IRCC expanded the Student Direct Stream to 7 new countries!

Starting today, July 9th, international students from 7 new countries are able to apply for a study permit using the Student Direct Stream (SDS). The new countries added to this program are:

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Brazil
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Peru
• St. Vincent and the Grenadines
• Trinidad and Tobago

Currently, there are a total of 14 countries under this program. China, India, the Philippines, and  Vietnam were the first countries under the Student Direct Stream. Then, in 2019, Canada expanded the program to include Pakistan, Senegal, and Morocco.

Not sure what this program is about? How to qualify for this program? or What are the language requirements? Don’t worry! here we will explain it to you.

What is the Student Direct Stream?

The Student Direct Stream was launched in 2018 to make the process of applying for a Study Permit faster and more efficient for international students. According to IRCC “through the SDS, an applicant provides additional information upfront, allowing officers to make a thorough assessment and final decision quickly”.

International students who want to come to Canada first need to receive a Letter of Acceptance (LOA) from a DLI. Once they receive an LOA, they need to submit a study permit application. Thanks to the SDS,  potential international students can get their study permit application processed within 20 calendar days on average. This might change due to COVID restrictions.

How to qualify for SDS?

Our CEO and Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant, AL Parsai, explains to us that to qualify for this program you need to meet the following requirements:

• Take an upfront medical exam. Of course, you must visit an approved Panel Physician.
• Purchase a $10,000 GIC from a financial institution insured by the Canadian Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC).
• Further, get admission to a Designated Learning Institution in Canada
• Also, Pay the first-year tuition fee in full
• Take the IELTS with a score of at least 6 or take the TEF Canada with a score of equivalent to Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens 7. If you have graduated from a Canadian curriculum high school, you are exempt from taking any of these tests.
• Submit other necessary forms and documents

Language requirements for SDS Canada

The following table shows the minimum language requirements for SDS Canada. You only need to take one of the following tests.

Test	Language	Speaking	Listening	Reading	Writing
IELTS General or Academic	English	6.0 (Six)	Six (6.0)	6.0 (Six)	Six (6.0)
TEF Canada	French	310	249	207	310

The forms and document checklists vary depending on your country of residence.

Quick Facts

– Around 16,000 study permits were issued in 2019 to applicants from the 7 Student Direct Stream countries. This also included around 10,000 from Brazil and 4,400 from Colombia.

–  According to IRCC, in 2018, international students accounted for more than $22 billion in spending in Canada. This represented 17.4% of Canada’s total service exports that year.

Let us help!

Of course, you may either consult with the IRCC website or fill out the following form to help you with the process. Keep in mind, SDS does not guarantee success but is a faster method to receive the outcome of your application.

-Read this article in Spanish–

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