Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced a processing time standard of 20 calendar days for Study permit applications submitted under the online Direct Stream by legal residents of China, India, Vietnam and Philippines.
In the May 2nd update, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) states that the reduced processing standard only applies if a study permit applicant submits a complete electronic application, biometrics details and all the required documentation.
The SDS is an expedited study permit processing program available to legal residents living in China, India, Philippines or Vietnam who want to study in Canada at a post-secondary designated educational institution and meet the eligibility.
Applicants must also provide proof of tuition payment for the first year of study at a DLI in Canada, purchase of a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) of $10,000, completion of an upfront medical examination, and an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 6 or higher in each language skill or a Test d’Évaluation de Français (TEF) score that is equivalent to a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 for French.
The introduction of the SDS is part of a wider initiative by the Canadian government to improve the processing of study permit applications and attracting more international students to Canada as a study destination.
