4 new English language examinations for the Student Direct Stream are approved by IRCC

4 new English language examinations for the Student Direct Stream: Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) just said that it would accept test scores from four new language tests from people who want to apply through the Student Direct Stream (SDS).

On August 10, 2023, IRCC will start to accept test scores from these four new tests.

The new tests that can be taken are: 

• The CELPIP General
• CAEL
• PTE Academic
• TOEFL iBT Test

All test results should show how well you can speak, listen, read, and write in English Language. 

In order to pass the CELPIP general tests, you must get a number of at least 7 on each of the four speaking skills. This is the Canadian Language Benchmark.

Results from the CAEL and Pearson PTE Academic tests must show a score of at least 60. The minimum number for the Educational Testing Service (ETS) TOEFL iBT Test is 83.

These tests must be taken in person. Applicants to the SDS won’t be able to take online tests that are proctored from a distance.

Before this change, the only tests that IRCC would let SDS candidates take were IELTS General and IELTS Academic.

What does SDS mean?

Students from certain countries can get their study passes quickly through the SDS. Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, India, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Senegal, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vietnam citizens or permanent residents are welcome to apply.

The processing time for all study permit applications qualified under SDS is 20 days. The SDS started in 2018, and Indian foreign students often use it.

Who can Apply under Student Direct Stream?

Students who fit this condition must, in addition to being legal residents of specific countries, also: 

• present a copy of an acceptance letter from a Canadian Designated Learning Institution (DLI);

• present a confirmation document for the applicant’s upfront medical exam,
• show proof that they have a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) of $10,000;
• show proof that tuition fees for the first year of study are paid;
• provide proof of language test results completed within

Canada is now home to more than 800,000 students from outside the country. IRCC said that by the end of 2022, Canada had the most foreign students of any country in its history: over 800,000. 

The number of foreign students studying in Canada has increased by four times since 2008.  This is due to a number of reasons both inside and outside of Canada. For many economic, social, and cultural reasons, the Canadian government and DLIs have been trying harder to bring foreign students into the country. 

The rise of the global middle class has led to a rise in the number of foreign students around the world. Canada is a popular place for international students to study because of its high standard of education, reputation for multiculturalism, and opportunities to work and move there.