Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced on November 8, 2024 that it will no longer accept study permit applications under the Direct Student Stream (SDS). Also, the Nigerian Student Exclusive Program (NSE) for Nigerian applicants has also ended. From now on, all study permit applications must be submitted through the standard process.
History of Direct Student Stream (SDS)
The SDS program was created in 2018 to expedite the study permit process for international students from 14 countries, including India, China, Pakistan, and the Philippines. Students under this program had to provide proof of opening a Guaranteed Investment Account (GIC) in Canada in the amount of CAD 20,635 in addition to the language test results.
The importance of starting your study permit application early
SDS was popular because of its higher application approval rates and faster processing times than the standard process. Now that this flow has stopped, students who were planning to apply through SDS should be prepared for a longer time in the application processing process. For example, as of November 8, the average processing time for applications from India has increased to 8 weeks.
New changes to Canada’s international student program in 2024
In 2024, the Canadian government announced new measures to manage the temporary presence of students and work permit holders. These measures include the following:
- The ceiling for issuing new study permits: Starting in 2025, the cap on issuing new study permits will be limited to 437,000 permits, including master’s and doctoral students.
- New conditions for work permit after education (PGWP): Only students who have studied in certain fields and meet certain language requirements will be eligible to receive PGWP.
- Work permit restrictions for students’ spouses: The number and conditions of issuing work permits for spouses of international students are limited.
- Minimum living expenses update: The financial requirements for international applicants to live in Canada have been increased to ensure the necessary financial support for student life.
Date: 19 Aban
Source: CICnews
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