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Canada Welcomes Pakistan to Fast-Track Student Visa Program

Canada's Parliament government buildings in Ottawa, Ontario, as viewed from the river (somewhat Gothic stone spires with green copper roofs.)

The has officially expanded its popular Student Direct Stream (SDS) service to Pakistan, which will enable eligible students to have their study permit applications processed in as little as three weeks.

Pakistan is now the fifth country whose citizens may send applications through SDS. Students from China, India, the Philippines, and Vietnam have been part of the SDS service since it launched in 2018.

According to Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Ahmed Hussen, the Pakistan expansion stems from the Canadian government鈥檚 goal of attracting students from聽 of countries:

鈥淐anada鈥檚 diverse, welcoming society, high-quality educational institutions and opportunities to work or immigrate after graduation have made Canada a leading destination of choice from around the world,鈥 Hussen noted in a statement on the Government of Canada website. 鈥淏y expanding the Student Direct Stream to a more diverse range of students, we鈥檙e enhancing the tremendous cultural, social and economic benefits that international students provide.鈥

An illustration of a passport with a blue cover, a scantron test sheet, and a yellow manila envelope, fanned over an illustrated blue background.

Benefits of the Student Direct Stream

Students who apply for their visa under SDS enjoy much quicker processing times but must meet stricter requirements.

:

  • A Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) of C$10,000
  • Meeting language test requirements in English or French
  • Proof of paid tuition fees for first year of study

SDS is a way for qualified international students to have a streamlined experience when they apply to study in Canada. According to the Government of Canada, nearly 54,000 former students transitioned to permanent residence in 2018鈥揳n all-time high.

Study permit growth for Pakistani students has been slow the past few years, with only a little over聽 in 2018. With SDS now in effect for the rest of 2019, it will be interesting to see if Canada attracts a record number of Pakistani international students this year.

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