As part of Canada’s immigration control strategy, the Student Direct Stream (SDS) program, launched in 2018 to offer faster processing for eligible post-secondary students, ended on November 8, 2024, at 2 p.m. ET. Effective immediately, all study permit applications will be processed under standard procedures to ensure a consistent approach.

The SDS initially provided expedited processing to legal residents from Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, India, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Senegal, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vietnam. Prospective university students from Nigeria participated in a similar expedited pathway, the Nigeria Student Express (NSE).

Canada’s goal with this change is to strengthen program integrity, address student vulnerability, and ensure fair and equal access to the application process for all students, fostering a positive academic experience. To uphold these commitments, both the SDS and NSE initiatives have concluded as of today, aligning all study permit applications under a single, standardized processing framework.

According to  Government of Canada Website: Eligible SDS and NSE applications received before 2:00 p.m. ET on November 8, 2024, will be processed under these streams.

Study permit applications submitted on or after this time will be processed under the regular study permit stream.