Student Direct Stream (SDS)

Student Direct Stream, also known as SDS, is an initiative designed to facilitate and fast-track the Study Permit application process for international students who wish to study in Canada.

If you are eligible to apply for a Study Permit in Canada through the Student Direct Stream your application may be processed much faster than if you were applying through the regular Study Permit application process. Though there is no guarantee of lightning fast processing of your Canada Study Permit application, IRCC commits to processing most SDS applications within 20 days.

Eligibility for Student Direct Stream

To qualify for a faster processing of your Study Permit application through the Student Direct Stream you must meet all of the following requirements:

You must live outside Canada when you apply through SDS and be a legal resident living in 1 of the following countries:

  • Antigua and Barbuda

  • Brazil

  • China

  • Colombia

  • Costa Rica

  • India

  • Morocco

  • Pakistan

  • Peru

  • Philippines

  • Senegal

  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

  • Trinidad and Tobago

  • Vietnam

* If you live in another country (even if you’re a citizen of one of the countries above) you must apply through the regular Study Permit application process

  • have proof you have paid your tuition for your first year of study

  • purchased a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) of CAN$10,000

  • have a Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) from the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (if you’re planning to study in Quebec)

  • have an acceptance letter from a post-secondary designated learning institution

  • have your most recent secondary or post-secondary school transcript(s)

  • have a language test result that shows either:

    • IELTS Academic or General Training with score of 6.0 or higher in each skill (reading, writing, speaking and listening), or

    • TEF score that is equal to a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of at least 7 in each skill (reading, writing, speaking and listening)

  • get a medical exam before you apply (if applicable)

  • get a police certificate before you apply (if applicable)

* You may need to provide other documents required by the visa office that will be processing your application.

Proof of full payment of tuition for the first year of study

To be eligible for the Student Direct Stream you must be able to show proof of full payment for the first year of your studies in a Designated Learning Institution (DLI). You can meet this requirement by providing one of the following with your SDS application:

  • a receipt from the 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

Buy a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) of $10,000 CAD

To be able to apply for a Study Permit through SDS international students living in one of the eligible countries must buy a Guaranteed Investment Certificate of $10,000 CAD. A Guaranteed Investment Certificate, also known as GIC, is a Canadian investment that has a guaranteed rate of return for a fixed period of time. The GIC must be bought from a a financial institution listed on the Canadian Deposit Insurance Company website. This financial institution must:

  • confirm the purchase by giving you:

    • a letter of attestation,

    • a GIC certificate,

    • an Investment Directions Confirmation, or

    • an Investment Balance Confirmation;

  • hold the GIC in an investment or a student account that you can’t access until you arrive in Canada;

  • make you confirm your identity before they release any funds to you;

  • release the funds to you by providing:

    • an initial lump sum once you identify yourself upon arrival in Canada,

    • the remainder of the funds in monthly or bi-monthly instalments over 10 to 12 months.

Institutions that offer GIC for Student Direct Stream:

Thinking about applying for a Study Permit in Canada?

Speak to a Canadian Immigration Lawyer to build out a solid plan and prepare your Study Permit application

Is it hard to get a Study Permit application approved?

The likelihood of getting your Study Permit application to Canada approved depends on many factors. Unfortunately, it is hard to give a definite answer on whether a Study Permit will be approved or rejected without knowing all relevant and unique circumstances of the applicant. That is why it is highly recommended that you take educate yourself about the general application process, do a solid research of the potential Designated Learning Institutions and programs, and reach out for help from an immigration lawyer.