All About Student Direct Stream (SDS)

Student Direct Stream (SDS) is a program launched by the Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada to facilitate faster processing of visa applications for Indian students willing to study in Canada. In contrast to the standard visa processing process, which may take up to 2-3 months, SDS allows Indian students to obtain their visas in 4-6 weeks. 

It usually takes about 20 calendar days to process a student's application via SDS if they meet the eligibility criteria. The SDS processing is available to the legal residents of China, India, Morocco, Pakistan, The Philippines, Vietnam, and Senegal. Applicants who are citizens on paper but not staying in their domestic country are not eligible to apply for SDS processing.

Table of Contents

• Top Student Direct Stream Colleges in Canada
• Student Direct Stream Canada Eligibility Requirements
• How to Apply for Study Permit Using SDS?
• Student Direct Stream Processing Time    
• Benefits of Student Direct Stream
• What is a Designated Learning Institute (DLI)?
• Guaranteed Investment Certificate(GIC)
• Financial Institutions Offering GICs
• Family Members of Study Permit Candidates under SDS

Top Student Direct Stream Colleges in Canada

There is a comprehensive list of Canadian colleges and universities that fall under the SDS category. The list below includes some of the SDS colleges: 

• McMaster University
• George Brown College
• Humber College
• Red River College
• Parkland College
• Fleming College
• Loyalist College
• Canadore College
• Vancouver Island University
• Lakeland College

Read More: Top SDS Colleges in Canada

Student Direct Stream Canada Eligibility Requirements

In order to be eligible for simplified visa processing through the student direct stream (SDS), an applicant must meet the following set of criteria:

• Should be a legal resident of any 1 of the countries given below:
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Brazil
  • China
  • Colombia
  • Costa Rica
  • India
  • Morocco
  • Pakistan
  • Peru
  • Philippines
  • Senegal
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Vietnam
• Holds an acceptance letter from a post-secondary designated learning institute
• Should not be living in Canada 
• Should provide evidence of first-year tuition fees
• Must possess a GIC (Guaranteed Investment Certificate) of 10,000 CAD
• Must provide a medical certificate proof(if applicable)
• Have a police certificate before applying(if applicable)
• Have official secondary or post-secondary school transcript(s) from recently attended institutions
• Must submit proof of English Proficiency language tests:
  • A minimum IELTS score of 6.0 in each of these skills: reading, speaking, writing, and listening
  • Or a TEF score (equal to the Canadian Language Benchmark score) of at least 7 in each skill.

However, there may be a variation in the eligibility requirements based on the country from which you are applying.

How to Apply for Study Permit Using SDS?

There is an online application process for students who wish to apply for study permits through the student direct stream (SDS). Therefore, one must prepare all their documents carefully before applying. Here are the steps to apply for a Canada study permit through student direct stream (SDS):

1. Go through the instruction guide of the application form and then fill it out carefully.
2. Upload the digital copies of the required documents and pay the study permit application fee (150 CAD) and biometric fee (85 CAD). Ensure that you have a valid credit/debit card for making the payment. 
3. Review all the details of the application form minutely and submit it.
4. Once you submit the application, you will receive a biometrics request letter. Students are given 30 days to provide biometrics in person.
5. Post submitting the biometrics, you might be asked to provide a medical certificate/police certificate.
6. Now, the application will be processed in around 20 days and will be approved if you meet all the eligibility requirements.
7. After the application is approved, you will receive a letter of introduction and an electronic travel authorization/ temporary student visa (as required) to enter Canada.
8. Once you arrive at the port of entry in Canada, an officer will make sure that you fulfill all the requirements. If there are no issues, the officer will provide you with the study permit.

Student Direct Stream Processing Time

Student direct stream (SDS) processing time is dependent on the country in which you live. The processing usually takes 20 days; however, there can be various reasons behind the delay. In order to reduce the processing time, you must:

• Ensure that you meet all the eligibility requirements
• Provide your biometrics as soon as possible 

Benefits of Student Direct Stream

Besides reducing the processing time, the SDS program comes up with several other benefits. Here are the advantages of applying for a Canada study permit via the student direct stream (SDS) program:

• Students can experience a hassle-free application process as fewer documents are required under SDS.
• Applicants will receive six bands in every module for the student direct stream application. 
• SDS is directly linked with the students.
• In comparison to the regular stream, the success rate of the student direct stream is higher.

What is a Designated Learning Institute (DLI)?

A designated learning institution is a school, college, or university which is approved by a provincial/territorial government to host overseas students. International students who intend to pursue higher education in Canada must secure a study permit. Under the student direct stream program, a study permit can only be issued to Indian students who have received an acceptance letter from a DLI. Following is a list of some of the most popular DLIs in Canadian provinces:

Guaranteed Investment Certificate(GIC)

According to the guidelines given by IRCC, students will require at least 10,000 CAD per year to cover their living costs in Canada. This requirement can be met by overseas students by purchasing a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) and providing payment proof. A Canadian investment, GIC offers a guaranteed rate of return over a specified period of time. It is usually issued by trusted companies and banks that meet the below-mentioned criteria:

• Banks need to confirm that an applicant has purchased a GIC by presenting any one of the documents listed below:
  • A letter of attestation
  • A GIC certificate
  • An Investment Directions Confirmation
  • An Investment Balance Confirmation
• GIC must be held by a valid financial institution in a student account or investment account that cannot be accessed before the applicant arrives in Canada.
• An applicant's funds must be released by a bank or company by providing the following:
  • An initial lump-sum amount after the student has reached Canada
  • The remaining funds are to be given back in monthly/bi-monthly installments over a period of 10-12 months.

Financial Institutions Offering GICs

Applicants can obtain a GIC from financial institutions listed on the website of the Canadian Deposit Insurance Company. Moreover, one must ensure that the financial institution that they select meets the criteria for the SDS. Listed below are some of the eligible financial institutions offering GICs to international students:

• Bank of Beijing
• Bank of China
• Bank of Xian Co.Ltd
• Bank of Montreal
• Desjardins
• Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC)
• Habib Canadian Bank
• ICICI Bank
• Industrial and Commercial Bank of China
• RBC Royal Bank
• SBI Canada Bank
• HSBC Bank of Canada
• Scotiabank

Family Members of Study Permit Candidates under SDS

The applicant's spouse/common-law partner and dependent children are also eligible for faster processing of study permits under the student direct stream (SDS). However, in this case, the family members of the applicants must apply at the same time as the primary candidates. The family members of the applicant can get expedited processing on the following:

• Visitor visa
• Work permit
• Study permit