Student Direct Stream (SDS)

Student Direct Stream

APPLY THROUGH THE STUDENT DIRECT STREAM

Applicants must apply online to get faster processing on their study permit. There’s no paper application for the Student Direct Stream. Applicants must make sure they include all the documents required with their application. Before they apply online, applicants must make sure they have:

  • the instruction guide to fill out forms
  • a scanner or camera to create electronic copies of their documents, and
  • a valid credit or debit card to pay with
Get a study permit faster through the Student Direct Stream

THE PROCESS

Depending on where the applicants live, they may be able to get their study permit faster through the Student Direct Stream.

Most Student Direct Stream applications are processed within 20 calendar days. However, some applications may take longer than this.

To get this faster processing, applicants must:

  • give their biometrics as soon as possible; and
  • meet all the eligibility requirements

A study permit is not a visa. It does not, by itself, allow the applicant to travel to or enter Canada. The Applicant may also need a visitor visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). If they do, the Canadian Authority will issue it with their study permit.

WHO CAN APPLY

To be eligible for faster processing through the Student Direct Stream, applicants must:

  • be a legal resident living in:
    • China
    • India
    • Pakistan
    • the Philippines or
    • Vietnam
  • have an acceptance letter from a post-secondary designated learning institution;
  • prove that they have paid the tuition fees for their first year of study;
  • live outside of Canada when they apply;
  • have a Guaranteed Investment Certificate(GIC) of CAN$10,000
  • have a Certificatd’acceptation du Québec (CAQ) from the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Diversité et de l’Inclusion
    • this applies only if they are planning to study in Quebec
  • get a medical examand a police certificate before they apply (if needed);
  • have their most recent secondary or post-secondary school transcript(s);
  • have a language test result that shows
    • a score of 6.0 or higher in each skill (reading, writing, speaking and listening) on the InternationalEnglish Language Testing System (IELTS) or
    • a score of at least 7 in each skill (reading, writing, speaking and listening) on the Test d’évaluation de français (TEF) score that is equal to a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB)

Depending on where they are applying from, applicants may also need to provide other documents. Applicants must make sure they include all the documents required by the visa office that processes their application.
Applicants may also be asked to give additional documents to support their application. In this situation, their application will take longer to process.

WHO IS NOT ELIGIBLE?

If applicants live anywhere other than 1 of the countries listed above (even if they are a citizen of one of the countries above), they must apply through the regular study permit application process.

If applicants live in another country (even if they are a citizen of one of the countries above), or if they don’t meet the eligibility for faster processing, they may still be eligible for a study permit through the regular study permit application process.

STUDENT DIRECT STREAM EXPANDED TO PAKISTAN

July 26, 2019—Ottawa, ON

The Student Direct Stream (SDS) is now available to study permit applicants who are living in Pakistan

The Student Direct Stream launched in 2018 as an option for study permit applicants in China, India, Philippines and Vietnam. Most SDS applications in those countries are being processed in under 3 weeks.

The expansion of SDS supports the Government’s goal of attracting students from a more diverse range of countries.

QUOTES

“Canada’s diverse, welcoming society, high-quality educational institutions and opportunities to work or immigrate after graduation have made Canada a leading destination of choice for students from around the world. By expanding the Student Direct Stream to a more diverse range of prospective students, we’re enhancing the tremendous cultural, social and economic benefits that international students provide.”

– The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC)

A GIC is a Canadian investment that has a guaranteed rate of return for a fixed period of time. Many banks offer GICs. The bank that gives the GIC must:

  • confirm the purchase of a GIC through 1 of the following:
    • a letter of attestation;
    • a GIC certificate;
    • an Investment Directions Confirmation or
    • an Investment Balance Confirmation
  • hold the GIC in an investment account or a student account that can’t be accessed until arrival in Canada
  • confirm the identity of the student before they release any funds to them
  • release the funds to the student by providing:
    • an initial lump sum once the students identify themselves upon arrival in Canada and
    • the remainder of the funds in monthly or bi-monthly installments over 10 to 12 months

If the bank or GIC doesn’t meet these criteria, students won’t be able to apply through the Student Direct Stream.

Banks that offer GICs

GIC can be obtained from a bank listed on the Canadian Deposit Insurance Company website. The following banks offer GICs that meet the criteria:

Who needs a medical exam?

Applicants may need to get a medical exam if:

  • they lived or travelled in certain countries or territories for 6 or more months in the year before they come to Canada, or
  • they plan on studying or working in:
    • the health field
    • primary or secondary education, or
    • child or elder care

To get a medical exam, applicants must see a doctor that has been approved by IRCC.

Find out more about medical exams.

Who needs a police certificate

The visa office instructions will inform applicants if they need to get a police certificate. They will find these instructions when they select their country of residence below. Applicants must make sure they read these instructions before they apply.

Find out more about police certificates.

Who needs a police certificate

The visa office instructions will inform applicants if they need to get a police certificate. They will find these instructions when they select their country of residence below. Applicants must make sure they read these instructions before they apply.

Find out more about police certificates.

SPOUSE, PARTNER OR CHILD ACCOMPANYING APPLICANT TO CANADA

The Applicants’ spouse, common-law partner and dependent childrenmay also be able to get faster processing on a:

visitor visa;

work permit; and

study permit

They must complete and submit their applications at the same time as the applicant, otherwise the applications won’t be processed faster. When applying online, applicants must select that they have family members accompanying them to Canada.

AFTER APPLICATION

1. Provide fingerprints and photo (biometrics)

After fees payment (including biometrics fee) and submission of application, applicants will receive a letter that says applicants need to give their biometrics (if there’s a need to). The letter will inform applicants how and where to do this. Applicants will have to bring this letter when they give their biometrics and also need to bring their valid passport. They will have up to 30 days to give their biometrics in person. Applicants can only get the instruction letter once they have paid the biometrics fee.

2. Processing of study permit application

The study permit application will be processed once applicants have submitted their biometrics. Most Student Direct Stream applications are processed within 20 calendar days after having received the biometrics, if applicants meet the eligibility.

If the application doesn’t meet the eligibility for the Student Direct Stream, it will be reviewed as a regular study permit, which means that the applicant will not get faster processing.

Find out how long it takes to process a regular study permit application.

ONCE THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN APPROVED

Applicants will receive:

  • a letter of introduction
    This isn’t a study permit. Applicants need to show this letter to the officer when they arrive in Canada.
  • an electronic travel authorization (eTA) or a visitor visa (temporary resident visa), depending on which they need to enter Canada

 

If an electronic travel authorization (eTA)is needed

The letter of introduction will have information about it. The eTA will be electronically linked to the applicant’s passport and will be valid for 5 years or until expiration of passport, whichever comes first. Applicants must travel with the passport they used to apply.

If a visitor visa is needed

Applicants will be asked to send their passport to the nearest visa office so their visa can be attached to it. The visa will be in the passport and will show if applicants can enter Canada once or multiple times. Applicants must enter Canada before their visa expires.

GETTING THE STUDY PERMIT

When applicants arrive at the port of entry, an officer will make sure they meet the requirements to enter Canada. If there are no problems, the officer will then print their study permit and give it to them. Applicants must make sure they have all the documents they need to enter Canada with them.

The study permit is normally valid until the end of the school program. If the passport expires before the end of the study program, the permit will only be valid until the passport expiry date. If this happens, applicants will need to apply to extend your study permit once they have a new passport.

If applicants have questions or there’s a mistake on their study permit, they must ask the officer before they leave.

REFUSAL OF APPLICATION

Applicants will be sent a letter of explanation why they were refused. They may contact the office that sent the refusal letter.

CREDIT CARDS AND PREPAID CARDS

Payments done from the following credit cards and prepaid cards are accepted:

  • Visa®
  • MasterCard®
  • American Express®
  • JCB®
  • UnionPay® (for online applications only; debit cards not accepted)

If applicants use a prepaid credit card, they must keep it for at least 18 months after they have pay to make refunds easier.

Find more on prepaid cards.

All Visa Debit cards are also accepted. The card used does not have to be in the name of the applicant. The cardholder’s name will appear on the receipt but it does not need to match the application.

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