Student Direct Stream (SDS) — Discontinued Feb 2025
IRCC discontinued the Student Direct Stream (SDS) on February 8, 2025. Students from India, China, Philippines, and 11 other previously SDS-eligible countries now apply through the regular study permit stream.
What Changed
SDS previously offered expedited 20-day processing for students from select countries who met language, financial, and academic criteria. With its closure, all applications are processed through the regular stream.
Regular Stream Requirements
You'll need the same core documentation:
- ● Letter of Acceptance from a Designated Learning Institution
- ● Provincial Attestation Letter (where required)
- ● Proof of funds (now $20,635+ per student, plus first-year tuition)
- ● Police certificate, medical exam (where required), biometrics
- ● Statement of purpose and study plan
Processing Times
Regular stream processing is 8 to 16 weeks for most countries, longer for some. Plan early — apply at least 4 months before your program start date.
Looking for related services? See our full Study Permits overview or all services.
Why Choose Us?
Personalized Assessment
- Understanding your Canadian immigration needs and goals.
- Assessing eligibility across multiple programs.
- Recommending the best pathway for your situation.
- Answering all questions and addressing concerns.
Tailored Approach
- Custom Canadian immigration plan suited to you.
- Clear proposal outlining services and payment structure: 50% before processing, 50% before submission.
- Comprehensive checklist after initial payment.
Application Fulfillment
- Dedicated case manager assigned to your file.
- Strong application prepared within 7–10 business days.
- Review and final approval before submission.
Trusted Partnership
- Kept informed at every stage from submission to decision.
- Ongoing support and guidance until you reach your goals.
- Available for status updates at any time.
Ready to take the next step?
Book a free assessment with our licensed RCIC team. We'll review your case, identify your best pathway, and outline the next steps.
Our Technology Ecosystem
The platform behind Waymark — built in Abbotsford, BC by RCICs, for the way modern immigration practices actually work.
Nova System Inc.
Canadian legal-tech company building modern software for immigration consultants. The team behind Meridian, Polaris, and Aurora.
- ▸Founded in Abbotsford, BC by a practicing RCIC
- ▸Three products serving the full RCIC workflow
- ▸Built on the global edge network
- ▸Encrypted at rest with AES-256-GCM
- ▸CICC-aware trust accounting and RCIC compliance baked in
Meridian
The all-in-one operating system for RCIC firms. Cases, clients, documents, trust accounting, AI, and intake — one connected platform.
- ▸AI-powered CRM for cases, clients, leads, deadlines
- ▸Document automation plus smart checklists per IRCC pathway
- ▸CICC-aware trust accounting and annual report generator
- ▸Per-case AI chat plus global firm AI assistant
- ▸Branded intake forms, client portal, e-signatures
- ▸Real-time IRCC policy and Express Entry draw monitoring
Polaris
The desktop cockpit. A native app that puts your day, your cases, and your AI assistant one click away — built for staff who live in the practice.
- ▸Daily bench view — your day at a glance
- ▸Voice notes and camera capture into cases
- ▸Owner cockpit with firm-wide metrics and approvals
- ▸Compass with in-app help and onboarding
- ▸RCIC approvals queue for L1 staff submissions
- ▸Lock and unlock workstation via mobile passkey
Aurora
The mobile client experience. Clients track their case, upload documents, sign forms, and message their RCIC — from the palm of their hand.
- ▸Live case tracking and processing-time radar
- ▸Multi-page document scan and camera upload
- ▸Secure document viewer and watermarked downloads
- ▸In-house e-signatures and payment receipts
- ▸Eligibility checks, CRS, NOC, travel calculators
- ▸Push notifications and PIPEDA data export and delete
Waymark Immigration runs on the Nova System ecosystem.