Student Direct Stream(SDS)
The Student Direct Stream (SDS) was introduced in June 2018 as an initiative to fast-track the Study Permit application process for eligible international students who wish to study in Canada. With SDS, you may experience a significantly faster processing time compared to the regular study permit application process, usually completed within 20 calendar days
Application Process
You must live outside Canada when you apply through the SDS and be a legal resident living in 1 of the following 14 countries:
- Antigua and Barbuda,
- Brazil,
- China,
- Colombia,
- Costa Rica,
- India,
- Morocco,
- Pakistan,
- Peru,
- Philippines,
- Senegal,
- Saint Vicent and the Grenadines,
- Trinidad and Tobago and
- Vietnam.
Proof Of Funds
To be eligible for the SDS you must be able to show proof of full payment for the first year of your studies in a DLI. You can meet this requirement by providing one of the following with your SDS application:
• a receipt from the DLI;
• an official letter from the DLI confirming payment of tuition fees;
• a receipt from a bank showing that tuition fees have been paid to the DLI; or,
• proof that the tuition fee amount has been transferred into a repository account at the DLI to be applied to the tuition bill at a later date
Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC)
To be able to apply for a Study Permit through the SDS, international students living in one of the eligible countries must first purchase a GIC of $10,000 CAD. A GIC is a Canadian investment that has a guaranteed rate of return for a fixed period of time. The GIC must be purchased from a financial institution listed on the Canadian Deposit Insurance Company (CDIC) website. This financial institution must:
- confirm the purchase by providing you with:
- a letter of attestation,
- a GIC certificate,
- an Investment Directions Confirmation, or
- an Investment Balance Confirmation;
- hold the GIC in an investment or a student account that you can’t access until you arrive in Canada;
- confirm your identity before they release any funds to you;
- release the funds to you by providing:
- an initial lump sum once you identify yourself upon arrival in Canada,
- the remainder of the funds in monthly or bi-monthly installments over 10 to 12 months.
Language Test
You must have a language test result showing either :
- IELTS Academic with a score of 6.0 or higher in each skill (reading, writing, speaking and listening) or;
- TEF score that is equal to a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of at least 7 in each skill (reading, writing,
speaking and listening)
Important to note: Beginning in August 2023 → there are 4 new English tests that students applying under the SDS may wish to take: CELPIP General; Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL) – minimum score 60; Pearson PTE Academic – minimum score 60, TOEFL iBT – minimum score of 83.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Acceptance letter from a postsecondary designated learning institution (DLI).
- Medical examination.
- Police certificate.
- Recent secondary or postsecondary school transcript(s).
- Applicants intending to study in Quebec must also have a Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) from the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration.
No. The Student Direct Stream helps you get a study permit faster, but you still must meet all the eligibility requirements for a study permit.
If IRCC refuses your study permit application, contact the bank that issued your Guaranteed Investment Certificate to get a refund.
No. The Student Direct Stream is for post-secondary students only.
Yes, you may be able to bring your spouse or common-law partner, as well as your dependent children, to accompany you in Canada. They may qualify for a study or work permit or a visitor visa. It is important to submit their applications online with your study permit application.