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The short answer
IRCC does not set a fixed number of days. Its Express Entry page says your bank letter must show, for each account, the current balance and the average balance over the past six months, and the funds must be available both when you apply and when your permanent resident visa is issued. In practice, money that has sat in your account for six months is the easiest to defend, and recent large deposits need an explanation.
What IRCC actually says
There is a common belief among Nigerian applicants that Express Entry funds must be "seasoned" for exactly six months. IRCC's proof of funds page, modified on 16 October 2026, does not say that. What it says is narrower and, in some ways, stricter:
- The bank letter must be on the institution's letterhead, with its contact details and your name.
- It must list outstanding debts such as credit cards and loans.
- For each current bank and investment account it must give the account number, the date the account was opened, the current balance and the average balance for the past six months.
- You must have the funds when you apply and when IRCC issues your permanent resident visa.
- You cannot count money borrowed from another person, or equity in property.
So the six months is not a waiting period. It is the window the bank's average covers. An officer compares that average with your current balance and with the minimum for your family size.
How this differs from a study permit
Do not mix the two Canadian routes. For a study permit, IRCC's financial support page lists bank statements for the past six months, including the application month or the month before, showing the source of income, among other forms of proof. Express Entry instead asks for the bank letter with a six-month average. If you have applied for study before, the documents you used then will not on their own meet the Express Entry letter requirement.
Why the six-month average matters
If your current balance is well above the average, the gap shows that much of the money arrived recently. That is not a refusal reason on its own, but it invites the question every officer asks: where did it come from, and is it borrowed? An applicant whose average and current balance are both above the requirement has answered that question before it is asked.
Worked example
Example only. Musa is a single applicant. IRCC's table, updated 7 July 2025, sets CAD 15,263 for one person.
| Scenario | Last 6 months' balances (CAD) | Average | Current | How it reads |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: steady saver | 16,000 in every month | 16,000 | 16,000 | Both above the minimum |
| B: recent sale | 4,000 for 4 months, then 16,000 for 2 | 8,000 | 16,000 | Current meets it; average shows a recent jump |
| C: borrowed top-up | 9,000 for 5 months, then 16,000 for 1 | about 10,167 | 16,000 | Jump with no source; borrowed money does not count |
The arithmetic: B is (4 × 4,000 + 2 × 16,000) ÷ 6 = 48,000 ÷ 6 = 8,000. C is (5 × 9,000 + 16,000) ÷ 6 = 61,000 ÷ 6 = 10,166.67. In scenario B, Musa attaches his land sale agreement and the buyer's transfer record. In scenario C, he has a problem no document can fix.
After you apply: the funds must stay
Because IRCC requires the funds to be available when the permanent resident visa is issued, spending the money after you submit can cause trouble, even if your application was strong. Plan large purchases, such as a car or rent deposit, for after you land, or keep a margin above the minimum. If your family size changes during processing, the required amount changes too; check the table for the new size.
Currency matters here too. If your money is held in naira, its value in Canadian dollars can fall between the day you submit and the day your visa is issued. A balance that cleared the figure comfortably at submission may sit close to it months later, so keep a margin and recheck before any request from IRCC.
Who does not need to worry about this
IRCC says applicants under the Canadian Experience Class, and applicants authorised to work in Canada who have a valid job offer, do not need proof of funds. The system still asks for a document, so they upload a letter explaining the exemption. See the full table in Express Entry settlement funds by family size.
Steps: preparing funds that hold up
- Look up the current minimum for your family size, counting your spouse and dependent children even if they are not coming.
- Move money into the account you will show early, ideally six months before you expect an invitation.
- Keep a margin above the minimum to allow for currency movement and fees.
- Collect source documents for any large credits: sale agreements, employer letters, maturity advice.
- Ask your bank for a letter that includes every item IRCC lists; see getting a statement from a Nigerian bank.
- Keep the funds in place until your permanent resident visa is issued.
Where Pryme fits
Pryme accounts hold NGN, USD, GBP and EUR, and money stays in the currency it arrived in until you choose to Swap. Pryme customers can also generate a verifiable statement through receipts and statements; IRCC decides what it accepts.
Questions people ask
How long should money be in my account for Express Entry?
IRCC sets no fixed period. Your bank letter shows the average balance for the past six months, and the funds must be available when you apply and when your permanent resident visa is issued.
Is 6 months seasoning required for Canada PR?
Not as a written rule. Six months is the period the bank letter's average balance covers, so money held for six months is easiest to defend.
Can I use money from selling land for Express Entry?
Yes, if the money is yours. Attach the sale agreement and the buyer's payment record so the officer can see why your current balance is above your average.
Can I spend my proof of funds after submitting Express Entry?
IRCC says the funds must be available when your permanent resident visa is issued, so spending them during processing is a risk.
Sources
- IRCC: Proof of funds, Express Entry (table updated 7 July 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- IRCC: Proof of financial support, study permit (page modified 28 August 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.