The minimum financial capacity required to cover the basic needs of applicants to the International Student Program during their application for temporary selection for studies will be increased to CA$24,617 for one person, whether minor or adult, according to an announcement on the Gouvernement du Québec (Government of Quebec) website.

International students under 18 who travel alone currently only need to show proof of about CA$7,700, while students aged 18 and above who study alone CA$15,500.

For students bringing family members (spouse, children), the minimum financial requirement will also increase depending on the case.

Number of people in the study permit application (including the main applicant)

Current requirement (CAD)

New requirement from 2026 (CAD)

One person under 18

7,756

24,617

One person 18 or older

15,508

24,617

Two people 18 or older

22,745

34,814

Two people aged 18 or over and one person under the age of 18?

25,479

42,638

Two people aged 18 or over and two people under the age of 18

27,499

49,234

Tor a couple (two people 18 or older), the requirement jumps from CA$22,745 to CA$34,814.

For two adults and one minor, the requirement will increase from CA$25,479 to CA$42,638.

Quebec has a special agreement with the Canadian government, allowing the province to set its own financial requirements for temporary residents (including workers and students).

The University of Montreal in Quebec, Canada. Photo from the university's Facebook page

The increase in financial proof is expected to significantly affect future students' financial planning. The requirement will exceed the levels applied by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in other provinces.

As of October last year, Quebec had around 130,000 international students, ranking third in Canada. It is home to several top universities, including McGill, University of Montreal (Université de Montréal), and Concordia.

According to the Open Doors report by the Institute of International Education (IIE), Canada currently hosts the second-largest number of international students globally, about 800,000 in the 2024–2025 academic year. (VnExpress International)