WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Calculate tuition, living expenses and transportation separately, then explain the source and availability of your funds. Use the threshold for your application date and family size.
Use the right current threshold
For applications from 1 September 2026, IRCC lists CAN$23,448 in annual living expenses for one person outside Quebec, excluding tuition and transportation. Accompanying family members increase the amount. Quebec uses its own requirements.
This replaces older figures in the original article. Recheck the official table before applying; a minimum evidence threshold is not a promise that it will cover your actual rent and spending.
Work through the funding gap
Illustrative case: CAN$20,000 unpaid tuition plus CAN$23,448 living expenses plus CAN$2,000 estimated transportation totals CAN$45,448. A confirmed CAN$10,000 tuition award would leave CAN$35,448 to substantiate. Adjust every assumption to your case and do not deduct an award already reflected in the tuition figure.
For a longer course, explain the funding plan beyond year one. Keep a separate practical budget for exchange-rate changes, transfer costs and unexpected expenses.
Show where the money came from
IRCC’s examples include loans, scholarships, paid tuition and housing receipts, sponsored support and bank evidence. Its current bank-statement example covers six months with documentation of income sources; check your country’s additional instructions.
For sponsorship, explain the relationship and support commitment with supporting records. A sudden genuine gift should have a traceable explanation. Do not alter statements or borrow money temporarily to suggest resources you cannot actually use.
Make the file easy to follow
Create an evidence index: funding source, owner, currency, available amount, conditions and attached document. Flag pending loans or awards as pending. Cross-check account names and translations.
Next action: calculate the shortfall before submitting. If support cannot be shown clearly, resolve the funding or reconsider the intake rather than padding the file with unrelated property values or duplicate balances.
Sources and further reading
Sources checked 2026-10-13. Examples and planning suggestions are Effikos editorial guidance.
Something needs a closer look? Send us a correction.
