On July 9, 2009, the Government of Canada added four more countries to the list of the Student Direct Stream, accelerated study permit processing program launched in 2018.. Colombia,Peru, Brazil y Costa Rica are now part of this program that seeks to attract students of different nationalities to Canada as a synonym of economic activation for the country.
After the immigration and economic slowdown caused by Covid-19, Canada is looking to reactivate its immigration mechanisms to speed up the entry of skilled labor and professionals to help the economic recovery. In addition, international students represent an important source of income for schools compared to Canadian students, thus maintaining thousands of jobs.
With this program, the student provides the documentation in advance to immigration officials for evaluation, thus expediting the process to obtain the student visa, having a response in only 20 days if the eligibility requirements are met with a very high probability of success.
There are 14 countries included in the Student Direct Stream Program list:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Brazil
- China
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- India
- Morocco
- Pakistan
- Peru
- Philippines
- Senegal
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Vietnam
Residents of the aforementioned countries will be eligible for the Student Direct Stream in Canada.
Requirements you must meet to qualify for the Student Direct Stream in Canada
- You must apply electronically and reside outside of Canada at the time of application.
- Attach the most recent secondary or post-secondary school transcript.
- Submit letter of acceptance from a designated private or public postsecondary learning institution (DLI).
- You must provide proof of full payment of your first year's tuition.
- You must prove your level of English or French with a valid test no older than two years: IELTS with a minimum score of 6.0 in all skills or, TEF with a score of at least 7 in each skill according to the Canadian Language Benchmark.
In case you have to take a bridge or prerequisite program to enter your main program of study, you can also request the Student Direct Stream provided that he/she meets all the requirements to be elected.
- Have access to a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) for students with a minimum of $10,000 Canadian dollars as proof that you can financially support yourself in Canada during your studies.
- Pass medical examinations.
- Provide biometric data.
- If required to present a criminal record certificate.
In addition, you must meet all eligibility and admissibility requirements under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR).
How does the Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) work?
You may apply for this certificate by depositing at least 10,000 Canadian dollars in any bank insured by the Canadian Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC) or any bank listed on the IRCC SDS website.
The ICM must comply with the following:
- When purchasing at GIC, the bank gives the applicant a certification letter, GIC certificate, confirmation of investment addresses or confirmation of the investment balance.
- The bank must keep these funds in an account that the student cannot access until he/she arrives in Canada.
- Upon entry into Canada, the bank must identify the student before releasing the funds to the study permit holder.
- The student receives an initial disbursement upon identification, and the remaining funds are disbursed in monthly or bi-monthly installments over a period of 10 to 12 months.
If you reside in one of the countries mentioned above and wish to study abroad, Canada is a great opportunity. In addition to offering a world-renowned education, it offers you life opportunities that are very difficult to achieve in other countries with a similar quality of life.
Visa CND knows the steps and immigration processes to achieve your goals in Canada. We will evaluate your profile to guide you on the right path. Register on our website to start your process.
