IELTS monopoly ends for Canadian student visa under SDS category

This approval follows the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada's (IRCC) recognition earlier this year of PTE Core for proof of English language proficiency for Canadian permanent residency or citizenship.

PTE Academic tests taken before August 10 will be eligible for SDS provided they are submitted after this date and are within the expiry period stipulated by IRCC.

SDS is an expedited study permit process for students applying to study in Canada from Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, India, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Senegal, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vietnam.

The UK, Australian and New Zealand governments already accept PTE Academic for all visa applications. PTE Academic is also accepted by many universities across Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, the UK and the US.

Canada is a great place to be a student – fantastic colleges, beautiful scenery, exciting culture and nightlife. With PTE Academic now recognised for SDS purposes, I’m delighted that Pearson can help even more test takers achieve their dream of studying there,” Andy Bird, CEO, Pearson, said.

“This recognition comes hot on the heels of PTE Core being approved for Canadian economic migration purposes earlier this year and reflects our determination to make PTE the test of choice for everybody wanting to live, work or study abroad,” he added.

 Before the addition of the PTE, IRCC accepted only the CELPIP and IELTS General Training as proof of English proficiency for economic class candidates.

 The UK, Australian and New Zealand governments already accept PTE Academic for all visa applications. PTE Academic is also accepted by many universities across Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, the UK and the US.

Latest IRCC figures for 2022 show Canada reached an all-time high for international students. As of the end of October, IRCC had processed more than 750,300 study permit applications during the 2022 calendar year.

To be eligible for priority processing under the SDS, the study permit application must have been made by an applicant who is a legal resident of the countries mentioned above. 

In addition, applicants must provide the documentation at the time they present their study permit application;  an acceptance letter from a postsecondary designated learning institution, as per section 211.1 of IRPR, an acceptance letter from a postsecondary designated learning institution, evidence that the tuition has been paid to the postsecondary designated learning institution referred to in (1) for the first year of study, a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) of Canadian $10,000, a medical examination, as per section 29 of IRPR, a police certificate, recent secondary or postsecondary school transcript(s), a language test result, as described in the instructions.