The Student Direct Stream (SDS) is an expedited study permit processing program for those who are applying to study in Canada at a post-secondary designated learning institution (DLI). The SDS is available to legal residents who also reside in
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Brazil
- China
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- India
- Morocco
- Pakistan
- Peru
- Philippines
- Senegal
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Vietnam
Eligibility Criteria
The applicant must include the following documents to be eligible for student direct scheme processing:
1. Proof of a Valid Language Test Result
Completed within 2 years of the date the student direct stream application was received, showing either of the following:
- An International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 6.0 or higher in each language skill: listening, reading, writing and speaking
- A Test d’Evaluation de Français (TEF) score that is equivalent to a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of at least 7 for each ability: at least 310 for speaking, 249 for listening, 207 for reading and 310 for writing
2. Proof of a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) of CAN$10,000
Or more from any bank insured by the Canadian Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC) or any bank listed on the immigration, refugees and citizenship canada student direct stream web page
The GIC must meet the following criteria:
- When the GIC has been purchased, the bank provides a letter of attestation, the GIC certificate, the Investment Directions Confirmation or the Investment Balance Confirmation to the applicant.
- The bank holds the funds in an investment account or a student account that is inaccessible for release to the applicant until the applicant’s arrival in Canada.
- Upon entry to Canada, the bank must validate the client’s identity before releasing funds to the study permit holder.
- The applicant receives an initial disbursement upon identifying themselves, and the remaining funds are disbursed in monthly or bimonthly instalments over a period of 10 to 12 months.
3. Proof of Full Payment of Tuition For The Applicant’s First Year Of Study
This may be in the form of the following:
- a receipt from the designated learning institute (DLI)
- an official letter from the DLI confirming payment of tuition fees
- a receipt from a bank showing that tuition fees have been paid to the DLI
- proof that the tuition fee amount has been transferred into a repository account at the DLI to be applied to the tuition bill at a later date
4. letter of acceptance from a post-secondary designated learning institute.
5. Most recent secondary or post-secondary educational transcript
6. Proof of Completion Of Upfront Medical Examination from a panel physician for applicants
- who have lived or travelled for 6 months in designated countries or territories during the year before coming to Canada
- Whose field of study requires upfront medical examination results