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Updates to financial requirements starting January 1, 2024
We’ve updated our financial requirements for study permit applicants. This change applies to new study permit applications received on or after January 1, 2024. The new amounts reflect updated cost-of-living requirements. These requirements will be adjusted each year as Statistics Canada updates the low-income cut-off.
You need these documents to apply for a study permit:
- proof of acceptance
- an attestation letter from the province or territory where you plan to study New: January 22, 2024
- proof of identity
- proof of financial support
You may also need
Proof of acceptance
Your school must provide you with a letter of acceptance (LOA). Include the original or electronic copy of your letter with your study permit application.
Post-secondary students
Your school will be asked to make sure your letter of acceptance is valid.
If your school does not respond by the deadline, we’ll return your application and refund your processing fee. Confirm with your school that they will validate your letter of acceptance before resubmitting your application.
Make sure you only attach your LOA in the LOA-specific space when uploading documents for your online application. If you attach other documents in this space, you’re giving your consent to disclose these additional documents to your school. All other required documents should be attached in the corresponding spaces in your online application.
Conditional acceptance and prerequisite courses
If you’ve been conditionally accepted, you need to take prerequisite courses. For example, these might be English as a second language or French as a second language courses. You must complete these before you can start your main study program.
If this is the case, we’ll only issue your study permit for the length of those courses plus 1 year. Once you’re accepted into your main program, you’ll need to apply for a new student permit to extend your stay as a student.
Exceptions
If you’re the family member of someone who has a study permit or work permit application that’s been approved in writing before you come to Canada, you don’t need a letter of acceptance.
Attestation letter from the province or territory where you plan to study
New: January 22, 2024
Most students need to provide an attestation letter from the province or territory where they plan to study.
How to get an attestation letter
Each province or territory is developing a process to get an attestation letter.These processes are expected to be in place by March 31, 2024.
We’ll update this page with more information as it becomes available from each province and territory.
We’ll return any application received on or after January 22, 2024, without an attestation letter, unless you’re exempt.
Who doesn’t need an attestation letter
You do not need an attestation letter when applying for a study permit if you’re
- a minor child applying to study in a primary or secondary school (kindergarten to grade 12)
- a student applying for a Masters, PhD or other post-graduate program
- a student applying to extend their study permit
Quebec Acceptance Certificate
If you want to study in Quebec for longer than 6 months, you will also need an attestation of issuance of your Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) issued by the Government of Quebec. This is not the same as the attestation letter above. Your school can tell you how to apply for the CAQ.
Find out which documents you need to study in Quebec.
If you plan to study in Quebec for less than 6 months, you can apply for a study permit without a CAQ. You still need a regular attestation letter.
Proof of identity
When applying for your study permit, you and each family member who comes with you to Canada must have
- a valid passport or travel document
- Online applicants: Upload a copy of the information page of your passport when you apply online.
- If you’re approved, you must send us your original passport.
- Citizens of the United States have some options on the identification documents they can carry.
- Lawful permanent residents of the United States must travel with a valid green card (or equivalent official proof of status in the U.S.) and a valid passport from their country of nationality (or an equivalent document).
- Online applicants: Upload a copy of the information page of your passport when you apply online.
- two recent passport-size photos
- The name and date of birth of the person should be written on the back of each photo.
Proof of financial support
You must prove that you can support yourself and the family members who come with you while you are in Canada.
You can prove your funds with
- proof of a Canadian bank account in your name, if you’ve transferred money to Canada
- a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) from a participating Canadian financial institution
- proof of a student or education loan from a bank
- your bank statements for the past 4 months
- a bank draft that can be converted to Canadian dollars
- proof you paid tuition and housing fees
- a letter from the person or school giving you money, or
- proof of funding paid from within Canada, if you have a scholarship or are in a Canadian-funded educational program
If your country uses foreign exchange controls, you must prove that you’ll be allowed to export funds for all of your expenses.
Minimum funds needed to support yourself as a student (and family members who come with you)
All provinces except Quebec
Before January 1, 2024
| Persons coming to Canada | Amount of funds required per year (not including tuition) |
|---|---|
| You (the student) | CAN$10,000 |
| First family member | CAN$4,000 |
| Every additional accompanying family member | CAN$3,000 |
Example
If you and 2 family members want to come to a province (other than Quebec) for a year, you will need
- living expenses: $10,000 (for the student)
- living expenses: $4,000 (for the first family member)
- living expenses: $3,000 (for the second family member)
Total: $17,000
On or after January 1, 2024
| Number of family members (including the applicant) | Amount of funds required per year (not including tuition) |
|---|---|
| 1 | CAN$20,635 |
| 2 | CAN$25,690 |
| 3 | CAN$31,583 |
| 4 | CAN$38,346 |
| 5 | CAN$43,492 |
| 6 | CAN$49,051 |
| 7 | CAN$54,611 |
| If more than 7 people, each additional family member | CAN$5,559 |
Example
If you and 2 family members want to come to a province (other than Quebec) for a year, you will need $31,583 for living expenses.
Quebec
To study in Quebec, applicants must prove they meet the financial requirements outlined by the ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration.
Letter of explanation
This letter helps the visa officer to understand you and your goals. It explains
- why you want to study in Canada
- that you understand your responsibilities as a student
You should include this letter if you decide to apply for a study permit, even if you don’t have to get a study permit for your program.
Medical exam
You may need a medical exam if any of these situations apply to you:
- You plan to stay in Canada for more than 6 months.
- You recently spent time in certain countries.
- You plan to work in certain jobs where public health must be protected.
Custodian declaration (minor children)
If the minor requires a custodian, you must include the Custodianship Declaration form (PDF, 1.02 MB) with your application. It has 2 pages that must be notarized (certified by a notary) and then included with your study permit application.
The custodian in Canada must sign the first page, and the parents or legal guardians of the minor child in the child’s home country must sign the second page.
Other documents
Check the visa office instructions for your country or region for local requirements.
If you aren't currently in your home country, you may have to prove your immigration status in the country you apply from.
If the government that issued your passport or travel document needs you to have a re-entry permit, you must get one before you apply for a Canadian visa. You may also need other documents.
Find out what to do if we asked you to provide a supporting document for your application.
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