With effect from Friday, November 8, 2024, Canada has unexpectedly ended its popular Student Direct Stream (SDS) program, which has facilitated the expeditious acquisition of visas for thousands of overseas students. The Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced the SDS in 2018 with the goal of streamlining the visa application process for students who satisfied certain conditions from 14 countries, including China, India, and the Philippines. English or French language exam results and a $20,635 CAD Canadian Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) were among the prerequisites. Successful candidates were able to get study permits in a couple of weeks thanks to the expedited procedure, although Indian applicants typically had to wait eight weeks for approval under the traditional approach.
In light of housing and resource constraints, Canada is increasingly attempting to regulate its foreign student population, which is reflected in the SDS cancellation. The government established a maximum of 437,000 new study licenses for 2025, including all educational levels, including postgraduate programs, as part of its 2024 policy changes. Tougher academic and language criteria for students hoping to be eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), fewer work permits for spouses of overseas students, and increased financial evidence requirements are some additional stringent measures. With a record 807,000 study visa holders in 2023, Canada is attempting to strike a balance between the advantages of its foreign education industry and the need to relieve strain on housing and services. International students are now subject to stricter eligibility requirements and higher wait periods as a result. Advisors advise students to start arranging their visas far sooner than they used to in order to deal with the new, more restricted environment.
