What is Student Direct Stream in Canada?

Canada’s Student Direct Stream (SDS) program is for international students to apply for study permits more rapidly. These attempts will be made by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to process applications from participants in this program within 20 days.
International students can apply for SDS from the following 14 countries:
Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, India, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Senegal, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Vietnam.
Please take note that SDS program advantages cannot be used by citizens of the aforementioned nations who are currently residing in another nation while applying for a study permit. Also, according to IRCC standards, incomplete applications will be rejected.
Student Direct Stream (SDS) Application Process
The application process for a study permit obtained through the SDS is very similar to the non-SDS study permit. To qualify, candidates must;
- Show a copy of a letter of acceptance to a Canadian Designated Learning Institution (DLI)
- Provide proof of valid language test results completed within 2 years of the date of application, showing either:
- An IELTS score of 6 or higher in each language skill;
- A TEF score equivalent to a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of at least 7.
- Present proof of completion of the medical exam;
- Prove that they have a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) of $ 10,000.
- Must have paid the tuition fees for the first year of study program
- Submit the latest secondary or post-secondary educational transcript
- Apply at a Visa Application Centre (VAC).
- Additional documents that candidates will need to send with their application includes;
- Study Permit application form from outside of Canada;
- Application for a temporary resident visa form.
Student Direct Stream’s Post-Application Submission Process
In order to enter and study for post-graduate programs in Canada, successful applicants will receive a letter of reference from the Port of Entry and a Canadian study permit (temporary residence visa). Students who have a valid study permit and are enrolled full-time in a DLI program are allowed to work in Canada.
Students may work full-time year-round on campus or part-time off campus during normal semesters. If the curriculum requires labour as a requirement for graduation, students may also participate in a co-op or internship. Please note that to work, students will require a Social Insurance Number (SIN). The SIN number is a unique 9-digit number that the Canadian government uses to check and categorize all residents—international students are eligible for a temporary SIN.