Canada has introduced tougher financial checks for international students seeking study permits, with immigration officers now instructed to closely examine both the amount of money applicants show and the source of those funds.

The updated guidance from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada posted by Canadavisa’s X handle on Friday requires officers to assess whether applicants have genuine and reliable financial support throughout their studies.

The instructions state that “in all cases, the source of funds” must be assessed, meaning applicants may face more detailed reviews of their financial backgrounds before a study permit is approved.

The new rules also say that “reviewing and verifying” additional personal, family, financial, and employment documents “may be necessary” to ensure that only students capable of supporting themselves for the full duration of their program are granted permits.

The change removes previous wording that suggested extra financial checks were mainly needed in “very high-risk environments.” Under the revised instructions, officers can request more evidence based on “the facts of the application.”

Applicants may now be asked to provide longer financial records, including six months of bank statements. The updated guidance specifies that statements from the month of application or the month before submission may be required.

The previous Instructions referred to four months of bank statements.

The new guidance also expands examples of acceptable proof of funds. Applicants can now provide evidence such as pension income and income from rental properties to demonstrate their ability to finance their studies.

A previous example of “a bank draft that can be converted to Canadian dollars” has been removed from the list of possible financial documents.

For students applying to extend their permits, officers have also been instructed to assess whether applicants have enough money to support themselves during the first year after the extension.

However, Canada has not changed the amount of money applicants are required to show. Students must still provide proof that they can cover tuition fees, travel costs, and living expenses.

For a single applicant studying outside Quebec under the standard study permit stream, the required living expense amount remains CAD $22,895.

The stricter financial review comes as Canada continues efforts to strengthen oversight of its international student system.

A government review found concerns about the number of students flagged for possible non-compliance compared with the resources available to investigate cases.

The latest changes mean applicants will need to provide clearer evidence of where their money comes from and ensure their financial documents are consistent.

With the updated process, immigration officials are placing greater emphasis on financial transparency as part of determining whether an applicant is a genuine student. (Punch)

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