IRCC accepts several forms of documentation as proof of funds. Indian students can submit: A Canadian bank account in the student’s name A Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) A student or education loan Bank statements Proof of scholarships or other funding Evidence of paid tuition or housing fees Documentation showing financial support from another person or institution There is no single approved format. What matters is that the document clearly shows the money exists, belongs to the applicant or their sponsor, and is accessible when needed. The financial requirement does not end at the first year. Students enrolled in courses longer than one year must show how they plan to fund the entire duration of their studies, not just the opening months. A scholarship letter that covers only the first year, for instance, will not be sufficient on its own.