Canada Express Entry Proof of Funds: CAD 15,263 for One Applicant

Verification date: July 15, 2026. The IRCC source page carries a June 22, 2026 update date; all monetary thresholds and document requirements below were checked on the verification date.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) lists a minimum of CAD 15,263 for one applicant in the table marked July 7, 2025 on its official Express Entry proof-of-funds page. The minimum rises to CAD 19,001 for two people, CAD 23,360 for three, and CAD 40,392 for seven; for each additional family member beyond seven, add CAD 4,112. Family size can include a spouse or common-law partner and dependent children even if they are Canadian citizens or permanent residents and are not accompanying the applicant.

How much do I need for each family size?

The following figures are the minimum amounts in IRCC’s July 7, 2025 table:

Number of family members	Minimum funds in CAD
1	15,263
2	19,001
3	23,360
4	28,362
5	32,168
6	36,280
7	40,392
More than 7	Add 4,112 for each additional family member

These are minimum amounts, not limits on the money an applicant may have. If the applicant has more funds, IRCC says to declare the full amount in the Express Entry profile or application.

IRCC explains that it updates the required amounts annually using 50% of the low-income cut-off totals.

Who counts when family members are not coming to Canada?

The calculation includes:

The applicant
The applicant’s spouse or common-law partner
The applicant’s dependent children
The spouse’s or common-law partner’s dependent children

A spouse or common-law partner and dependent children must still be included if they are:

Canadian citizens or permanent residents
Not accompanying the applicant to Canada

The relevant test is therefore not simply the number of people travelling. The applicant must also show that the funds can pay their family’s living costs even when those family members remain outside Canada.

Which Express Entry programs require proof of funds?

An applicant needs proof of funds to meet the minimum requirements of the Federal Skilled Worker Program and Federal Skilled Trades Program.

An applicant applying through the Canadian Experience Class does not have to show enough money to support themselves and their family.

As of the verification date, however, the Express Entry system asks every applicant for a proof-of-funds document. An applicant who does not need to show settlement funds must upload a letter explaining either that they:

Have been invited to apply through the Canadian Experience Class; or
Hold a valid job offer and authorization to work in Canada.

What must an institutional bank letter include?

IRCC says applicants must obtain official letters from the banks or financial institutions where they hold accounts. Each letter must be on the institution’s letterhead and contain the following information:

The institution’s address, telephone number, and email address
The applicant’s name
Outstanding debts, including credit-card debts and loans
For every current banking and investment account held with that institution:
- Account number
- Date the account was opened
- Current balance
- Average balance over the past six months

A balance shown without the prescribed institution details may therefore not communicate everything required in the official letter.

When must the money remain available?

The funds must be available to the applicant:

When they submit their immigration application; and
When IRCC issues their permanent resident visa, if the application is approved.

The applicant must also prove that they can legally access the money in Canada when they arrive.

IRCC’s examples exclude:

Equity in real property as proof of settlement funds
Money borrowed from another person

If a spouse is accompanying the applicant, money held in a joint account may be counted. Funds in an account solely under the spouse’s name may also be counted, but only if the applicant can prove they have access to that money.

How should the Express Entry profile reflect available funds?

The profile should contain current information about the applicant’s funds. IRCC says an applicant may qualify for more than one Express Entry program without knowing in advance under which program they will receive an invitation, as discussed in its Help Centre guidance on eligibility for multiple programs.

The official guidance also contains a dated instruction: applicants who needed to update their proof of funds to remain eligible had to do so no later than July 28, 2025. That deadline has passed. Updating an Express Entry profile does not change the date and time IRCC received it, so the applicant keeps their rank in a tie-breaker situation.

Frequently asked questions

Is CAD 15,263 enough if my family is not coming to Canada?

Not necessarily. The minimum depends on the assessed family size. A spouse or common-law partner and dependent children count even if they are Canadian citizens or permanent residents and are not accompanying you.

Can I count money in an account only in my spouse’s name?

Possibly, but you must prove that you can access the money. If your spouse is accompanying you, money in a joint account may be counted.

Can I use borrowed money or equity from real property?

No. IRCC specifically says that settlement funds cannot be borrowed from another person and that equity in real property cannot be used as proof.

What should I do if I have more than the minimum amount?

The table shows only the minimum. If you have additional funds, list the full amount in your Express Entry profile or application rather than entering only the minimum.

What happened to the July 28, 2025 update deadline?

It was a past deadline for applicants who needed to update their Express Entry profile to remain eligible. It should not be treated as a current deadline; applicants should verify any new instruction with IRCC.

These are general rules for Canada’s federal Express Entry system, not a guarantee of invitation or approval. Confirm the current requirements against IRCC’s official guidance or with a Canadian consulate before submitting a profile or application.