BREAKING IRCC closes the Student Direct Stream, effective immediately

As of November 8, 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has officially stopped accepting study permit applications through the Student Direct Stream (SDS).

Additionally, IRCC has closed the Nigeria Student Express (NSE) stream, which was previously available to study permit applicants from Nigeria.

Moving forward, all study permit applications must be submitted through the standard application process.

Launched in 2018, the SDS was designed to fast-track study permit applications for students from 14 countries, including India, China, Pakistan, and the Philippines. Among other requirements, SDS applicants were required to submit language test scores and evidence of a Canadian Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) of $20,635 CAD.

Starting Your Study Permit Application Early

Historically, the Student Direct Stream (SDS) offered higher approval rates and faster processing times than the standard study permit application process. With the recent discontinuation of SDS, students who intended to apply through this stream should now anticipate potentially longer processing times.

Regular study permit processing times differ by country. For instance, as of November 8, 2024, the average processing time for study permit applications from India is approximately 8 weeks.

Recent Changes to Canada’s International Student Program

In 2024, Canada introduced new measures to its international student program to manage the number of temporary residents (including study and work permit holders) in the country.

Over the past year, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has:

• Implemented a cap on new study permits, with a limit of 437,000 set for 2025, including permits for master’s and PhD students;
• Introduced new language and field-of-study requirements for students seeking eligibility for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP);
• Restricted work permit availability for spouses of international students; and
• Increased the cost-of-living financial requirement for study permit applicants.

For more information visit at: https://pioverseas.com/