In 2018, Immigration Refugees Citizenship Canada (IRCC) launched the Student Direct Stream (SDS) program replacing the former Students Partner Program (SPP). The SDS program aims at making study visa processing faster and easier for aspiring students. SDS was launched in a few countries initially, including India. An applicant is supposed to meet certain requirements laid down by IRCC to apply through the SDS stream.
After a couple of years, it was observed that the Indian students still faced confusion regarding some of these requirements. An applicant, Abhishek Sinha, shared a tweet (on IRCC’s tweet) in July 2020 explaining his situation. He was applying through the SDS program for a study visa in British Columbia where he wanted to pursue an MBA course. He completed the requirements criteria but was stuck at the IELTS score. He stated that he doesn’t have an IELTS academic score. He was applying for the January intake so he wanted to enquire if the IELTS general score will be accepted in the SDS application.
IRCC responded to his tweet the same day by explaining that both IELTS academic as well as general training scores are accepted for the Student Direct Stream. They also cleared the criteria that a minimum of 6.0 score is necessary for either IELTS test presented by the student. Along with that, they mentioned that the test must have been taken within 24 months of the SDS application date.
Even after 3 years of the SDS stream, many students are still unaware of the IELTS general score option by this program. This month again ‘Canada in India‘ has tweeted that IRCC accepts both IELTS academic and general test scores for its Student Direct stream. This is to raise awareness among Indian aspirants applying for a Canadian study visa.
What is the SDS program?
India has been one of the first countries where SDS was launched in 2018. The Student Direct Stream, or SDS, is designed to fasten the application processing for a Canadian study visa and to make it easier and more efficient for many international students.
Currently, the SDS program is for applicants from 14 countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, India, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Senegal, St. Vincent, and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vietnam.
Thus, Indian students applying to Canadian universities with a valid DLI number get a faster study visa processing time. SDS applications can be submitted through an online medium only. The processing would take only 20 calendar days (as opposed to 7 weeks through a non-SDS stream) once all the requirements are met.
Requirements for an SDS application
Eligibility requirements for Indian students are:
- a minimum IELTS score of 6 bands in each module for both UG & PG courses
- the payment of full tuition fees for the first year of study
- a Guaranteed Investment of Certificate (GIC) of $10000
- a registered Designated Learning Institutions (DLI) number of the Colleges and institutions applied to.
Required documents for visa application are:
- Copy of acceptance letter from the DLI
- Proof of GIC payment of $10000
- Proof of English language requirements through IELTS score of 6 in all four skills or the candidate must have graduated from a Canadian curriculum high school.
- Proof of payment of first-year tuition fee
- Copy of upfront medical examination confirmation.
With less documentation and an easy process, Student Direct Stream is a convenient pathway for Indian students. They can get a study visa, more job opportunities in Canada, and eventually a Canadian PR at the earliest.
