September 1, 2026: Study Permit Living Costs Rise to $23,448
IRCC has published the next annual increase to the study permit living-cost table. On its proof of financial support page, last modified August 28, 2026, the department states that applications submitted on or after September 1, 2026 must show $23,448 for a single applicant outside Quebec. That figure is for living expenses only. Tuition and transportation sit on top of it.
The previous amount, $22,895, still applies to applications filed between January 1, 2025 and August 31, 2026 inclusive. The increase is $553 for a person applying alone. It is larger once family members are counted.
This is not a new rule. It is the scheduled yearly update IRCC ties to Statistics Canada's low-income cut-off. The change that matters for you is the filing date, not the start date of your program.
What the officer is adding up
You must show you can pay, without working in Canada, for all of the following:
- Tuition for the first year of the program.
- Living expenses for you and any family members coming with you, using the table that matches your filing date.
- Transportation to and from Canada for everyone on the application.
IRCC requires you to show funds for the first year. If the program is longer than a year, you must also explain how you will pay for the remaining years, for example a multi-year scholarship or proof that the person funding you is employed.
The official living-cost tables
These amounts exclude tuition and transportation. They apply in every province and territory except Quebec.
Applications on or after September 1, 2026
| Family members (including you) | Amount required per year |
|---|---|
| 1 | $23,448 |
| 2 | $29,192 |
| 3 | $35,888 |
| 4 | $43,572 |
| 5 | $49,419 |
| 6 | $55,736 |
| 7 | $62,054 |
| Each additional person after 7 | $6,318 |
Applications from January 1, 2025 to August 31, 2026 inclusive
| Family members (including you) | Amount required per year |
|---|---|
| 1 | $22,895 |
| 2 | $28,502 |
| 3 | $35,040 |
| 4 | $42,543 |
| 5 | $48,252 |
| 6 | $54,420 |
| 7 | $60,589 |
| Each additional person after 7 | $6,170 |
IRCC's own example: you plus two family members need $35,888 in living costs under the new table, not the old $35,040.
Quebec is separate. Students headed to Quebec follow the financial amounts set by the Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration for a CAQ.
What counts as proof
IRCC's page lists examples, not a closed list. You do not need every item. You need enough to show the money is available and the source is clear.
Common documents include:
- A receipt showing first-year tuition and housing already paid, plus separate proof for living costs and travel.
- A student or education loan.
- A scholarship letter. If it covers only tuition, you still need living-cost and travel proof.
- A GIC from a participating Canadian financial institution.
- A Canadian bank account in your name if funds have already been transferred.
- Bank statements for the past six months, including the month of filing or the month before, with documents that explain the source of the money.
- A letter from the person funding you that states their occupation, their relationship to you, the number of their dependants, and the amount of support, plus proof of that relationship and their identity or business registration.
- Pay stubs or proof of rental income where that is the source.
If your country uses foreign-exchange controls, you must also show you will be allowed to export the funds.
Officers look at both amount and source. A large unexplained deposit just before filing is a common problem. Settled, traceable funds are stronger than a last-minute transfer.
What this means if you are filing this week
If your file can be completed and submitted on or before August 31, 2026, the older table still applies. If you miss that date, budget the new amounts. Do not treat $23,448 as the full number you need in the bank. Add first-year tuition and return tickets.
If a spouse or children will accompany you, use the family-size row, not the single-applicant row. Family size includes the applicant.
This update does not change PAL or TAL rules, the study permit cap, or work-hour limits. It only changes the living-cost line on the financial assessment.
We covered the $22,895 figure in our June 2026 proof-of-funds explainer. Use that post for the broader document checklist. Use this one for the September 1 numbers.
If you are preparing a study permit, or a previous refusal turned on funds, contact JSR Immigration & Legals through our consultation page or the study permit service page.
This article is general information current to August 30, 2026, and is not legal or immigration advice. Confirm the live tables on Canada.ca before you file.
Immigration & paralegal practitioner at JSR Immigration & Legals, helping newcomers and Ontario residents with their cases.
This post is general information about Canadian immigration and Ontario paralegal matters and is not legal advice. Rules change and every case is different — confirm current requirements for your own situation.