Short-term impact: As Canada terminates its expedited student visa program, experts express cautious optimism

The Student Direct Stream (SDS), one of Canada’s most well-liked fast-track student visa programs, was discontinued. It was introduced in 2018 to expedite the visa application process for post-secondary students from 14 nations, including India. 

Faster processing times will still be available to Indian students who applied under the SDS before the deadline of 2 p.m. ET on November 8. Wait times will be greater for applicants who apply after the deadline, though. According to Piyush Kumar, Regional Director – South Asia, Canada, and Latin America of IDP, a consulting organization, “the regular student visa route still offers the ease of documentation option, and Indian students can still benefit from that simpler process.

What caused the change?

Experts are worried that this abrupt policy change could negatively impact Indian students’ plans to study in Canada, even though the reason for it is yet unknown.Aritra Ghosal, founder and director of OneStep Global, another educational consulting organization, stated that the removal of SDS may create new obstacles for Indian students, thereby lengthening processing times and creating uncertainty. 

The shift may also be a step to reduce the number of temporary residents in Canada, according to Indian students now enrolled on student visas. According to Aaryan Arora, who is enrolled in Norquest College’s diploma program in business administration, some students choose “easy courses” to enter Canada and occasionally find themselves jobless upon graduation.

Furthermore, Ottawa is getting ready to announce a major cutback in the number of permanent residents it intends to admit, according to a recent article in The Globe and Mail. The Canadian publication reported that, according to a senior government source, the number of permanent residents will decrease from 4.85 lahks this year to 3.95 lakh in 2025, with additional reductions to 3.8 lakh in 2026 and 3.65 lahks in 2027.

The modifications may also have a “positive effect on Canada’s housing costs, which have doubled over the last nine years,” according to Aaryan Arora. 

Canada’s largest market is Indian students.

Approximately 13 lakh Indian students were granted study permits between 2015 and 2024, according to IRCC data. Up till August of 2024, 1.37 lakh Indian students (36.7%) out of 3.74 lakh international students were granted study permits. With an expected 4.27 lakh students studying there in 2023, India is Canada’s top source country for international students.

Indian students have been one of the main recipients of the SDS for the last six years. Official estimates indicate that 60% of the four lakh Indian students who applied to study in Canada in 2023 did so through the program. The approval percentage for Indian students under the SDS was continuously increased, surpassing 70% in 2023.

For Indian students, what comes next?

When applying for a student visa to Canada, Indian students should be aware that processing times are anticipated to lengthen. As a result, they must account for extra buffer time while applying for study visas.”We recommend starting early and giving yourself eight to ten weeks to get student visa permits for applicants aiming for all subsequent intake cycles. 

We recognize that Indian students prefer Canada as a study-abroad destination and that the SDS is well-liked for its speedy visa approvals; however, even with the standard visa processing route, Canada’s visa approval times will be on par with or less than those of other well-liked international locations.

Additional changes that take effect on November 1 include stricter academic and language requirements for students hoping to be eligible for the post-graduation work permit (PGWP), fewer work permits for international students’ spouses, increased requirements for financial proof, and fewer multiple-entry visas. 

Given India’s high application rates, Canada has a history of reopening its doors to Indian students when demand changes. These choices might also be impacted by current diplomatic relations dynamics, according to an expert.