Canada has officially ended the Student Direct Stream (SDS) fast-track visa program for international students, with the policy change taking effect immediately on Friday. The move is expected to impact thousands of students, particularly those from countries like India, which is the largest source of international students in Canada. The SDS program, introduced in 2018, allowed students from select countries to apply for study permits with expedited processing, typically within 20 business days. In contrast, without SDS, students may face waiting periods of up to eight weeks or more, depending on application volumes and processing times.

The SDS program was designed to streamline the visa process for students from countries such as India, China, and the Philippines, helping them start their studies in Canada more promptly.

The program's popularity has been particularly strong among Indian students, with 427,000 Indian students currently enrolled in Canada. With its discontinuation, students will now need to rely on the standard application process, which may be slower.

This policy shift is consistent with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's statement from September, where he announced a 35% reduction in international student permits this year, followed by a further 10% decrease next year.