PTE / TOEFL approved by IRCC Canada under SDS
Good News for Students who want to make their dream true in Canada.
Language scores accepted for SDS visa applications
As per the latest update, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced that they will start accepting additional English language tests for the Student Direct Stream (SDS) visa program, starting from August 10, 2023. IELTS has been accepted in the study permit program from the beginning, and the good news for IELTS test takers is that there is no change to the required band score of 6.
This means applicants who choose the IELTS Academic pathway require a minimum overall band score of 6.0, while applicants who sit the IELTS General Training test will need a minimum band score of 6.0 in each skill: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking.
The overall SDS permit score requirements set by the IRCC for academic tests are as follows:
| Academic | CAEL | TOEFL iBT | PTE |
| 6.0 | 60 | 83 | 60 |
According to Pearson*, a PTE Academic score of 60 is equivalent to an IELTS band score of 6.5 to 7.0, which is a full band higher than PTE. This makes IELTS the easiest and best option for all test takers.
Documents required for SDS visa applications
If you meet the criteria, you’ll have to submit the following documents:
- Letter of acceptance from a DLI
- Proof of payment of tuition fee for your first year of study
- Proof of Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) payment (certificate/letter of attestation)
- IELTS TRF or TEF scorecard
- Copy of your medical examination from an authorised panel of doctors
- Relevant academic background with complete academic documents
- Additional requirement of CAQ for students intending to study in Quebec
What is SDS?
Indian students applying to universities and colleges in Canada can now expect faster visa processing through the Study Direct Stream (SDS) program launched by the Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
SDS visa processing
Unlike the usual visa processing that may take up to 2-3 months, SDS allows students from India to avail their visa in 4-6 weeks. When a student who meets the eligibility, criteria applies via SDS, most applications are processed within 20 calendar days.
Why should you choose SDS over non-SDS?
SDS applications are processed much faster compared to Non-SDS student visa applications. This is because SDS applications receive priority processing, which means that you will receive your visa decision faster and can start your studies in Canada sooner.
