Indians will be impacted as Canada immediately discontinues its popular student visa program

With effect from November 8, 2024, Canada has ended its well-liked Student Direct Stream (SDS) program. For qualified overseas students, this initiative accelerated the study permit application process.The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) program was started in 2018 with the goal of making it easier for students from 14 different countries—including China, India, Morocco, and Pakistan—to apply for visas.

A statement issued by IRCC said, “Canada is committed to giving all international students equal and fair access to the application process for study permits.”

In order to expedite processing for qualified post-secondary students, SDS was introduced in 2018. Legal residents of Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, India, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Senegal, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vietnam were eventually allowed entry.

The statement went on to say that Canada wants to improve program integrity, address student vulnerability, and provide all students with fair and equitable access to the application process and a good academic experience.

The IRCC also announced the closure of its Nigeria Student Express (NSE) stream for study permit applicants from Nigeria.

“Eligible SDS and NSE applications received before 2 pm ET on November 8, 2024, will be processed under these streams. Study permit applications submitted on or after this time will be processed under the regular study permit stream,” the statement said.

As a result of the discontinuation, students will face a more prolonged visa process. In a significant policy shift, Canada plans to drastically reduce its annual immigration intake for the first time in years. This move comes as the unpopular government struggles to maintain public support.