Free tool · Canada study permit
How much money do you need for a Canada study visa?
The official living-cost minimum is only part of it. You must also show your first-year tuition and return travel. This calculator adds all three, by family size, for Quebec or the rest of Canada.
Indicative planning tool. Living-cost amounts are set by IRCC (outside Quebec) and by Québec’s MIFI, and are updated periodically — verify the current figures on canada.ca before you file.
Your situation
Four questions.
The part that actually gets people refused
Having the money isn’t the same as proving it.
An officer is asking three questions: is the money genuine, is it available to you, and can you explain where it came from? A large balance that appeared last week answers none of them. A smaller balance with a clean six-month trail, a documented source, and a credible sponsor answers all three.
What IRCC accepts as proof of funds
- Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) from a participating Canadian bank
- Proof of a Canadian bank account in your name, with funds transferred
- A student or education loan sanction letter from a bank
- Bank statements for the past four months
- A bank draft in convertible currency
- Proof that tuition and housing fees have been paid
- A letter from the person or school giving you money
- Proof of funding paid from within Canada, for a scholarship or Canadian-funded programme
Since 8 November 2024
The Student Direct Stream (SDS) has closed. Everyone files through the regular study-permit stream, and a GIC is no longer mandatory. That is not a disadvantage — a well-built regular file, with a clear source of funds and a convincing Statement of Purpose, is judged on its merits.
Why a fat bank balance won’t get you a visa →Canada study visa help in Patiala →
FAQs
- How much money do I need for a Canada study visa?
- For provinces outside Quebec, a single applicant must show CAD 22,895 in living costs (effective 1 September 2025), plus first-year tuition and return travel on top. The living-cost figure rises with each accompanying family member. Quebec sets its own, higher amounts — CAD 24,617 for a single applicant, effective 1 January 2026. Always check the current figure on canada.ca before you file, because both authorities update these periodically.
- Does the living-cost amount include my tuition?
- No. This is the single most common misunderstanding. The published living-cost table covers living expenses only. The total you must prove is living costs PLUS your first-year tuition PLUS return transportation. Our calculator adds all three.
- Do I still need a GIC now that SDS has closed?
- A GIC is no longer mandatory. The Student Direct Stream closed on 8 November 2024, and everyone now applies through the regular study-permit stream. A Guaranteed Investment Certificate remains one of several accepted proofs of funds, and it is still the cleanest way to demonstrate living costs — but a Canadian bank account, an education-loan sanction, four months of bank statements, or a sponsor letter can also work.
- I have the money in my account. Why would I still be refused?
- Because officers assess whether the funds are genuine, available to you, and explained — not just whether the number is large enough. A lump sum that appeared in the account days before filing, with no source, raises more doubt than a smaller balance with a clear six-month history. Where the money came from matters as much as how much there is.
- Can my parents or a sponsor show the funds for me?
- Yes. A letter from the person giving you money, supported by their bank statements and proof of their relationship to you and their income, is an accepted proof. The sponsor must be credible and the money genuinely available to you. We help assemble this properly.
- Who counts in the family size?
- Only the people accompanying you to Canada — you, plus a spouse and any children travelling with you. Family members staying in India are not counted for this calculation.
Start here · One message away
Ready to start your visa journey?
Message us on WhatsApp — share your visa goal and a licensed consultant takes it from there. No forms, no call centres. One person, start to decision.