Summary
- It was easy to secure a PR and work visa to stay in Canada at the end of education and that made it worthwhile to study in Canadian colleges and universities.
- It was a fast-track student visa program that made it easy for international students from India, China, the Philippines, and a few other countries to migrate in less than a month.
- It had the aim of simplifying the student visa process and the biggest benefit was it was an express route to securing a student visa.
For many years, Canada has been an attractive study destination for many thousands of Indian students. It was easy to secure a PR and work visa to stay in Canada at the end of education and that made it worthwhile to study in Canadian colleges and universities.
This influx was aided by programs like the Student Direct Stream (SDS). It was a fast-track student visa program that made it easy for international students from India, China, the Philippines, and a few other countries to migrate in less than a month.
But in November 2024, SDS was suddenly repealed. In a move that caught everyone off guard, the Canadian government brought an end to this popular program. There is now a huge amount of uncertainty among Indian students who had planned to study in Canada in 2025.
In this article, we examine the sudden shift in Canada’s immigration and education policies.
Canada ends fast-track study visa
On November 8, 2024, the Canadian government formally announced the end of the Student Direct Stream (SDS) program. The change was to take place immediately. The SDS program was introduced in 2018. It had the aim of simplifying the student visa process and the biggest benefit was it was an express route to securing a student visa.
The SDS program was popular among students from India, the Philippines, China, and other participating countries. India was a major beneficiary, with over 60% of the nearly 200,000 Indian students who wanted to study in Canada in 2023 using the SDS route.
The decision by the Justin Trudeau government to end the SDS program is linked to broader changes in its immigration policies.
Why did the Canadian government end the fast-track study visa?
There was no exact reason given by the Canadian government. According to the press release the Canadian immigration authorities wanted the application process for all international students to be the same. There was to be no preferential treatment to specific countries or groups.
From the official release, it could be gleaned that the following were the considerations:
Fairness and Equity
The primary reason cited by the Canadian government is to provide the same application process for all international students. They want to prevent any perception of favoritism towards certain countries with faster processing options.
Managing Application Volume
Canada has seen a significant surge in study permit applications, particularly from India. This puts a huge burden on processing times and infrastructure.
Addressing Student Vulnerability
The government also mentioned the need to “strengthen program integrity” and address potential vulnerabilities within the fast-track system.
What will be the impact on students?
The end of the SDS means students have to apply well before the start of the session. These are the key impacts for international students:
Longer Processing Times
The main difficulty is that students will now face longer wait times for their study permits when compared to the expedited processing under the SDS program.
Uncertainty About Academic Plans
The sudden change has created a great deal of uncertainty for students who were planning to start their studies in Canada in the coming academic year. They would have to adjust their timelines and plan for potential delays.
Increased Competition
With the removal of the fast-track option, there will be increased competition for spots in Canadian universities as more students apply through the standard route.
Impact on Indian Students
This change is particularly impactful for Indian students, as they were a large user base of the SDS program.
Continuation of a tighter policy from 2024
This is the latest in a long line of measures that started in January of 2024. Earlier this year the Canadian government for the first time introduced measures to regulate international student permits.
A cap of approximately 360,000 approved study permits was implemented for 2024, a 35% decrease from 2023. This cap will be in place for two years and stabilize the number of international students in Canada.
The government also announced changes to post-graduation work permit eligibility. International students enrolled in programs under curriculum licensing arrangements will no longer be eligible. Graduates of master’s degree programs will be eligible for 3-year work permits.
Additionally, a new rule allows open work permits to only be available to spouses of international students in master’s and doctoral programs.
What will happen in 2025?
With the end of SDS, you should start to plan for your study in Canada well in advance. Just like migrating to the US or UK, you would have to plan a few months ahead.
Keep in mind that this doesn’t mean Canada has stopped accepting international students or there is any new obstacle. You will take the same route as students did in 2018.
The increased timeline means you have to start searching for a Canadian college or university right now for admission in Fall 2025. With the help of GradRight’s university-search platform, you can do it very easily. Provide our algorithm with information about your academic background and objectives and it will shortlist the best Canadian colleges and universities for you.
After that GradRight’s loan-search platform would offer you help, should you require an education loan to study in Canada. Upload your details and 15+ lenders will offer you the best loan terms possible. All that you have to do is select the most affordable loan.
Together GradRight’s university-search platform and loan-search platform make your study abroad dream in Canada come true in a hassle-free manner.
Now we shall answer a few questions from our readers about studying in Canada.
FAQs
1. What is a fast-track student visa in Canada?
A “fast-track student visa” in Canada, also known as the Student Direct Stream (SDS), was a program that allowed students from a few countries to have their study permit applications processed faster. In November 2024 the program ended.
2. How long did a Canadian fast-track visa take?
It took at most 20 days for the Canadian SDS visa to be issued. Considering it takes many months to secure a US education visa that was indeed very fast.
3. Which country gives the fastest student visa?
Germany is widely considered to offer the fastest student visa processing. The application times range from 2-4 weeks due to their streamlined and efficient visa process.
4. Is visa rejection high in Canada?
No, visa rejection rates in Canada are generally not considered high, with most applications being approved. You have to show access to a year’s funds for tuition and stay. If that is in place the student visa issuance is not a problem at all.
