Overview
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada issued updated instructions dated July 24 that require officers to assess both the amount and the source of funds in every study‑permit application.
- Officers may now ask for up to six months of bank statements including the month before application, supplementary employment or family financial records, and written explanations for unusual deposits.
- The guidance adds pension and rental income as acceptable proof and removes bank drafts as an example while keeping the statutory minimum proof‑of‑funds amounts unchanged.
- IRCC has warned that breaches of permit conditions, including unauthorized work, can lead to removal from Canada, future refusals, and in serious cases a five‑year re‑entry ban.
- The change responds to Auditor General findings about widespread flagged non‑compliance and follows broader March 2026 legislative reforms, and it carries direct consequences for major source countries such as India where permit issuances have fallen sharply.