Student Direct Stream (SDS)

The Student Direct Stream (SDS) is an expedited study permit processing program for those who are applying to study in Canada at a post-secondary designated learning institution (DLI). The SDS is available to legal residents who also reside in

  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Brazil
  • China
  • Colombia
  • Costa Rica
  • India
  • Morocco
  • Pakistan
  • Peru
  • Philippines
  • Senegal
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Vietnam

To be eligible, applicants must meet specific requirements by providing documentation up front.

You may not use the SDS application process if you are living in a non-SDS country, even if your nationality appears on this list.

Please check the Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website for more information and instructions.

The amount billed on the SDS payments is an estimate of fees for the year, based on a flat rate average for all programs.  Exact tuition rates are updated every year. You are responsible for checking the amount per credit hour for your program.

Depending on your program and the number of courses you take, you may end up owning more or less for the first year.  If you have paid more than the amount owed for the year, it will sit in your account as a credit to be applied to your next term; if you have paid less, you will be billed the difference.

Proof of Acceptance Letter and SDS

Your Proof of Acceptance will not indicate if you are prepaying your SDS fee. You will need to attach your payment receipt to your application as proof of payment.

Please note that we cannot accept prepayment of fees from students who are not using the SDS process to apply for a study permit.

Payments

If you indicate on the Graduate Student Portal that you will be using the SDS application process, you will receive an invoice from Student Accounts 3-5 business days following your confirmation of acceptance.

If you have any billing or tuition questions, please refer to the Student Financial Services webpage.