The Canadian government has announced major changes to its visa policies, affecting international students and tourists. Effective immediately, the country has ended its Student Direct Stream (SDS) program. This program previously allowed faster processing of study permits for students from India and 13 other countries, helping them quickly access educational opportunities in Canada.
The government explained that this change aims to create a fairer application process for all international students, regardless of where they are applying from. The end of SDS means that all student visa applications will now go through regular processing channels, which could lead to longer waiting times for some applicants.
In addition to changes for students, Canada has also revised its tourist visa rules. The country will no longer issue automatic 10-year multiple-entry visas. Officials say this policy change is meant to better control immigration flow and respond to public concerns about overstaying and other immigration issues. New tourist visa applicants will have to follow updated rules, which may involve stricter entry requirements and different visa durations.
The Canadian government has not detailed if more changes are coming but emphasized that these policy shifts are part of efforts to ensure transparency and consistency in immigration.
For further details, please visit the official Canadian immigration website.
