Closed / no longer in effectHigh urgency
Student Direct Stream (SDS) Closed
Effective: November 8, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. ET
TL;DR
IRCC permanently closed the Student Direct Stream and the Nigeria Student Express. Fast-track processing for residents of 14 countries (India, China, Pakistan, Philippines, Vietnam, Brazil, etc.) is no longer available.
What changed
- SDS and Nigeria Student Express both ended.
- Applicants from former SDS countries now apply via the regular study permit stream.
- GIC and upfront language proof are no longer 'required' but remain advisable.
Who is affected
Prospective international students from former SDS countries — India, China, Pakistan, Philippines, Vietnam, Brazil, Senegal, Morocco, Costa Rica, Trinidad & Tobago, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda, Colombia, Peru, plus Nigeria.
Source: View on canada.ca →
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