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.
Verify on canada.ca
Always confirm policy details, dates, and exact eligibility on the Government of Canada source page before acting:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/notices/end-student-direct-stream-nigeria-student-express.html ↗Related immigration topics
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