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Student Direct Stream (SDS)
How and if you can get faster processing times for your Study Permit
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If you are a legal resident of one the countries that are part of the Student Direct Stream (SDS), you can enjoy faster processing times for your Study Permit application (usually around 20 days).
This article will help you navigate through the paperwork needed for applying, the eligibility requirements, the fees and process associated with getting a Study Permit through the SDS.
This article will help you navigate through the paperwork needed for applying, the eligibility requirements, the fees and process associated with getting a Study Permit through the SDS.
Which countries are eligible to the Student Direct Stream (SDS)?
To be eligible to the Student Direct Stream (SDS), you must be a legal resident living in 1 of the following countries:
Even if you are a citizen of one of the countries above, and are not currently a legal resident in said country, you cannot apply through the SDS. You can still however apply to a Study Permit through the regular process.
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Brazil
- China
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- India
- Morocco
- Pakistan
- Peru
- Philippines
- Senegal
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Vietnam
Even if you are a citizen of one of the countries above, and are not currently a legal resident in said country, you cannot apply through the SDS. You can still however apply to a Study Permit through the regular process.
Eligibility requirements of the Student Direct Stream
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To be able to obtain a Study Permit through the Student Direct Stream (SDS), you must:
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- get an upfront (before applying) medical exam (if applicable),
- get a police certificate before applying (if applicable),
- have your most recent secondary or post-secondary school transcript(s),
- have a language test result(s):
- from IELTS with a score of 6.0 or higher in each skill (reading, writing, speaking and listening), and/or
- from TEF Canada scores of at least 207 in reading, 310 in writing, 310 in speaking and 249 in listening,
- have a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) of 10,000 CAD.
Proof of full payment of tuition for the applicant’s first year of study can be in the form of the following:
- a receipt from the DLI,
- an official letter from the DLI confirming payment of tuition fees,
- a receipt from a bank showing that tuition fees have been paid to the DLI, or
- proof that the tuition fee amount has been transferred into a repository account at the DLI to be applied to the tuition bill at a later date.
A Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) is a Canadian investment with a minimum rate of return for a fixed period of time. The bank that you choose for setting up the GIC:
- has to confirm that you bought a GIC by giving you one of the following:
- a letter of attestation
- a GIC certificate
- an Investment Directions Confirmation
- an Investment Balance Confirmation
- must hold the GIC in an investment account or a student account that you can’t access until you arrive in Canada,
- needs to make you confirm your identity before they release any funds to you,
- must release the funds in the following manner:
- an initial lump sum once you identify yourself upon arrival in Canada,
- the remainder of the funds in monthly or bi-monthly installments over 10 to 12 months.
List of institutions that offer Guaranteed Investment Certificates (GICs)
- Bank of Beijing
- Bank of China
- Bank of Montreal (BMO)
- Bank of Xian Co. Ltd.
- Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC)
- China Everbright Bank
- Desjardins
- Habib Canadian Bank
- HSBC Bank of Canada
- ICICI Bank
- Industrial and Commercial Bank of China
- RBC Royal Bank
- SBI Canada Bank
- Scotiabank
- Simplii Financial
- TD Canada Trust
How to apply for the Student Direct Stream
You can only apply for the Study Permit through the Student Direct Stream online.
You must have a debit/credit card and a camera/scanner. You have to start your application here. Then, you will have to set up a GCKey account (remember to memorize the 4 questions & answers you pick, as any time you open your account, you will be requested to answer 1 of the 4 questions you previously chose).
You then have to fill out, sign, scan and upload the required forms, and also scan and add in the system all the necessary documents supporting your application.
It is better to pay for the biometrics fee at the same time as your Study Permit application as to not delay the processing of your application. For more information on biometrics (if you have to provide them or no), check this page.
You must have a debit/credit card and a camera/scanner. You have to start your application here. Then, you will have to set up a GCKey account (remember to memorize the 4 questions & answers you pick, as any time you open your account, you will be requested to answer 1 of the 4 questions you previously chose).
You then have to fill out, sign, scan and upload the required forms, and also scan and add in the system all the necessary documents supporting your application.
It is better to pay for the biometrics fee at the same time as your Study Permit application as to not delay the processing of your application. For more information on biometrics (if you have to provide them or no), check this page.
Required Forms and Supporting Documents for the Student Direct Stream
With regards to forms to fill and supporting documents to provide, you can click on your country below to see your local visa office instructions with the required documents:
Application Fees for the Student Direct Stream
The application fee for a Study Permit through the Direct Student Stream is 150 CAD, the same as for a regular Study Permit application.
Processing Times for the Student Direct Stream
Applications are usually processed within 20 days from receipt of a complete application package.
