Express Entry proof of funds: five steps to get it right

Proof of funds trips up more Express Entry applicants than almost any other document, usually for one of three reasons: they count their family wrong, they rely on money that does not qualify, or their bank letter leaves out what IRCC asks for. Here is how to get each one right, based on IRCC's page as checked on October 11, 2026.

Step 1: check whether you need it at all

Proof of funds applies to the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Federal Skilled Trades Program. You do not need it if you are invited under the Canadian Experience Class, or if you are authorized to work in Canada and have a valid job offer. Even then, the system asks everyone for a proof of funds document, so you upload a letter explaining which exemption applies.

Step 2: count your family the way IRCC does

Your family size includes you, your spouse or common-law partner, your dependent children and your spouse's dependent children, even if they are not coming with you. A single applicant whose spouse stays behind is a family of two.

Step 3: compare with the minimum

The table on IRCC's page is marked "Updated July 7, 2025":

Family members	Funds required (CAD)
1	$15,263
2	$19,001
3	$23,360
4	$28,362
5	$32,168
6	$36,280
7	$40,392
Each additional member	$4,112

These are minimums; IRCC asks you to enter the full amount you have. Because IRCC updates the table, check it again whenever you create or update your profile.

Step 4: make sure the money qualifies

• You must be able to access it legally when you arrive in Canada.
• Borrowed money does not count.
• Equity in real estate does not count.
• A joint account with your spouse counts if your spouse is coming with you; an account in your spouse's name alone can count if you prove you have access to it.

Step 5: get the right bank letters

You need an official letter from every bank or financial institution where you hold an account, on its letterhead, showing:

• the institution's contact information and your name;
• your outstanding debts, such as credit cards and loans;
• for each current bank and investment account: the account number, the date it was opened, the current balance and the average balance over the past 6 months.

That six-month average is why a large deposit right before you apply raises questions rather than solving them. If money arrived recently, keep the paper trail that shows where it came from.

If you live in Quebec

Express Entry programs require that you plan to live outside Quebec. If you want to stay, Quebec's own programs and rules apply instead; see our PSTQ page.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use a gift from family as proof of funds?

IRCC's page does not address gifts. It says the money cannot be borrowed and must be legally available to you. A documented gift is something to review case by case before you rely on it.

I have a job offer. Do I still upload something?

Yes. If you are authorized to work in Canada and have a valid job offer, you upload a letter stating that, in place of bank letters.

Does proof of funds affect my CRS score?

No. It is an eligibility requirement, not a scoring factor. For the score, see how to improve your CRS score.

Official sources

Official pages consulted on October 11, 2026:

• IRCC — Proof of funds