Canada's Scrapping Of SDS Visa To Make Admission Process Affordable For Indian Students

Recently, Canada announced the end of the fast-track study visa program for foreign students which allowed them to get visas faster. Now, the Indian government said that it is going to make the admission process more affordable for international students including Indian students.

Study in Canada: The issue of cancellation of Canada's SDS visa scheme was raised in Lok Sabha. While replying to the question on its impact, issues and difficulties for Indian students, the Minister of State In The Ministry of External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh has given assurance that this is only going to help the Indian students by making the admission process more affordable.

He said, "On 8th November 2024, the Canadian Government ended the SDS program. The Canadian Government conveyed that its objective in doing away with the SDS program is in line with its efforts to strengthen the program’s integrity, address student vulnerability, and give all students equal and fair access to the application process, as well as a positive academic experience. Following the cancellation of the SDS Scheme, all international students would now have to apply for "regular study permits” for studying in Canada."

"Under the regular route, students are no longer required to pay full one-year tuition fee upfront, but only for six months and demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to cover their living expenses. This makes the admission process more affordable for students, particularly those who were previously unable to meet the more costly SDS requirements," added the minister.

About Canada's SDS Visa Scheme

The Student Direct Stream (SDS) program was introduced in 2018. This allowed foreign students to get the study permit in fast-track mode. The process involved many specific requirements such as meeting language proficiency levels, and providing proof of funds which is a mandatory Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) worth $20,635, and the students also needed to pay the tuition fee of one year in advance.

The government said that currently, around 427,000 Indian students are pursuing their higher education in Canada.

"All issues facing Indian students in Canada are regularly discussed and raised with Canadian authorities. Government of India places high emphasis on the well-being of Indian students pursuing education in Canada," added Kirti Vardhan Singh.

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