Section 39 — Financial reasons
Text of provision
A foreign national is inadmissible for financial reasons if they are or will be unable or unwilling to support themself or any other person who is dependent on them, and have not satisfied an officer that adequate arrangements for care and support, other than those that involve social assistance, have been made.
Plain English
Section 39 makes a foreign national inadmissible if they cannot or will likely be unable to financially support themselves and their dependants and they have not satisfied an officer that arrangements for their care and support have been made.
The determination is prospective — it applies not only to a person who is currently unable to support themselves, but to one who is likely to be unable to do so. Evidence of savings, employment offers, or sponsorship arrangements can rebut the ground.
Practical effect
Financial inadmissibility is most commonly encountered in temporary resident contexts (visitors, students) where officers must be satisfied that the person has sufficient funds for their stay and for departure. It also applies in permanent residence applications — sponsor income requirements in the family class and proof of settlement funds in Express Entry categories are regulatory implementations of this principle. For refugee claimants and protected persons, financial inadmissibility does not bar a refugee claim.