Japa: Canada Tightens Immigration With New Visa Rules

Foreign nationals hoping to migrate to Canada through Express Entry must now meet higher financial proof requirements, according to new IRCC guidelines.

Effective from July 7, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) increased the minimum proof-of-funds threshold for Express Entry candidates.

A single applicant must now show access to at least CAD $15,263 about ₦17 million up from the previous CAD $14,690.

Applicants applying as a family of two must show CAD $19,001, roughly ₦21.2 million, according to the updated IRCC rule.

IRCC said the increase followed its yearly review of settlement fund requirements tied to Canada’s Low-Income Cut-Off figures.

These funds help prove that applicants can support themselves and their families after arriving in Canada.

Applicants must submit a stamped letter from their financial institution, printed on the bank’s letterhead.

Those applying with a spouse can use joint account balances to meet the minimum fund requirement.

Candidates already in the Express Entry pool must update their settlement funds before July 28, 2025.

IRCC confirmed that updating settlement funds won’t affect the original profile submission date.

This means applicants won’t lose their place during tie-breaker draws used by IRCC to rank candidates.

Proof of funds is mandatory for those under the Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades programs.

However, some candidates do not need to meet this financial requirement.

Applicants under the Canadian Experience Class are exempt from the proof-of-funds requirement.

Candidates already working in Canada with a valid job offer are also exempt, even under other Express Entry streams.

Submitting an Express Entry profile is not a guarantee of permanent residence, IRCC warned.

Every two weeks, IRCC invites top-ranking candidates from the pool using Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores.

Only candidates with the highest CRS points receive invitations to apply for permanent residency.

Canada continues to see high immigration interest, especially from Nigeria and other developing countries.

The updated policy makes financial readiness even more crucial for aspiring immigrants.

Experts advise prospective applicants to review their financial documents and ensure they meet the new threshold.

Failing to meet the updated requirements may lead to disqualification from the Express Entry pool.

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