Canada has recently added seven Caribbean and Central and South American countries to the Student Direct Stream, which offers faster study permit processing.
“By expanding the Student Direct Stream to a more diverse range of prospective students, we have great optimism that international education will recover, and indeed flourish, as Canada emerges from the pandemic.”
– The Honourable Marco E. L. Mendicino, P.C., M.P., Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Candidates that are legal residents of the following countries may now be eligible for an expedited study permit:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Brazil
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Peru
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
I am from one of these countries…how can I be eligible for the Student Direct Stream?
Launched in 2018, the Student Direct Stream (SDS) requires applicants to provide additional information upfront. By doing so, the officer reviewing their case is able to make a final decision more quickly. Individuals that wish to take advantage of this initiative must meet the following requirements:
- have an acceptance letter from a post-secondary designated learning institute.
- be living outside of Canada at the time of applying;
- demonstrate that their first year of tuition has been paid;
- be a legal resident living in one of the qualifying SDS countries;
- have a Guaranteed Investment Certificate of CAN$10,000; and
- provide their most recent post-secondary transcripts, and a minimum of Canadian Language Benchmark 7 in each area of the TEF or IELTS exam
If applicable, candidates must also provide medical exam results and police certificate. Those who are planning to study in Quebec must also provide a Certificat d’acceptation du Québec (CAQ).
The Student Direct Stream currently offers expedited processing for the additional following countries:
- China
- India
- Morocco
- Pakistan
- Philippines
- Senegal
- Vietnam
Following the announcement of Canada’s reopening plan, the federal government of Canada look to the International Student Program to play a role in the country’s economic recovery.
International Students coming to Canada must plan to quarantine for 14 days upon arriving, unless exempt as a fully-vaccinated traveller.
Nadia Bhuptani
