Does Immigration Check Credit History?

For most people, no—immigration doesn’t check your Canadian credit score the way a bank would.

When you apply to come to or stay in Canada (study permit, work permit, PR, citizenship), immigration officers are mainly focused on:

• Identity and security checks

• Criminal history

• Medical admissibility

• Proof of funds / financial support (for certain programs)

They’re not typically pulling your credit report to see if your score is 580 or 780.

That said, your finances still matter, just in a different way.

KOHO Essential Helps You Stay Organized

Even if immigration isn’t checking your score, getting your money organized early in Canada makes everything else easier.

With KOHO Essential:

• It has a low monthly plan fee that can be waived when you set up direct deposit or add +$1,000.

• You can opt into KOHO Credit Building for $10/month and build your credit history

• Quickly and easily check your credit score for free, anytime

• Grow your savings with a 2% interest savings rate on your entire balance.

• Earn 1% cash back on groceries, eating & drinking, and transportation.

• Enjoy unlimited transactions (never worry about sending money to someone again)

When Your Finances Do Matter for Immigration

Immigration may not care about your exact score, but they do care about whether you’re financially stable enough for the program you’re applying under.

For example:

• Proof of funds:
  For some programs (like Express Entry or certain study permits), you need to show you have enough money to support yourself and your family. This usually means:

  • Bank statements

  • Investment statements

  • Letters from financial institutions

• Past issues with government debt:
  If you owe certain types of government debt (e.g., unpaid immigration loans, some unpaid taxes, or default on previous undertakings), that can cause problems in specific situations.

• Sponsorship responsibilities:
  If you’re sponsoring someone, immigration cares about your ability to meet the financial commitment. They might look at:

  • Your income and tax returns

  • Whether you’re in default on previous sponsorships or government debts

In all of these, what matters is your actual financial situation, not a specific credit score number.

When Credit History Might Show Up Indirectly

While IRCC doesn’t normally run a “credit check” like a lender, your credit history can still show up indirectly if:

• You disclose a bankruptcy or consumer proposal on forms where they ask about it

• You provide financial documents that hint at serious financial trouble

• You’re applying for something in another country (e.g., some foreign immigration or sponsorship processes do use credit checks)

But for a typical Canadian immigration file, your credit report isn’t a primary tool.