Study Permit With Student Direct Stream (SDS)
Depending on where you live, you may be able to get your study permit faster through the Student Direct Stream (SDS).
Processing times for most SDS applications is within 20 calendar days. However, some applications may take longer.
To get faster processing, you must
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give your biometrics as soon as possible
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meet all the eligibility requirements
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Students from these 14 countries can qualify under the SDS program: Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, India, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Senegal, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vietnam.
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To submit an application through the SDS program, student applicants must:
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provide a copy of a letter of acceptance from a Canadian Designated Learning Institution;
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present a confirmation document for the applicant’s upfront medical exam;
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prove that they have obtained a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) of $10,000
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prove that tuition fees for the first year of study are paid; and
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show proof that they either completed studies at a Canadian curriculum high school or show proof of a language test results demonstrating an IELTS score of 6 in English or NCLC 7 for French.
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submit the application at a Visa Application Centre (VAC).
An application that is approved will be issued a letter of introduction, or what is officially known as a Point of Entry letter of introduction, and a temporary resident visa to enter Canada.
The letter of introduction, or Point of Entry (POE) letter, is issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) as proof of approval for a study permit and is presented to a visa officer upon arrival in Canada.
Citizens of one of the countries listed above cannot be residing in another country at the time of applying for a study permit through the SDS program.