The Canadian government has officially ended the Student Direct Stream (SDS) program on Friday. This decision stops the fast-track study permit process that has helped many international students pursue their education in Canada. 

In 2018, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) launched the SDS program with the goal of expediting the visa application process for students from 14 countries, including major source countries such as China, India, and the Philippines. Candidates had to fulfil certain requirements in order to be eligible, including presenting their English or French language test results and obtaining a Canadian Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) valued at $20,635 CAD. 

Compared to the average processing time of eight weeks for Indian applicants applying through the regular route, the program drastically shortened the waiting time for study permits, enabling successful candidates to receive their visas within weeks. As worries about housing shortages and resource constraints grow, Canada is implementing a more comprehensive plan to manage its international student population, which includes the cancellation of the SDS program. A cap of 437,000 new study permits, covering all educational levels, including postgraduate programs, has been set by the government for 2025 as part of its 2024 policy changes.

The Canadian government is putting a number of stricter measures into place in addition to terminating SDS. These include increasing the requirements for financial proof, restricting work permits for spouses of international students, and tightening the language and academic requirements for students applying for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). Despite hosting a record 807,000 study permit holders in 2023, Canada is currently facing pressures on housing and public services and as a result these changes are occurring. 

Under new regulations, international students might experience longer waiting periods and higher eligibility requirements. Similarly, Canada has updated its tourist visa policy, ending its practice of routinely issuing 10-year multiple-entry visas. Now, immigration officers have more flexibility to decide the type and length of visas, which could affect frequent travelers who may no longer be assured of long-term entry. "Multiple-entry visas issued to maximum validity are no longer considered to be the standard document," the IRCC clarified in a statement. Officers will now be able to determine whether to grant a single-entry or multiple-entry visa, as well as how long each visa will be valid.