Student Direct Stream: New Language Tests
What is the Student Direct Stream (SDS)?
The SDS is a program that provides accelerated processing of study permits for international students originating from the following countries:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Brazil
- China
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Indian
- Morocco
- Pakistan
- Peru
- Philippines
- Senegal
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Vietnam
The program seeks to maintain a processing business standard of 20 calendar days for eligible study permit applications.
To meet SDS applicant eligibility, students must:
- Be a legal resident living in one of the specified countries;
- Live outside of Canada when applying;
- Have an acceptance letter from a post-secondary Canadian Designated Learning Institution;
- Proof tuition fees have been paid for the first year of study;
- Have a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) of $10,000;
- Have an attestation of issuance of the Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) from the ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration if planning to study in Quebec ;
- Get a medical exam before applying (if one is needed);
- Get a police certificate if one is needed;
- Have your most recent secondary or post-secondary school transcript(s);
- Have the minimum score required of one of the new qualifying language tests that was established on August 10, 2023. Below is the list of the approved language tests:
- Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) General;
- Total score of 7
- Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL);
- Total score of 60
- Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic;
- Total score of 60
- Total score of 60
- Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet Based test (TOEFL iBT).
- Total score of 80
- Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) General;
- In addition to these tests, students can also take the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) General Training or Academic tests. It should be noted that the following changes to IELTS requirements for the SDS will also come into effect on August 10th:
- If applying from August 10, 2023, with IELTS Academic, an overall band score (the average of all individual skill section scores) of 6.0 is required;
- If applying with IELTS Academic before August 10, 2023, a score of 6.0 in each skill (speaking, listening, reading and writing); and
- If applying with IELTS General Training, a score of 6.0 in each skill section is needed whether it is before or after 10th August 2023;
- Proof of the language test results must be obtained within two years of the application being received, showing eligible test scores for the SDS;
- Application must be submitted at a Visa Application Centre
