Comparing the Atlantic Immigration Evidently Program's Settlement Funds Table to Express Entry's

Ask two South African families targeting Canada what they need in the bank to qualify, and you can get wildly different answers depending on which pathway they’re using — not because one family is wrong, but because atlantic immigration program settlement funds versus express entry really is a story of two very different numbers built on two very different assumptions.

The two tables, side by side

Express Entry’s proof-of-funds table (current figures stamped “Updated July 7, 2025,” and due for its annual refresh) requires:

Look at the gap at any family size and it’s roughly the same shape: the AIP figure sits at a bit under a quarter of the Express Entry figure. For a family of four, that’s the difference between needing to show $28,362 and needing to show $7,090 — a genuinely material amount for a household also budgeting flights, shipping, and the first months of rent.

Why the aip settlement funds requirement is lower

This isn’t an oversight or a lesser standard — it reflects a structural difference in what each pathway assumes about your arrival. Express Entry candidates typically land without a confirmed Canadian job already in hand, so the settlement funds table exists to demonstrate they can support themselves and their family while they search for work. AIP candidates, by contrast, arrive with an already-confirmed job offer from a designated employer — the entire program is built around that employer relationship existing before the application even reaches IRCC. The lower AIP table reflects lower assumed financial risk, not a lower bar for the applicant’s overall case.

Settlement funds when you already hold a job offer — the exemption both tables share

Both programs recognise this same logic in an even more direct way: if you’re already authorised to work in Canada and hold a valid job offer, you don’t need to show settlement funds at all under Express Entry, even if you’re applying through the Federal Skilled Worker or Federal Skilled Trades programs, which normally require it. AIP goes further still — it has its own explicit exemption stating no proof of funds is required if you’re already working in Canada on a valid work permit. The throughline across both programs is consistent: a confirmed job removes or sharply reduces the state’s concern about whether you can support yourself while you look for one.

The aip proof of funds table compared to express entry — reading it correctly

A few details worth getting right when using either table: funds must be available to you both when you apply and when a visa is actually issued, borrowed money doesn’t count under either program, and equity in real estate can’t be used to meet the requirement. Family size counting also follows the same logic across both — you include your spouse and all dependent children, even ones not travelling with you or already holding other status, which surprises some applicants who assume only the people actually moving should count.

What this means for a family choosing a pathway

If your household is weighing AIP against a general Express Entry application, the settlement funds gap alone isn’t a reason to choose one over the other — the underlying eligibility criteria, occupation fit, and whether a genuine Atlantic Canadian job offer is realistically available matter far more. But it is a real, sourced number worth having in your planning spreadsheet rather than assuming “settlement funds” means the same figure regardless of which door you’re walking through.

This article explains general, published funds requirements; it is not advice on your specific application. Settlement fund tables update periodically — confirm the current figures directly on canada.ca before applying, and consult a licensed Canadian immigration consultant (RCIC) for guidance on your own case.