Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) closed two fast-track study permit routes on 8 November 2024. The Student Direct Stream (SDS) and the Nigeria Student Express (NSE) stopped taking applications at 2 pm Eastern time that day. Eligible applications received before the cut-off are still processed under those streams; anything received afterwards goes through the regular study permit process.
Key facts
- Date 8 November 2024, 2 pm Eastern time
- Closed Student Direct Stream (SDS) and Nigeria Student Express (NSE)
- Now All students apply through the regular study permit stream
- Countries SDS covered 14 countries including India, Pakistan and Vietnam
Who used SDS
SDS was launched in 2018 for legal residents of Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, India, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Senegal, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vietnam. NSE served university applicants from Nigeria. IRCC says the aim is to give all students equal access, and that ending the streams will not harm the eligibility of students from those countries.
Why it mattered for English tests
SDS was one of the few Canadian study routes with fixed English test rules. From August 2023 it accepted several tests, including IELTS Academic with an overall 6.0 and PTE Academic taken at a test centre. Under the regular stream, IRCC’s notice does not set a test or score; students must meet the general study permit requirements, and the English requirement is set mainly by the college or university.
What this means
If you are applying to study in Canada, the test and score you need now depend on your institution’s admission rules, so check its international admissions page before you book. Keep your test result, admission letter and proof of funds ready for the regular study permit application, which accepts a Guaranteed Investment Certificate as one form of proof of funds, and allow for longer processing than SDS used to offer.