Canada has announced the end of the Student Direct Stream (SDS) and Nigeria Student Express (NSE) programs, effective at 2:00 p.m. ET November 08th' 2024. These programs, which were designed to expedite the study permit process for eligible international students from select countries, have now been discontinued.
The SDS initiative, launched in 2018, was designed to provide faster processing for students from countries such as China, India, the Philippines, Pakistan, and several others. Similarly, the NSE program aimed to assist Nigerian students with quicker study permit processing.
As part of Canada’s commitment to ensuring equal and fair access to the application process for all international students, the government is ending these specific streams to strengthen program integrity and address student vulnerability. Prospective students can now apply through the regular study permit stream, which accepts Guaranteed Investment Certificates (GICs) as proof of financial support.
Study permit applications submitted before 2:00 p.m. ET on November 8, 2024, will still be processed under the SDS and NSE streams. However, applications submitted after this time will follow the regular processing stream.
This change ensures all students, regardless of their country of origin, have the same access to Canada’s study permit process while maintaining a positive academic experience for all.