Financial sufficiency and credibility
Insufficient readily available funds for the proposed stay
Not a statutory bar. It affects whether the officer is satisfied, and better evidence can change that.
What this means
The applicant does not demonstrate enough accessible money to cover the proposed visit and return travel, considering accommodation and the length of stay.
Why it matters to the officer
IRCC expressly requires enough money for the stay and notes that the amount depends on the duration and whether the person stays in a hotel or with friends/relatives. There is no single universal visitor-visa bank-balance figure published by IRCC.
What the officer compares
Available balances, normal income, trip budget, accommodation cost, sponsor contribution and financial obligations at home.
How to strengthen a new application
Prepare a realistic budget and show funds that are genuinely accessible. Distinguish cash/bank funds from illiquid assets such as property.
Common mistakes
Using property value as if it were cash; ignoring airfare; showing only one account screenshot; relying on a sponsor without evidence of support.
- Using property value as if it were cash
- ignoring airfare
- showing only one account screenshot
- relying on a sponsor without evidence of support
Illustrative exampleTwo applicants with the same bank balance may be assessed differently if one proposes a 7-day hosted visit and the other a 60-day hotel stay.
Before you apply again
IRCC now sends the officer’s decision note with most temporary-resident refusals since 29 July 2025, so check what came with your refusal first. The decision note or GCMS notes guide explains the difference, and the decoder explains the codes in them.
Scope noteIRCC does not publish an official ranked list of refusal reasons. This is a research-based classification of the legal grounds and evidence weaknesses that recur in real refusals. A weak itinerary or a new job is not itself a statutory ground — it affects whether the officer is satisfied under IRPR 179(b). This page is general information, not legal advice.
Where this comes from
Drawn from the Government of Canada’s published law and guidance. Check us against these pages:
Questions about this refusal
Not sure this is why you were refused?
Check first whether IRCC sent you the officer’s decision note with the refusal. For the fuller record, we can request your GCMS notes for you, or you can request them yourself, free, subject to what IRCC withholds.
Have us request them for youDo it yourself or let us do it?
