In a significant policy shift impacting international students, Canada’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced the immediate termination of the Student Direct Stream (SDS), effective November 8, 2024. Initially established to expedite study permit applications from select countries, including India and China, SDS provided faster processing times and had stringent requirements for applicants. IRCC also ended the Nigeria Student Express (NSE) stream, moving all study permit applications to the standard process. This decision follows IRCC's broader aim to balance the system, address student vulnerabilities, and offer equitable access across applicants. The adjustment aligns with Canada’s new study permit cap for 2025, potentially affecting study permit issuance.

Immediate Termination of SDS Program Announced

End of Expedited Application Pathway
Effective November 8, 2024, IRCC has ceased accepting applications under the Student Direct Stream (SDS). This program, which launched in 2018, aimed to accelerate processing for students from 14 nations, including India, China, and Pakistan. Now, all study permit applicants must follow the standard processing route, marking a significant procedural shift for international students.

Implications for Nigerian Applicants
Alongside SDS, the Nigeria Student Express (NSE) stream, specifically targeting applicants from Nigeria, has also been eliminated. Both SDS and NSE were designed to streamline applications but will no longer be available as Canada recalibrates its immigration priorities.

Background: SDS Program and Its Requirements

Initial Purpose of the SDS Initiative
The SDS was introduced to provide faster processing for study permits, particularly benefiting students from countries with high application volumes. IRCC expanded SDS to 14 nations, allowing applicants from these regions to qualify for accelerated review if they met specific criteria, including language proficiency and financial commitments.

Rigorous Requirements for SDS Applicants
To qualify under SDS, students were required to demonstrate financial stability through a Canadian Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) of CAD $20,635. Additionally, they had to meet language proficiency standards, making SDS a fast-track but selective pathway for applicants with both financial and language preparation.

Reasons for the Program’s Termination

Equalizing Access and Strengthening Integrity
IRCC's decision aligns with Canada’s goal to foster fairness and integrity within its study permit process. By standardizing applications, Canada aims to address student vulnerabilities, strengthen program oversight, and ensure an inclusive application experience across the board.

IRCC’s Strategic Move for Future Stability
Ending SDS is part of IRCC's plan to stabilize international student volumes. The decision coincides with Canada’s reduced cap for study permits in 2025, aiming to balance system demands while maintaining manageable student numbers across Canadian institutions.

Impact on International Student Applicants

Reverting to the Regular Application Process
Applications for study permits submitted post-announcement will be processed under the regular application framework. This change removes the expedited timelines previously enjoyed by SDS applicants and could impact processing times and approval rates for international students.

Shift in Approval Dynamics
SDS had a high approval rate among applicants who met the requirements, giving many students confidence in the expedited pathway. With its removal, future applicants may face longer processing times, potentially altering Canada’s appeal to prospective students from the previously included SDS regions.

Market Perspectives: Observations from Industry Experts

Industry Feedback on SDS and NSE Elimination
Naresh Chavda, president of Globayan Immigration Corporation, reflected on the SDS’s value, highlighting its simplicity and efficiency for qualifying students from countries like India and China. "SDS provided a streamlined process," Chavda stated, "evaluating language and financial commitment requirements that significantly accelerated processing." Now, applicants and consultants alike must adjust to the new standard application procedures.

Changing Dynamics for Immigration Consultants
For immigration consultancies that catered to SDS applicants, the standardization might require additional guidance for students adapting to the standard processing route, especially those unfamiliar with its requirements and timelines.

Study Permit Cap for 2025 Reflects Canada’s New Approach

2025 Permit Cap Reduction
In September, IRCC announced a new cap of 437,000 for study permits in 2025, down from 485,000 in 2024. This “stabilizing” cap reflects Canada’s aim to manage the influx of international students and ensure the sustainability of its educational infrastructure.

Permit Numbers Already on the Decline
The effects of this recalibration are already observable in permit issuance data. Study permits issued between April and June 2024 decreased to 125,020 from 148,140 in the same period in 2023. For India, Canada’s largest source of international students, permit approvals fell from 70,340 to 55,940, indicating a visible shift under the new guidelines.

Conclusion: Broader Implications for Canada’s Educational Landscape

The removal of SDS and NSE marks a notable shift in Canada’s approach to international student processing, emphasizing equitable access and system stability over expedited processing for select groups. While this change may present challenges for applicants used to faster processing, IRCC’s measures aim to safeguard program integrity and balance the influx of students amid evolving immigration dynamics.