Canada Govt ends fast-track student visas for India, 13 other countries

In 2023, 60% of Indian students who wanted to go to Canada opted for SDS

Written by: Divya A, Manraj Grewal Sharma

4 min readChandigarh, New DelhiUpdated: Nov 11, 2024 06:25 PM IST

canada, study abroad, SDS programme, Canada students, indian students in canada, canada visa application, Indian express news, current affairs, canada latest news

Launched in 2018, the Student Direct Stream programme aimed to simplify the visa application process for students from 14 countries, including India and China, who met specific requirements. (representative image/ AI-generated)

In a decision that will impact applicants from India — and at a time when diplomatic ties between the two countries are strained — Canada ended its popular, fast-track student visa programme with effect from Friday.

The Student Direct Stream (SDS) programme was launched in 2018 to provide faster processing for eligible post-secondary students from 14 countries, including India. Besides a shorter processing time, the approval rates were also higher under the programme.

According to official estimates, 60 per cent of the 4 lakh Indian students who sought to study in Canada in 2023 applied under the SDS programme. Under SDS, the approval rate for Indian students was consistently higher, breaching 70 per cent in 2023. In contrast, those applying through the regular route had approval rates as low as 10 per cent.

Also read | Experts cautiously hopeful as Canada ends fast-track student visa programme

Announcing the end of the programme on Friday, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said: “Canada’s goal is to strengthen programme integrity, address student vulnerability, and give all students equal and fair access to the application process, as well as a positive academic experience. To meet this commitment, the Student Direct Stream (SDS)… ended as of 2 pm today… Canada is committed to giving all international students equal and fair access to the application process for study permits.”

The IRCC said prospective students can still apply through the regular study permit route, for which guaranteed investment certificates are accepted as proof of financial support.

Under the SDS programme, students could secure study permits in just 20 working days, even as processing times under the standard route often extend to around eight weeks for Indian applicants.

India is Canada’s largest source country of foreign students with an estimated 4.27 lakh Indian students studying there in 2023.

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The SDS programme was available to 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.

Calling it a big blow to students aspiring to study in Canada, Gurpreet Singh, who has been running a visa consultancy in Kapurthala for the last 10 years, said all the students from his area had been taking the SDS route ever since it was introduced. “That’s the case with most of the students from the rest of Punjab as well,” he said.

Also Read | Canada ends fast track visas for foreign students: How will it affect Indians seeking to study there?

The Canadian government said it was looking to reduce the number of temporary residents in the country, after hosting a record 8 lakh study permit holders last year, with the need to alleviate pressures on housing and services. As part of its 2024 policy shifts, the government set a cap of 437,000 new study permits for 2025, covering all levels of education, including post-graduate programmes.

In September, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had announced plans to curb inflow of students. “We’re granting 35 per cent fewer international student permits this year. And next year, that number’s going down by another 10 per cent… Immigration is an advantage for our economy — but when bad actors abuse the system and take advantage of students, we crack down,” he had said in a post on X.

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Further tightening measures include tougher language and academic benchmarks for students aiming to qualify for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), limited work permits for spouses of international students, and higher financial proof requirements. Additionally, the Canadian government is reducing the availability of multiple-entry visas, which have been commonly used by international students to enter and exit Canada during their study periods.

Divya A

Divya A reports on travel, tourism, culture and social issues - not necessarily in that order - for The Indian Express. She's been a journalist for over a decade now, working with Khaleej Times and The Times of India, before settling down at Express. Besides writing/ editing news reports, she indulges her pen to write short stories. As Sanskriti Prabha Dutt Fellow for Excellence in Journalism, she is researching on the lives of the children of sex workers in India. ... Read More

Manraj Grewal Sharma

Manraj Grewal Sharma is a senior journalist and the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Chandigarh, where she leads the newspaper’s coverage of north India’s most politically and institutionally significant regions. From Punjab and Haryana to Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, she oversees reporting at the intersection of governance, law, politics and society. She also reports on the diaspora, especially in Canada and the US. With a career spanning journalism across several countries, academia and international development, Manraj brings a rare depth of perspective to regional reporting. She is widely regarded as a leading chronicler of Punjab’s contemporary history and socio-political evolution, particularly its long shadow of militancy, federal tensions and identity politics. Her book, Dreams after Darkness, remains a definitive account of the militancy years and their enduring aftermath. Professional Background & Expertise A gold medalist in mass communication and a post-graduate in English literature, Manraj has a multifaceted career spanning journalism, academia, and international development. She was also awarded a fellowship by National Foundation of India and did several in-depth pieces on Manipur. Internationally, she has reported from Israel, US, UK, Myanmar, and Mauritius Her key focus areas include: Regional Politics, History, Agriculture, Diaspora, and Security. Of late, she has started focusing on Legal & Judicial Affairs: Much of her recent work involves reporting on high-stakes cases in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, ranging from environmental policy to civil rights. International Consulting: She previously served as a consulting editor for the Asia Pacific Adaptation Network and a publishing consultant for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila. Academia: For five years, she was the managing editor of Gender, Technology and Development, a peer-reviewed international journal at the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage focuses heavily on judicial interventions and regional governance: 1. Environment & Governance "‘NGT can’t test legality of policy’: HC hears challenge to Punjab’s ‘Green Habitat’ plan" (Dec 22, 2025): Covering a critical legal battle over whether the National Green Tribunal has the authority to strike down a state policy regularizing farmhouses on delisted forest land. "High court pulls up Punjab poll panel over audio clip probe" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on judicial concerns regarding the transparency and fairness of local body elections. 2. Legal Rights & Social Welfare "HC issues notice to Punjab, Haryana over delay in building old age homes" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on a contempt petition against top officials for failing to establish government-run homes for the elderly as promised in 2019. "Victims can appeal acquittals in sessions court without seeking special leave" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant procedural shift in criminal law following a Supreme Court ruling. "HC upholds benefits for Punjab FCI officer acquitted in 20-year-old bribery case" (Dec 19, 2025): A report on the concept of "honourable acquittal" and its impact on employee benefits. 3. Human Rights & Identity "As Punjab denies parole to MP Amritpal Singh, HC asks it to submit ‘foundational material’" (Dec 1, 2025): Covering the legal proceedings regarding the radical preacher and sitting MP's request to attend Parliament. "Protecting life paramount: HC backs Muslim woman in live-in after verbal divorce" (Nov 6, 2025): Analyzing judicial protections for personal liberty in the context of traditional practices. Signature Beats Manraj is recognized for her ability to decode complex judicial rulings and relate them to the everyday lives of citizens. Whether it is a 30-year-old land battle in Fazilka or the political implications of Kangana Ranaut’s candidacy in Mandi, her writing provides deep historical and regional context. Contact @grewal_sharma on X manrajgrewalsharma on Instagram ... Read More

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