Canada Halts Student Direct Stream Program Amid Housing Crisis
Canada Suspends Fast-Track SDS Visa Program, Impacting Thousands of International Students
In a significant shift impacting thousands of international students, Canada has announced the immediate halt of the Student Direct Stream (SDS) visa program. Implemented by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in 2018, the SDS program was designed to accelerate study permit applications for students from 14 select countries.
However, facing mounting housing shortages and resource constraints, the Canadian government decided to discontinue the program, signaling major changes for students who had previously benefited from faster application processing.
Why Canada Discontinued the Student Direct Stream Program
The SDS visa program, popular among students from countries like India, China, Pakistan, and the Philippines, was initially introduced to simplify and speed up the study permit application process. While the SDS program offered a quicker route—often approving permits in three to four weeks—the regular visa application process typically spans between eight to twelve weeks.
The Canadian government’s decision to phase out the program on November 8, 2024, underscores a broader issue: Canada’s resources, including housing and student support infrastructure, are under pressure as the country manages record-high immigration numbers.
In its official statement, the Government of Canada emphasized a commitment to “strengthening program integrity, addressing student vulnerability, and ensuring equal access to study permits for all applicants.”
As such, the IRCC will now process all international student visa applications through a single, unified stream. The statement also noted that applications received by the SDS cutoff time—2:00 pm ET on November 8—will still be processed under the expedited stream, but applications submitted after this deadline will follow the standard, longer processing route.
Countries Impacted by the SDS Program Termination
The Student Direct Stream program previously benefited applicants from the following 14 countries:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Brazil
- China
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- India
- Morocco
- Pakistan
- Peru
- Philippines
- Senegal
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Vietnam
International students from these regions will now experience longer processing times as they must navigate the standard study permit application process, which may affect their planned start dates and overall study timelines.
Impact on Indian and Other International Students
For Indian students—who comprise a significant portion of Canada’s international student population—the termination of the SDS program presents immediate challenges. Canada has become one of the top destinations for Indian students, who seek both high-quality education and post-graduate work opportunities.
The SDS stream, with its higher approval rates and efficient processing times, had been a popular and reliable option for Indian applicants. With the SDS program no longer available, these students now face potentially lengthier visa wait times, complicating plans for those preparing to begin their studies in 2025.
This policy change also aligns with Canada’s broader immigration management strategy. The country has set a cap of 437,000 new study permits for 2025, which covers a range of educational programs. The government aims to balance its international student intake with available housing and resources, a move that signals Canada’s ongoing challenge to manage immigration in a sustainable way.
IRCC Discontinues Nigeria Student Express Program
In addition to ending the SDS program, the IRCC also announced the discontinuation of the Nigeria Student Express (NSE) program, which had similarly provided expedited processing for Nigerian students. Like the SDS, the NSE program was part of Canada’s efforts to streamline the visa process for specific high-demand regions. Nigerian applicants seeking study permits will now need to apply through the standard route, potentially facing longer wait times and increased application scrutiny.
What Does the Future Hold for International Students in Canada?
The Canadian government’s recent decision reflects its attempt to address pressing issues related to housing availability, resource allocation, and fair access to education. While the SDS program successfully attracted a diverse array of international students, particularly from Asia and Latin America, the surge in student numbers created new pressures for Canada’s infrastructure and support systems.
Acknowledging these pressures, the government aims to ensure that all applicants, regardless of nationality, have equal access to study permits. This new unified visa processing framework seeks to uphold Canada’s reputation as an accessible, high-quality educational destination, albeit with longer wait times for applicants.
In line with these policy changes, Canada also introduced other regulations earlier this year, including a temporary two-year cap on study permits and a 35 percent reduction in study permit issuance. These initiatives aim to control the flow of international students while addressing internal resource and infrastructure issues.
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