Canada adds Latin American and Caribbean countries to its expedited student visa program

Canada announced a significant expansion of its Student Direct Stream (SDS) on 9 July 2021, with students from seven new countries throughout the Americas now eligible to participate in the expedited program for Canadian study permits.

Students from Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Peru, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago may now apply via SDS, an online option that offers faster processing times for eligible study permit applicants.

Following earlier pilots in selected Asian markets, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) first launched the SDS for China, India, the Philippines, and Vietnam in 2018. It was then expanded to include Pakistan, Morocco, and Senegal in 2019.

The premise of SDS is that eligible students are asked to provide additional qualifying information at the time of application for a Canadian study permit in return for faster processing times. The program has a stated target to process applications within 20 days, and students are asked to include a number of items with their applications, most notably:

• Proof of required language skills (as indicated by an IELTS score of at least 6 for English-language studies or a Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens score of at least 7 for those planning to study in French);
• A certain level of financial security, to be shown through a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) of CAN$10,000 and proof of tuition payment for the first year of studies.

The addition of Brazil and Colombia to the list of SDS countries is especially notable as both have emerged as important growth markets for Canadian institutions and schools over the last several years.

We at PRODIREKT expect a further growth in the years ahead – both for those holding study permits for longer-term study and for students travelling to Canada for shorter-term language studies as well.

With the additional countries announced this month, SDS is now available to eligible students in 14 markets worldwide. 

Full details on program eligibility and the SDS application process are available from IRCC. As a specialist for study and work opportunities in Canada and the US, PRODIREKT offers the accredited, award-winning diploma programs that will provide you with the opportunity to qualify for PGWP (Post Graduate Work Permit) and/or Permanent Residency.

When applying through PRODIREKT you are not only getting our expert advice and guidance, but you also enjoy special privileges, such as scholarships and reduced tuition. Need some guidance? Connect with our team at 📩 info@prodirektgroup.com