The IRCC recently added Costa Rica as one of the eligible countries for the Student Direct Stream (SDS) program. This was the latest move in a series of measures to ensure the revival of Canadian high education and post-pandemic immigration levels.
Not only Costa Rica, other top source countries for international students including Brazil, Columbia, Peru, Antigua and Barbuda, Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Vincent, and the Grenadines were also included in the program.
What Is the Student Direct Stream (SDS) Program?
The SDS program allows faster processing of the Study Permit for Canada, allowing international students to receive their Study Permit within 20 days. Typically, the Study Permit processing takes up to several months.
Why Were These Changes Made to Include More Countries?
The Covid-19 pandemic affected everyone, including international students waiting to come to Canada. To provide faster processing to eligible students from top source countries, Canada thought it would be best to expand the SDS stream. This will allow the immigration levels to recover post-pandemic.