Program delivery update: New Student Direct Stream (SDS) instructions
This section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by IRCC staff. It is posted on the department’s website as a courtesy to stakeholders.
May 1, 2019
The Student Direct Stream (SDS) is an expedited study permit processing program available to legal residents living in China, India, Philippines or Vietnam who want to study in Canada at a post-secondary designated learning institution (DLI) and who meet specific requirements by providing upfront documentation. As of April 30, 2019, SDS applications are being centralized and processed by the Centralized Network (CN), and the service standard for SDS processing is 20 calendar days.
Only applications received electronically are eligible for SDS processing. Applicants must reside outside Canada at the time of application. Applicants must also be able to provide upfront proof of payment of the first year’s tuition, a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) of at least CAN$10,000, language test results, and upfront medical and police certificates, if required, based on the applicant’s country of residence or program of study.
Foreign nationals eligible for SDS processing are still subject to all other eligibility and admissibility requirements under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR).