Proof of Funds for Express Entry: 2026 Amounts and the Bank-Letter Rules

Updated September 17, 2026 · 5 min read

Settlement funds are the FSW requirement that returns otherwise-perfect applications — not because people lack the money, but because they document it wrong. Here are the exact 2026 amounts and the evidence rules officers actually apply.

The official table (IRCC, updated July 7, 2025 — in force through 2026)

The figures are set at 50% of Statistics Canada's Low Income Cut-Off and revised roughly annually — check IRCC's page before submitting, and hold a buffer above the line for exchange-rate movement.

Family size counts people who aren't coming

The rule that surprises most applicants: count yourself, your spouse or partner, and every dependent child — even family members who are not accompanying you, and even ones who are Canadian citizens. A married applicant whose spouse stays home still needs the two-person figure of $19,001.

Currency and where the money sits

Funds can be held in any country and any currency — you enter the CAD equivalent, and IRCC checks it at prevailing rates. Multiple accounts across banks are fine; each institution writes its own letter and the balances add up.

Who's exempt

You don't need proof of funds if you're currently authorized to work in Canada and hold a valid job offer. (Canadian Experience Class candidates are exempt too — but if you qualify for CEC, you're not applying under FSW anyway.)

What the money must be

• Liquid and available — cash in accounts. Real estate equity, and anything not readily withdrawable, doesn't count until sold and settled.
• Yours and unencumbered — not borrowed, not pledged as collateral, not a line of credit. Joint accounts count fully only with your spouse; for other joint holders, expect to prove your share.
• Available twice — at application and again when your visa is issued. Spending down to the threshold after applying is a refusal waiting to happen.

The bank letter that passes

Officers want official letters from each institution, on letterhead with the bank's contact details, listing each account with its number, the date it was opened, the current balance, and the average balance over the past six months. That six-month average is the trap: a large deposit landing two weeks before submission drags questions even when the source is honest. Document any big inflow — a deed of gift for family money, sale papers for an asset — and start building the clean six-month history before you enter the pool, not after the invitation arrives.

Funds are one of four pass/fail gates covered in FSW minimum requirements — clear them all, and the 67-point grid is the only test left.