Canada: Student Direct Stream and Nigeria Student Express Programs Closed

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has closed the Student Direct Stream (SDS) and Nigeria Student Express (NSE) programs as of November 8, 2024. IRCC will continue to process eligible SDS and NSE applications submitted before 14:00 (local time) on November 8, 2024; however, study permit applications submitted on or after this time will be processed under the regular study permit application process. IRCC launched the SDS in 2018 to provide faster study permit processing for eligible post-secondary students of select nationalities (including China and India). Students from Nigeria had a similar process under the NSE. As a result of the closures, students who planned to apply under the SDS and NSE should now plan for longer processing times (which vary by country). According to IRCC, the closures aim to give all students equal and fair access to the application process and strengthen the integrity of international student programs.