SDS vs Non-SDS Visa for Canada: Differences and Eligibility

Introduction

SDS and Non-SDS are two terms you will encounter if you want to apply for a Canadian visa. Students planning to pursue their higher education in Canada often get confused in SDS vs non-SDS. In this article, we will discuss what both of these terms mean and what the differences are. You will also find out the requirements for applying for the visa under these two categories.

What is an SDS Visa?

SDS stands for Student Direct Stream. It was earlier known as the Students Partner Program (SPP). Canadian Immigration Services initiated this approach to make the student visa application process faster and more efficient.

Language Requirements for SDS Visa

To be eligible for an SDS visa, you need to have an overall band score of 6.0 or higher in IELTS Academic. If you have taken the IELTS General Training Test, you need a band score of at least 6.0 in each of the four skills.

Document Requirements for SDS Visa

The list of documents required while applying for an SDS visa includes:

• Acceptance letter from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI)
• Proof of payment for your first year of tuition fees
• Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) payment certificate or attestation letter
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Test Report Form (TRF) or Test d’evaluation de francais (TEF) scorecard
• Medical examination report from an authorized panel of physicians
• Comprehensive academic background and records
• Additional requirement of a Certificat d’acceptation du Québec (CAQ) for students studying in Quebec.

What is a Non-SDS Visa?

The non-SDS category is the general way of applying for a Canadian visa. It is for those who cannot meet the requirements for the SDS category. Students applying for a Non-SDS visa have to submit more documents and the process is slower.

Language Requirements for Non-SDS Visa

To be eligible for a Non-SDS visa, you need to have a minimum overall band score of 6.0 in the IELTS Test. Apart from that, you also need to maintain a band score of 5.5 or higher in all four sections of the test.

Document Requirements for Non-SDS Visa

While applying for a Non-SDS visa, you need to present more documents than you do in the SDS approach. The list of documents include: 

• Academic transcripts, including the 12th-grade report card, with a minimum aggregate score of 55% for undergraduate courses
• Undergraduate degree or advanced diploma with a minimum grade of 50% for admission to postgraduate courses
• English language proficiency test results, with a minimum IELTS score of 6.0 for undergraduate courses and 6.5 for postgraduate courses
• Offer letter from a college participating in the Non-Student Direct Stream (SDS)
• Evidence of prior work experience, including pay stubs for the last three months
• Proof of financial support, such as bank savings, student loans, investments, etc
• Income tax return documents or form 16 of the candidate or the sponsor
• Receipt of tuition fee payment
• Documentation of necessary medical tests
• Visa application fee of $150 (approximately INR 11,000)

SDS Visa vs Non-SDS Visa: Key Differences

SDS and Non-SDS are two approaches to obtaining a student visa in Canada. There are significant differences between these two in terms of speed, eligibility, documents required, and other factors. We will look at all the differences one by one.

Visa Processing Time

The SDS approach is much faster than the other one. Since Non-SDS is the general approach, a larger number of students go for it. On the other hand, SDS is streamlined and hence it has a faster processing time. SDS applications take about 20 calendar days, whereas Non-SDS applications may take up to six to eight weeks approximately.

List of Countries

The SDS approach is applicable only to some selected countries. The list of countries includes Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, India, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Senegal, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vietnam. On the other hand, students from all countries can apply in the Non-SDS category.

Documents Required

You need to submit a lesser number of documents while applying for an SDS visa. However, a Non-SDS visa application requires a more extensive set of documents.

Medium of Application

Online applications undergo faster processing. This is why candidates can submit SDS applications only through the online medium. But Non-SDS applications can be submitted offline as well.

Success Rate

Non-SDS applications have a low success rate of 40%. On the other hand, SDS applications have a greater chance of getting accepted. Statistics from Canada.ca say that 71% of SDS applications are successful.

Advantages of SDS Visa Over Non-SDS Visa

As you may have deduced by now, the SDS visa application process has its advantages over the Non-SDS visa application process. These include:

• Faster processing time: As the SDS approach is a streamlined process in comparison to the Non-SDS approach which is the general process, you get an SDS visa much faster.
• Less documentation: The list of documents required for the SDS visa application process is shorter than that required for the Non-SDS visa application process.
• Success rate: The SDS approach has a higher rate of success than the Non-SDS one.

Conclusion

Hopefully, this article has cleared up any doubts you had regarding SDS visa vs Non-SDS visa. To sum up, we suggest that you try the SDS approach first. If you do not meet the requirements or face a rejection, then you opt for the general approach, that is, the Non-SDS visa application process.

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