Express Entry Proof of Funds 2026: Amounts by Family Size

IRCC's settlement funds table (marked updated July 7, 2025, on a page dated 22 June 2026) runs from $15,263 for one person to $40,392 for seven, plus $4,112 for each person beyond seven. IRCC says Canadian Experience Class applicants and people authorized to work in Canada with a valid job offer do not need to show proof of funds.

"Proof of funds" is the requirement to show that you have enough money to settle in Canada. It is separate from the application fees you pay IRCC. It is not a payment: the money stays yours. It is evidence, in the form of a bank letter, that you have a set amount available.

This guide sets out IRCC's table, who it applies to and who is exempt, how the size of your family is counted, what the bank letter has to contain, and the access rules IRCC states. It reports what the page says. It does not tell any reader whether their funds are enough or how to arrange them.

The figures below come from IRCC's Express Entry proof of funds page (page details dated 22 June 2026). The table on it is marked "Updated July 7, 2025". IRCC changes these amounts from time to time, so confirm the table on the page before you rely on a number.

The table

IRCC's page lists the funds required by the number of family members, in Canadian dollars:

1 family member: $15,263
2 family members: $19,001
3 family members: $23,360
4 family members: $28,362
5 family members: $32,168
6 family members: $36,280
7 family members: $40,392
Each additional family member beyond 7: add $4,112

So a family of eight is $40,392 + $4,112 = $44,504, and a family of nine is $48,616. Those two figures are arithmetic on the published rule, not separate lines on the page.

The amounts are the minimum IRCC sets for the requirement. They are not a prediction of what living in Canada costs, and they are not part of a ranking score. The requirement is a threshold: IRCC describes the money as something you must be able to show, not something you hand over.

Who needs proof of funds

IRCC's page says that if you are invited to apply, you must give written proof that you have this money. The page ties the requirement to the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Federal Skilled Trades Program.

It then lists who does not need proof of funds. The page names two situations:

you are applying under the Canadian Experience Class, or
you are authorized to work in Canada and you have a valid job offer.

Both lines are IRCC's. The page does not explain more than that in the part we read, so the exact meaning of "valid job offer" and "authorized to work" is a matter for IRCC's own definitions and the program page for your stream. A reader who is unsure whether they fall into an exempt group should read the program page on canada.ca, or ask a regulated adviser. Do not rely on a forum post or a friend's experience, because the exemptions are specific.

Express Entry is the system that manages these programs. The requirement attaches to the program you are invited under, not to having an Express Entry profile. Our explainer on Express Entry shows how the programs and the pool fit together.

How family size is counted

The size of your family decides which line of the table applies, so this is where many people go wrong. IRCC's page says: "To calculate the size of your family, include:" and then lists the following people:

yourself,
your spouse or common-law partner,
your dependent children, and
your spouse or common-law partner's dependent children.

The page is explicit that you include your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children even if they are not coming to Canada with you. In its words, you must include them "even if they're" not coming to Canada with you.

That has a direct effect on the number. Consider these illustrations of how the counting rule works. They are not advice about anyone's situation:

A person with a spouse and one dependent child, all three on the application: three family members, $23,360.
The same person where the child will stay abroad for now: still three family members under IRCC's wording, so still the three-person line.
A single applicant with no partner and no children: one family member, $15,263.

Who counts as a dependent child is defined in the immigration regulations and in IRCC's guidance, with age and status conditions. Check IRCC's definition before you count.

What counts as proof: the bank letter

IRCC says you must get official letters from any banks or financial institutions where you have an account. The page lists what the letters must contain. In IRCC's wording, they must be printed on the financial institution's letterhead and include:

the bank or institution's contact information: address, telephone number and email address,
your account numbers, and
the average balance for the past 6 months.

The page covers the content of the letter. The part of the page we read does not set out a template, a list of acceptable currencies or a conversion method, so for those questions use the page itself and the instructions that come with your invitation.

Other points the page makes about the funds:

Joint accounts. If your spouse is coming with you, IRCC says you can count money you have together in a joint account.
Accounts in your spouse's name. The page says you may be able to count money in an account under your spouse's name only, but you must prove you have access to the money.
Real property. The page says you cannot use equity on real property as proof of settlement funds.
Borrowed money. The page says you cannot borrow this money from another person.

These are IRCC's statements about what the proof can and cannot be. Whether a particular account or transfer meets them is a question for the officer who assesses the file.

When the money has to be available

IRCC's page states that your funds must be available to you at two points: when you apply, and when IRCC issues you a permanent resident visa, if your application is approved. The page puts it as a requirement that you have legal access to the funds, and that the money is yours to use.

That timing rule is why "I had the money last year" is not the same thing. The requirement is not satisfied by a historical balance that has since gone. The bank letter shows the average balance over the past six months, and the page also requires the funds to be available at application and at visa issue.

The page does not say what happens if the funds are not there at one of those points. Do not assume a particular consequence. If your circumstances change between invitation and visa issue, IRCC's program page and the instructions on your application are the places to check, and a regulated adviser can explain how the rules apply to your documents.

A few practical points follow from the wording, again as general information:

Funds are a documents question. IRCC wants evidence from the institution, on its letterhead.
Letters from more than one institution can be needed if funds are held in several places, since IRCC asks for letters from any banks or financial institutions where you have an account.
The family-size line is fixed when you apply, from the people who must be counted. Changes in family circumstances during processing can change who is counted, so read IRCC's guidance on updating your information.

How this differs from the application fees

Proof of funds and application fees are often confused because both involve money and both appear early in the process.

Application fees are paid to IRCC. For an economic application the fee list shows $1,590 with the right of permanent residence fee, or $990 without. Our guide to Canada PR fees sets those out.
Proof of funds is not paid to anyone. It is evidence that you hold at least the amount in the table.
The amounts are separate. Having $15,263 does not cover a $1,590 application fee as well. A person who wants to show both needs both amounts, and the second is not counted inside the first.
Third-party costs are another category. Medical exams, language tests, credential assessments and police certificates are paid to the providers.

Because the proof-of-funds amount is a requirement and not a fee, it does not appear on the IRCC fee list.

The table also differs from the study permit financial-support amounts, which apply to a different application and are higher per person. Our study permit guide covers that table.

Finally, the Canadian Experience Class and the people with a valid job offer are the groups IRCC names as not needing proof of funds. That is a statement about the proof requirement only. It is not a statement about whether anyone is eligible for a program, which turns on the program's own criteria.

If you want a regulated adviser to look at your own documents, the Migratio directory lists licensed Canadian immigration consultants (RCICs) and lawyers, with their College or law society details so you can check the register yourself. Migratio is a directory and booking service. It is not an immigration consultant and does not give advice on individual cases.

Questions people ask

How much proof of funds is needed for Express Entry in 2026?

IRCC's table (marked updated July 7, 2025, on a page dated 22 June 2026) shows $15,263 for one person, $19,001 for two, $23,360 for three and $28,362 for four, rising to $40,392 for seven plus $4,112 for each person beyond seven. Check the table on IRCC's page before relying on a figure.

Who is exempt from showing proof of funds?

IRCC's page says you do not need proof of funds if you are applying under the Canadian Experience Class, or if you are authorized to work in Canada and have a valid job offer.

Do I count my spouse and children if they are not coming to Canada with me?

IRCC's page says you must include your spouse or common-law partner and your dependent children even if they are not coming to Canada with you.

Can I use a joint account or my spouse's account?

IRCC says that if your spouse is coming with you, you can count money you hold together in a joint account. It says you may be able to count money in an account in your spouse's name only, but you must prove you have access to it.

Can I borrow the money or use the equity in my home?

IRCC's page says you cannot borrow the money from another person and you cannot use equity on real property as proof of settlement funds.

What must the bank letter include?

IRCC says it must be on the institution's letterhead and include the institution's contact information (address, telephone number and email address), your account numbers, and the average balance for the past 6 months.

Sources

IRCC: Express Entry, proof of funds (page details 2026-06-22; table marked updated July 7, 2025) (read 2026-10-09)
IRCC fee list (date modified 2026-09-21) (read 2026-10-09)

Last checked 2026-10-09.

Related guides

Canada PR Fees 2026: Application Fee and the $600 RPRF — On the IRCC fee list (date modified 21 September 2026), an economic permanent residence application, including Express Entry, is $1,590 with the right of permanent residence fee (RPRF) and $990 without it. A spouse or partner included on the application is the same again, and each dependent child is $270. IRCC says it refunds the RPRF if you withdraw or it refuses the application.
Express Entry explained: how the system and its three programs work — Express Entry is an online system IRCC uses to manage applications for permanent residence under three programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Trades Program. You create a profile, candidates with the highest scores are invited in rounds, invited candidates apply, and an officer decides. This page explains the mechanics. It cannot tell you whether you are eligible.
Canadian Experience Class requirements: what the rules say — The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is for people with skilled work experience gained in Canada. IRCC's page says at least 1 year of work or 1,560 hours in the 3 years before applying, in TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3, with temporary resident status and paid employment, plus approved language tests. There is no education requirement. The CEC is managed through Express Entry.
Federal Skilled Trades Program: who it covers and what it asks for — The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST) is for people qualified in a skilled trade. IRCC's page asks for 2 years of full-time trade work in the 5 years before applying, language minimums of CLB 5 for speaking and listening and CLB 4 for reading and writing, and either a valid job offer of at least 1 year or a certificate of qualification. It is managed through Express Entry. There is no education requirement.
Study Permit Proof of Funds: $23,448 From September 2026 — For study permit applications made outside Quebec on or after 1 September 2026, IRCC's living-expense amount is $23,448 for one person, $29,192 for two and $35,888 for three, excluding tuition and travel. IRCC's page (dated 28 August 2026) also shows the earlier amounts for applications from 1 January 2025 to 31 August 2026. Quebec has its own requirements.
Canadian Immigration Fees 2026: The IRCC List, Explained — The IRCC fee list (date modified 21 September 2026) sets the government fees for most applications: for example $100 for a visitor visa, $150 for a study permit, $155 for a work permit, $1,590 for an economic permanent residence application including the $600 right of permanent residence fee, and $653 for an adult citizenship application. Medical exams, language tests, police certificates and representative fees are not on it.