FAQs for SDS Canada

Q. Students who have already applied will be considered under the SPP program or SDS program?

A. The new SDS program will not affect the application of those who have already applied. Neither there will be any delay in the processing of your application because of the new program. Their application will be processed under the SPP program in the same way as the applications were processed earlier.

Q. If a student have got the letter of acceptance from a Canadian university, will he/she will be qualified for the SDS program?

A. If the university where you have applied falls under the list of designated learning institutes (DLIs) then he/she will be qualified for the SDS program. You can check out here if your college falls under the SDS category or not.

Q. Those who have appeared for the TOEFL or PTE Exam are eligible to apply under the SDS program?

A. Under the requirements set for the SDS program, candidates need to show IELTS Exam as their English Language Proficiency test, TOEFL and PTE exam are not accepted under the new SDS category.

Q. If a student has received the acceptance letter from a university and already paid the first year fee before the launch of the SDS program and are going to obtain their GIC, can they apply under the SDS category?

A. If the candidate has paid the first year fee and are meeting all the requirements set under the SDS program, he/she can apply for the Study Permit under the SDS program.

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Q. What is a designated learning institute (DLI)?

A. Any school authorised by a provincial or territorial government to host international students comes under the category of designated learning institutes. You can check the list of designated learning institutes here.

Q. Those who are not qualified to apply under the SDS program, can they apply for a Canada Student Visa?

A. If a student is not qualified to apply under the SDS category, they can still apply for a Student Visa, however, their application will be processed under the standard procedure and it will take 60 days.

Q. If candidate’s Student Visa application is rejected in that case what happens to the tuition fee which they have paid and GIC?

A. If the candidate’s Student Visa application is rejected, they can approach to the school they have applied and ask for a refund of their tuition fee. Also, they can contact their bank to claim the full refund of their Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC).

Q. If a candidate has been rejected under the SPP program, but qualify for the SDS program can still apply for a study permit? They should apply under the regular program or SDS program?

A. Those who qualify under the SDS program can apply for the study permit under the SDS program, irrespective of the status of their previous application. Their application will be assessed under this particular program based on the documents which they have submitted.

Q. If the Letter of Acceptance was issued before the launch of the SDS program, however, the candidate is qualified to apply under the SDS program, what should they do? Do they need to follow the SPP checklist?

A. If a candidate is meeting the eligibility criteria set under the SDS program then they can apply for the study permit under this program, irrespective when they paid their college fee and when the letter of acceptance was received.

Q. What happen if the candidate’s application is approved?

A. If the candidate’s application is approved, the Canadian High Commission issues a study permit and send it to the candidate’s address along with his/her passport with the stamped visa. However, this is not the original study permit. Candidates need to show this to the immigration officials while entering Canada, there he/she will be issued the original study permit.

Q. Are all the Canadian colleges falls under the SDS Canada or only those which comes under the SPP? If a candidate is accepted by a school then will he/she be qualify for the SDS program?

A. More colleges and universities comes under the SDS program. Candidates need to check whether their college falls under the SDS category or not. They can check the list of the Designated Learning Institutes here.