Canada to Increase Cost of Living Requirements for Students Starting September 1, 2025
If you’ve been dreaming of studying in Canada, here’s your cue to double-check your finances—and we mean really double-check. Starting September 1, 2025, Canada is officially increasing its minimum cost-of-living financial requirements for international students applying for a study permit (outside Quebec). And no, this has nothing to do with tuition fees—this is the money you must show just to prove you can live there.
What’s Changing and Why?
Under the new policy by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the proof-of-funds requirement will go up from CAD $20,635 to CAD $22,895 for a single applicant. That’s nearly a 11% hike in just one year. Why? According to IRCC, this change reflects Canada’s updated cost-of-living benchmarks—because even maple syrup and winter coats aren’t getting any cheaper.
Canada says this is to “protect students from arriving underfunded.” In simpler terms: If you can’t afford the rent, food, transit, health care, and the occasional Tim Hortons, you probably shouldn’t be landing here on a study permit.
Let’s Talk Numbers (2025 Requirements Outside Quebec):
| Family Size | Required Funds (Excl. Tuition) |
|---|---|
| Single student | CAD $22,895 |
| Student + 1 Family Member | CAD $28,502 |
| Student + 2 Family Members | CAD $35,040 |
| Each additional family member | Add CAD $6,538 |
These amounts are separate from your tuition fee, airfare, or any other student fee. You’ll need to prove you can support yourself and any accompanying family members before IRCC even considers stamping your permit.
Not Affected? Here’s Who Escapes the Hike
- Students applying before September 1, 2025 still follow the current CAD $20,635 rule.
- Students applying to universities in Quebec (they follow their own provincial rules).
What Should You Do Now?
- Apply early if your finances are tight and you want to take advantage of the current lower threshold.
- Start saving or arranging GICs, bank letters, or scholarship letters that reflect the updated amount.
- Avoid vague “sponsorship” letters—IRCC wants hard proof: bank balances, certified education loans, or GICs (Guaranteed Investment Certificates).
International Students, Take Note!
This affects everyone applying for a study permit to a Canadian institution outside Quebec—whether you’re from India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Vietnam, the Philippines, Brazil, or anywhere else. IRCC is serious about financial preparedness. If you submit documents that don’t meet the new threshold after September 1, 2025, your application will likely be rejected faster than a Canadian winter chills your toes.
References
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