Recently, there was a discussion in India’s Lok Sabha about Canada’s decision to cancel its Student Direct Stream (SDS) visa program. This program helped Indian students get study permits more quickly. The Indian government told everyone that this change would actually make it cheaper for students, especially those who found it tough to pay the higher costs of the SDS.
The SDS program started in 2018 and let students from India and several other countries speed up their study permit applications. However, to use this fast-track option, students had to meet certain rules. They needed to pay for one full year of tuition ahead of time, show they had a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) of $20,635 to prove they had enough money, and show they could speak English well.
But on November 8, 2024, the Canadian government ended the SDS program. They said this move was to ensure that all students had equal chances in the application process and to make it fair. After this cancellation, all international students, including those from India, will now apply for a “regular study permit” instead.
Under the regular process, students no longer need to pay for a whole year of tuition upfront. They now just need to pay for six months of tuition and show they have enough money to cover their living costs. This change is expected to help many students who previously found the SDS program too expensive.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, there are about 427,000 Indian students currently studying in Canada. The Indian government is continuously discussing issues that Indian students face in Canada to ensure their well-being.