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Canada has introduced stricter financial assessment rules for international students applying for study permits, requiring immigration officers to carry out more rigorous checks on applicants’ financial capacity and the origin of their funds before approving visas.
The new guidelines, issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), direct immigration officers to verify not only that applicants possess sufficient funds to finance their education but also that the money comes from legitimate and reliable sources. The revised policy forms part of Canada’s efforts to strengthen oversight of its international student programme and improve the integrity of its immigration system.
Under the updated guidance, officers must assess “in all cases” the source of an applicant’s funds, replacing earlier instructions that recommended enhanced scrutiny mainly in high-risk environments. Immigration officials are now empowered to request additional documentation whenever the circumstances of an application warrant further verification.
Applicants may also be required to submit six months of bank statements, up from the previous requirement of four months, with statements covering either the month of application or the preceding month. Officers may equally request additional personal, family, employment and financial records to establish whether applicants have genuine and sustainable financial support throughout their period of study.
The revised framework also expands the list of acceptable proof of funds. International students can now present evidence of pension income and rental property earnings to demonstrate their financial capacity. However, bank drafts convertible into Canadian dollars, previously accepted as proof of funds, have been removed from the approved list of financial documents.
Students applying to extend their study permits will also face tighter scrutiny. Immigration officers have been instructed to confirm that applicants possess sufficient financial resources to support themselves during the first year after their permit extension.
Despite the tougher verification process, Canada has not increased the minimum financial requirement for study permit applicants. A single international student studying outside Quebec must still demonstrate access to CAD$22,895 for living expenses, in addition to tuition fees and travel costs.
The latest measures follow concerns raised during a government review over the number of international students flagged for possible non-compliance compared with the resources available to investigate such cases. Canadian authorities believe the revised procedures will improve transparency and ensure only genuine students with credible financial backing are granted study permits.
The changes are expected to affect thousands of prospective international students, including Nigerians, who traditionally rank among the largest groups seeking admission into Canadian universities and colleges. Applicants will now need to provide more comprehensive financial evidence and ensure their documentation clearly establishes the legitimacy and consistency of their funding before submitting their visa applications.
