Canada ends SDS and NSE programs for Nigerian students and other high demand countries 

Under the change, applicants from countries previously eligible for these programs will now apply through the regular study permit process, which may lead to longer wait times.

Immigration News Canada (INC) reports that the Canadian government’s decision to end the SDS and NSE visa programs is intended to improve the fairness and integrity of its immigration system.

By removing these specialized streams, the government aims to simplify the study permit process and provide equal opportunities for applicants from all countries.

According to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the move will also help address vulnerabilities in the system, such as fraud and exploitation, by enforcing a uniform review process.

This change ensures that all international students are subject to the same set of standards, promoting fairness and transparency.

Students from countries previously eligible for these programs can still apply for study permits, but the processing times may be longer moving forward.

For students from Nigeria and other high demand countries like India, the end of the SDS and NSE programs means the loss of faster processing times.

These two countries, which have seen high volumes of student applications, were key beneficiaries of the specialized visa streams.

Students from these regions can still apply for study permits, but they must now go through the standard processing route.