Canada abruptly announced the end of its widely utilized Student Direct Stream (SDS) program, effective from November 8, 2024, which has facilitated quicker study permit approvals for thousands of international students over the years. The SDS was launched in 2018 by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to streamline the application process for study permits for students from specific countries who met particular financial and language requirements.
The program applied to students from 14 countries, including India, China, and the Philippines, and offered a simplified visa process provided that applicants fulfilled certain prerequisites. Among these were holding a Canadian Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) worth $20,635 CAD and achieving qualifying scores in either English or French language proficiency tests. This streamlined system allowed many applicants to receive study permits within a matter of weeks, whereas the standard application process can take up to eight weeks or more for Indian applicants.
The termination of the SDS reflects Canada’s recent shift in policy aimed at controlling the influx of international students, largely due to the country’s ongoing challenges with housing shortages and strained public resources. As part of its broader adjustments for 2024, Canada has set a cap of 437,000 new study permits for 2025, covering educational programs at all levels, including postgraduate studies.
In addition to terminating the SDS, Canada has introduced stricter language and academic criteria for students seeking eligibility for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program. The changes also restrict work permit access for the spouses of international students and impose higher financial proof requirements for applicants. The measures are part of Canada’s efforts to ease the pressures on its housing market and public services while managing the increasing number of foreign students in the country. Canada hosted a record 807,000 international students on study permits in 2023, and the government aims to balance this figure with available resources.
With the SDS program no longer available, international students will now experience longer wait times and must meet more stringent eligibility requirements. Advisors recommend that students commence their visa application processes much earlier to adapt to these more restrictive conditions.
