Canada tightens financial checks for international student visa applicants

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.