Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced that it will no longer accept study permit applications under two expedited processing streams: the Student Direct Stream (SDS) and the Nigeria Student Express (NSE) stream.
The NSE stream, specifically designed to help Nigerian students secure study permits faster, aimed to streamline application processing times for Nigerian students through localized banking requirements.
Moving forward, all applicants will need to use the standard study permit application process.
The NSE was introduced in January 2020 to cater specifically to Nigerian students by providing a flexible alternative to the SDS.
While the SDS required a $10,000 Canadian Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) as proof of funds, the NSE relied on local verifiable banking via MyBank, mandating proof of $30,000 CAD equivalent in a Nigerian bank for at least six months, along with a 12-month banking history.
The high financial threshold for NSE has drawn criticism, with some stakeholders arguing that it created inequity compared to the SDS requirements.
The discontinuation of SDS and NSE follows recent policy adjustments by the Canadian government aimed at controlling the number of temporary residents.
In 2025, a cap of 437,000 new study permits, covering master’s and Ph.D. students, will take effect.
Other recent measures include new criteria on language proficiency and field of study for Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility and restrictions on work permits for the spouses of international students.
The SDS, established in 2018 for students from countries like India, China, and the Philippines, historically offered faster processing times and a higher success rate.
While the average processing time for SDS applicants from India, for instance, was eight weeks, non-SDS applications typically took longer.
Additional requirements now mandate updated cost-of-living proof for international students, as Canada faces increased demands on housing and services for temporary residents.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government of Nigeria has called on Nigerians living abroad to return home and contribute to the nation’s development.
This appeal was made by Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman of the Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission, during the 12th Convocation lecture at Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti.
In her address, Dabiri-Erewa emphasized the invaluable role of Nigerians in the diaspora in addressing Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges, urging them to bring their global exposure, professional expertise, and innovative ideas back to Nigeria to help fuel national growth.
