The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has expanded Canadas fast-track program of Student Direct Stream (SDS) for international students to seven new countries including Colombia, Peru, Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago, Brazil, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Antigua and Barbuda.
The SDS expedites the processing of Canadian study permits for those who want to study at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI).
Currently, the SDS program is available to students from 14 countries including India, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil,Morocco, Pakistan, Peru St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the Philippines, Senegal, Vietnam and Trinidad and Tobago.
Also Read: International Students, Immigrants Contributed to Canadas Population in Q1 2021: Report
With the SDS program, Canada aims at processing all study permit applications in 20 calendar days, which otherwise takes several months depending on the country.
Potential international students will first have to be accepted to a DLI and receive a Letter of Acceptance (LOA).
IRCC launched the program in 2018 for students coming from India, the Philippines, China and Vietnam. In 2019, it expanded it to Pakistan, Morocco and Senegal.
Wish to Know More About Canadas Student Direct Stream?
Canadian Student Direct Stream (SDS) Eligibility Criteria
Students applying for a study permit under the SDS should meet certain eligibility requirements including the following:
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Must have obtained at least 6.0 on the IELTS Academic or IELTS General Training on each skill including Writing, Reading, Speaking and Listening.
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Francophone applicants should obtain a Candaian Language Benchmark (CLB) which is equivalent to 7 in each skill on the Test dEvaluation de Francais.
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Must have received a Letter of Acceptance from the DLI.
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Must submit the most recent educational transcript.
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Must submit a Guaranteed Investment Certificate from an eligible Canadian financial institution of not less than CAD 10,000.
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Must submit evidence of full payment of first-year tuition fees.
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Must submit proof of a medical exam. (This applies to only those applicants who have travelled or lived for six months in designated countries or territories).
Also Read: Canada Eases Some Travel Restrictions for Certain Categories
Among the top 15 source countries of international students in Canada, SDS participants include India, Colombia, Vietnam, China, Brazil and Morocco.
Among the latest additions to SDS participating countries, Colombia, Peru and Brazil are expected to have the most impact on the number of international students enrolling at Canadian institutions.
Stay tuned for the latest updates on foreign education!
