Difference Between SDS and Non-SDS Requirement & Success Rate

Last Updated on August 30, 2024

SDS stands for student direct stream which is a student partner program that makes the visa process easier for students who desire to pursue their graduation or masters from Canada. The visa program is open to several countries such as China, Brazil, India etc. The SDS visa procedure is considered highly beneficial and convenient as it does not exceed the visa application process. It enables the candidates to receive their visas within 4 to 6 weeks. 

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The process for applying for an ordinary visa to pursue education, employment, or immigrate to Canada is called Non-Student Direct Stream, or Non-SDS. Individuals may apply for non-SDS if they do not match the SDS requirements. Non-SDS demands less paperwork than SDS, but it processes information more slowly.

The standard visa procedure for living, working, and studying in Canada is called non-SDS. All the countries are subjected to the general process or non-SDS. It’s a drawn-out procedure with additional SDS documentation. It is available to all foreign visitors, regardless of where they are from. 

SDS And Non-SDS Visa Success Rate

Applications filed without an SDS visa have a far lower success percentage than those filed with an SDS. Because comparatively there are fewer documents in  

SDS than in non-SDS. Compared to non-SDS applicants, SDS candidates had a 76% success rate in 2023. Therefore, student candidates should file an SDS application during the Canadian visa process as It is faster and more significant. 

GIC Requirement For SDS And Non SDS

If an applicant uses the SDS software to apply for an academic visa to Canada, they need to have a CAD 10,000 Guaranteed Investment Certificate from a Canadian financial company that has been approved in order to pay for all of their living costs for the first year of studies. However, students may choose the Non-SDS curriculum if they are unable to satisfy the SDS requirements. A CAD 10,000 Guaranteed Investment Certificate is entirely optional for students who are enrolled in the non-SDS program.

Difference between SDS and non-SDS: 

Non-SDS Visa Requirements

The comprehensive documentation needed for a non-SDS category is as follows:

1. Academic documentation including a 12th-grade mark sheet having a minimum 55 percent score for admission in undergraduate courses 
2. Academic documentation including an undergraduate degree or diploma completion certificate with a minimum 50 percent score for admissions in the post-graduate courses. 
3. The mandatory visa application fee which lies between 100$ and 150$. 
4. Tuition fee payment receipt. 
5. The English Proficiency Test [IELTS] scorecard has minimum of a 6.0 for candidates applying for undergraduate courses and 6.5 for postgraduate courses. 
6. Prior work experience evidence of 3 months.
7. Offer letter from college about participation in non-SDS visa. 
8. A medical wellness test the required once. 
9. Financial proof documents such as bank savings, student loan investments, etc. 
10. Income tax return paperwork or Form 16 for the Candidate and Sponsor

SDS IELTS Requirements in Canada

1. According to immigration refugee citizenship Canada [ IRCC], the visa services in Canada changed on August 10, 2023, and IELTS requirements for SDS came into operation. 
2. The candidates appearing for the IELTS exam will now have to have a score of 6.0 to get approved for SDS. 
3. The major reason for introducing SDS in Canada is to provide a better experience and easy completion of studies for those who desire to study in Canada. 
4. A guaranteed investment certificate [ GIC] is required which is usually 10000$
5. Citizens from the following countries can only apply through SDS 

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Brazil
• China
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• India
• Morocco
• Pakistan
• Peru
• Philippines
• Senegal
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Vietnam

Non-SDS Disadvantages

It is always advisable for students to apply for a Canadian visa through an SDA rather than a non-SDA for the following reasons: 

1. Under the SDS category, candidates do not have to provide a lot of documentation and paperwork as compared to the non-SDS category. Documents such as financial proof and eligibility are not required under the SDS process. 
2. The SDS visa process is comparatively faster than non-SDS. Usually, it takes approximately 8 weeks to get a visa through non SDS process whereas through SDS, one can get it within 4 to 6 weeks. Hence the process is much faster. 
3. There are more chances of getting your visa approved through SDS as only some specific countries can apply. 
4. Non SDS is usually considered a lengthy process as most of the work under that is done in an offline mode whereas SDS documentation could be done entirely online.

How to Make a Strong Non-SDS File

1. It is advisable to pay the entire year fee instead of paying the semester fees before applying for a visa in Canada. 
2. If paying the semester fee, it is required to show eligible bank balances through the paperwork such as FDs, funds, etc. in the visa file to make a stronger impact. 
3. It is required to add all the necessary documents and paperwork to your file. 
4. The minimum score criteria in all the examinations such as 12th grade and IELTS should be met for both graduate and postgraduate courses.
5. Have a valid IELTS score. 

The following is the college in Canada that allows SDS visas

1. Sheridan College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning
2. George Brown College
3. Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning
4. Red River College of Applied Arts, Science & Technology
5. Niagara College
6. Parkland College
7. Fleming College
8. Loyalist College of Applied Arts & Technology
9. Canadore College
10. Vancouver Island University
11. Northern Lights College
12. Columbia International College 
13. Lakeland College 
14. Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
15. Lasalle College
16. Seneca College of Applied Arts & Technology
17. Sault College
18. Northern College 
19. Mohawk College of Applied Arts & Technology
20. Lawrence College

To sum up,

Billions of foreign visitors come to Canada, the country of opportunity, for employment, education, and vacation. To help mitigate this, Canada has made available to some nations the Student Direct Stream (SDS) visa, which expedites and streamlines the enrolment procedure for overseas learners. Since then, foreigners who want to study in Canada frequently apply for SDS academic authorization and easily get accepted into many of the top institutes.

FAQs 

Which shall be preferred, SDS or non-SDS? 

If you are a student applying for further studies in Canada, it is always advisable to apply for a visa through an SDS as it has a lot more benefits. 

How much time does it usually take to get a visa through SDS? 

It takes 4 to 6 weeks approximately to get a Canadian visa through SDS whereas a non SDS visa application takes up to 8 weeks. 

Is it necessary to pay GIC? 

Under SDS, it is compulsory to have a GIC. 

What is the full form of SDS? 

SDS stands for Student direct stream. 

What are the non-SDS colleges in Canada? 

1) Columbia International College

2) Camosun College

3) Norquest College

4) Medicine Hat College

5) Douglas College 

Does the SDS visa also get rejected? 

If the student does not fulfil the criteria for the application, their visa application might get rejected. 

Kanishka Garg

Kanishka Garg specializes in crafting informative content on study abroad education. Her passion lies in simplifying the journey for students through SEO-optimized articles and blogs. Kanishka’s commitment to clear communication and her deep understanding of international admissions processes make her blogs essential for students aiming to gain insights into top universities worldwide. With Kanishka’s blogs, students can confidently get solutions to the complexities of applying to their dream universities and achieve their academic aspirations abroad.