The Canadian government has made a significant change in its immigration policy, announcing the termination of the Student Direct Stream (SDS) programme for international students. This decision, which took effect on November 8, is expected to affect thousands of prospective students, particularly from countries such as India, China, Pakistan, Brazil, and others who had previously benefited from expedited study permit processing.
The SDS was launched in 2018 with the goal of providing faster processing for post-secondary students applying to study in Canada. It had become a popular choice for students from several countries, including India, where it helped streamline the application process for study permits. The programme was extended over time to include legal residents of other nations, including Antigua and Barbuda, Colombia, Morocco, Peru, the Philippines, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vietnam.
With the termination of the SDS programme, future applicants will no longer benefit from the fast-track processing that was once available under this system. Instead, they will be required to follow Canada’s regular study permit application processes, which include the need for a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) or a Territorial Attestation Letter (TAL). These letters are necessary for students wishing to study at designated learning institutions (DLIs) in Canada.
The government maintains that this change will not negatively impact international students. According to a statement from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the decision is part of a broader initiative to strengthen program integrity, improve student protection, and ensure all students have equal access to the application process. The IRCC also emphasised that the change aims to create a fairer and more transparent system for all international students, though critics argue that the move could create delays and confusion for applicants.
In addition to the SDS, Canada has also ended the Nigeria Student Express (NSE) programme, which provided similar expedited processing for Nigerian students. The IRCC has assured that applications received before the termination deadline will still be processed under the old SDS and NSE frameworks.
The changes come at a time when Canada has been facing heightened diplomatic tensions, particularly with India. The suspension of SDS and NSE raises questions about whether these policy changes are tied to the ongoing political climate between the two countries.
The termination of the SDS and NSE coincides with an increasingly strained diplomatic relationship between Canada and India. Tensions have been high following allegations from Canada that India may have played a role in the assassination of Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a charge which the Indian government has categorically denied. In response, Canada has named Indian diplomats, including the Indian High Commissioner in Ottawa, Sanjay Verma, as “persons of interest” in the investigation. This move was met with strong objections from the Indian government, which subsequently recalled all six diplomats involved.
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has also been vocal in his criticism of Canada’s approach to extremism and separatism, particularly within the diaspora community. He has accused the Trudeau government of providing space for individuals with links to organised crime and promoting “extremism, separatism, and violence” under the guise of free speech. Jaishankar’s remarks, made earlier this year, were met with a sharp rebuke from Canada’s Immigration Minister Marc Miller, who defended the country’s policies and stated that the Indian minister’s views were not accurate.
For international students, particularly those from countries like India, the changes to the SDS programme are a cause for concern. While the Canadian government insists that the regular study permit process will be equally accessible, the requirement for additional documentation and longer processing times could delay admissions for many prospective students. This could make Canada less attractive as a study destination for students looking for a faster and more predictable visa process.
The government has yet to provide further details on how these changes will affect international student numbers in the long term. However, with Canada’s international student population continuing to grow, the full impact of the termination of the SDS programme may take time to become clear.
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