The Student Direct Stream (SDS) is a program in Canada that expedites the processing of study permits for international students who wish to study at a designated learning institution. It is available to eligible students from 14 countries and promises to process applications within 20 days. To benefit from faster processing, applicants need to provide their biometrics and meet the necessary requirements.
Approximately 80% of Indian students choose to apply for a Canadian student visa through the SDS program. The approval rate for Indian students who do not utilize the SDS program has been decreasing each year since 2018.
In 2022, there was a significant increase in the number of Indian students opting for the SDS program, with 80% of them applying for their study permits through this streamlined process. This marked a substantial 23 percentage point rise compared to 2019 and a 9-percentage point increase from 2021.
To benefit from expedited processing for your study permit, it is necessary to complete the online application form for the Student Direct Stream. Paper applications are not accepted under this program. Ensure that you include all the necessary documents when submitting your application.
If your application does not meet the requirements for expedited processing, it will undergo a standard study permit review. In such cases, the processing time will not be accelerated.