Canada to double cost-of-living requirement for int’l students
The Canadian government has announced that it will more than double the cost-of-living financial requirement for incoming international students on January 1, 2024.
In order to provide more eligible international students an opportunity to study at a Canadian post-secondary institution and to shorten the visa application processing time, the Canadian government has made some changes to the student visa programme.
From 8 June, the existing Student Partnership Program (SPP) in India will be replaced by Student Direct Stream (SDS). This new SDS programme will replace existing facilitation programmes for students not only in India, but also in China, the Philippines and Vietnam.
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The existing SPP in India is restricted to international students intending to study at one of nearly 40 post-secondary institutions in Canada. However, the new SDS will be open to all international students going to any designated learning institution (DLI) in Canada, including both publicly-funded and private post-secondary institutions. The SDS will also offer faster and simpler visa processing to international students best placed to complete their academic studies.
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“Canada has quickly become the preferred destination for Indian students looking for a high quality international education,” said Nadir Patel, the High Commissioner of Canada to India. “It provides a world-class education in a safe and welcoming environment at a competitive and affordable cost. The new SDS will provide for students aspiring to go to Canada with an even faster and more streamlined visa application process.”
For SDS study permit applications, the processing time will be an expedited 45 days or less. For non-SDS applications, these will be subject to normal processing times.
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