SDS Program Requirements

For a Canadian study permit through the SDS program, prospective applicants must be/ have:

• A resident of one of the listed countries in Asia or Africa.

• A letter of acceptance (LOA) from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada.

• A confirmation document for the applicant’s upfront medical exam.

• Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) - $20,000 with effect from January 1st, 2024

• Payment proof of the tuition fees for the first year of study.

• Show proof that they either completed studies at a Canadian curriculum high school or show proof of a language test results demonstrating an IELTS score of 6 in English or NCLC 7 for French.

• Submit the application online

Approved applications will be issued a letter of introduction (officially known as a Point of Entry letter of introduction) and a temporary resident visa to enter Canada. The letter of introduction, or Point of Entry (POE) letter, is issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) as proof of approval for a study permit and is presented to a visa officer upon arrival in Canada. Citizens of one of the countries listed above cannot be residing in another country at the time of applying for a study permit through the SDS program.

What is Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC)?

A GIC is a Canadian investment that has a guaranteed rate of return for a fixed period of time. It is offered by many banks, however, to do so banks must meet the following criteria:

• Confirmation that you bought a GIC by giving you 1 of the following:

  - A letter of attestation

  - A GIC certificate

  - An Investment Directions Confirmation or

  - An Investment Balance Confirmation

• Hold the GIC in an investment account or a student account that you cannot access until you arrive in Canada.

Once you arrive in Canada, you will receive a portion of your GIC. The rest will be paid out to you over the next 10 to 12 months.

Where to get GIC?

GIC can be obtained from a financial institution that meets the criteria for Student Direct Stream. The following financial institutions offer GICs that meet the benchmarks:

Advantages of applying through Student Direct Stream

Faster study permit processing times (14 calendar days). IRCC says through the SDS program complete applications will be reviewed as soon as they are received. If an application does not meet the requirements for the SDS program, IRCC will process the submission as a regular study permit application.

Canada is not just a preferred choice by students for pursuing world class education but also offers an exciting opportunity to experience life and lessons beyond their front door. Partaap Immigration Services assist its clients throughout their immigration journey starting from obtaining a study permit to settling in Canada.

Program Selection

One of the most important considerations of your study permit application is program choice. Each study program has different set of requirements. We help clients in opting suitable courses and/or programs based on their educational background, work experience, interest, and long-term goals.

Letter of Acceptance (LOA)

Upon choosing a program, we help clients in obtaining a letter of acceptance from a Canadian designated learning institution (DLI) which is mandatory to apply for a study permit.

Apply for a Study Permit

After receiving the acceptance letter, we prepare and submit the student visa application on behalf of our clients to Canadian immigration.

Pre-arrival services

As every case is indeed different, seeking advice from a student-visa expert can prove to be very helpful. At Partaap Immigration Services, we offer pre-arrival services that help our clients prepare themselves for their journey to Canada. Our services are tailored to meet short-term and long-term goals, and we provide the following services:

• Based on your current educational status and aspirations, we recommend that you consider applying for a study program that aligns with your goals and interests.

• We check your eligibility for various programs and provide you with a list of recommended programs that you can apply for. Once you have shortlisted the programs, we can help you check all the requirements such as minimum qualification, IELTS score, and other prerequisites that you need to fulfill before applying for the program.

• We also help you in verifying the cost of living and tuition fees based on the province/city and study program.

• To ensure hassle-free application processing, we can help you prepare your application and advise you on the documentation and format required.

• Once you have completed the application, we can review it with attention to minute details.

• We ensure that your acceptance letter is from a designated learning institution.

• While evaluating the study program, we also assess whether the chosen study program awards you with an open work permit.

• We analyze the value addition of the chosen study program in your immigration journey.

• We also look out for future employment opportunities in the job market.

• Evaluate the points that your study program will add to your Express Entry/PNP application.

Post-arrival services

At our immigration services, we strive to make the Canadian dream a reality for our clients. Whether it's an SP extension, Open Work Permit of Spouse, parents’ visitor visa, PNP or PR, we offer a range of solutions to help you settle and work in Canada. Let us guide you through the process and help you achieve your goals.