In a significant blow to international students, Canada has announced the immediate closure of its Student Direct Stream (SDS) program, affecting applicants, including many from India. The Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will no longer accept applications under this fast-track study permit process, which had been a lifeline for students seeking to secure their visas quickly.

In addition to the closure of the SDS, the IRCC also announced the termination of the Nigeria Student Express (NSE) stream, which was specifically designed for study permit applicants from Nigeria.

What Was the SDS Program and How Did It Benefit Indian Students?

Launched in 2018, the SDS program was introduced to expedite the processing of study permit applications for students from 14 countries, including India. It offered faster processing times, typically within 20 days, provided applicants met the eligibility criteria, including submitting biometrics.

Over time, the approval rates for applicants using the SDS stream, particularly from India, significantly outpaced those applying through the regular study permit process. During the pandemic, the gap became even more pronounced, with Indian students seeing approval rates three times higher than non-SDS applicants in 2021 and 2022.

By the end of 2022, SDS applicants had a 63% approval rate, compared to just 19% for those applying through the regular stream. This trend continued into early 2023, with Indian applicants in the SDS program achieving a 73% approval rate, while non-SDS applicants saw only a 10% approval rate.

SDS had become the preferred method for Indian students applying for Canadian study permits, with 80% of Indian applicants opting for this program in 2022. From January to March 2023, nearly four out of five Indian students used the SDS, which resulted in a 76% approval rate, a sharp contrast to the mere 8% approval rate for regular stream applicants.

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