Select applicants from Philippines and Vietnam are also eligible for this facility.
The Canadian government has announced that it is expanding its Students Direct Stream (SDS) programme to international students from Pakistan enabling them to get student visa within 20 days.
Last year, the Canadian government had initiated the programme for the students from India, China, Philippines and Vietnam. Now, Pakistan has been included in the list of countries, under the SDS programme by the Canadian Immigration Department, a press release said.
“A study permit is not a visa. It does not, by itself, allow you to travel to or enter Canada. You may also need a visitor visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). If you do, we’ll issue it with your study permit,” the Government of Canada said on its website.
High Commissioner of Pakistan to Canada Raza Bashir Tarar welcomed the decision of the Canadian government for inclusion of Pakistani international students into the programme as it would facilitate the students desiring to study in Canada.
He appreciated the goodwill gesture by the Canadian government and expressed gratitude to the special efforts of Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen and the members of the Canadian Parliament for fulfilling their commitment.
The high commissioner in his meetings with the Canadian officials had urged them to include Pakistani students in the SDS programme as academically Pakistani students were second to none.
