SDS (Student Direct Stream) is a simplifying visa program offered by the Canada Government to 14 countries including Vietnam. Accordingly, this program exempts eligible students from proofing their financial status, which fastens the visa processing carried by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). 

One of the requirements of the SDS program is Canadian English language testing levels. With the change starting from August 10, 2023, international students only need to pass an overall band score of 6.0 on IELTS Academic, whereas they would need a 6.0 score in each skill: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing if they apply before August 10. 

Note: As for IELTS General Training, you will need a 6.0 in each skill, even after 10th August 2023.

This waiver of IRCC accepts IELTS Academic or General Training test scores that are up to 2 years old. Specifically, candidates who have taken the IELTS test in the past 2 years, achieved a total score of 6.0 but have some of their skill below 6.0 can still apply to study under the SDS program from August 10, 2023.

"Academic IELTS candidates in Vietnam can be more confident because their strengths will be reflected in the overall test", Mr. Warwick Freeland, IDP IELTS Managing Director said.

Besides IELTS, the new English language proficiency tests accepted by IRCC for SDS program are TOEFL internet-Based Test (iBT), the Pearson PTE Academic, and Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL).

This policy is especially beneficial and meaningful for international students who want to study abroad in Canada after January 1, 2024, considering a current announcement from Marc Miller, Canada's immigration minister. 

Beginning in the following year, he stated that potential international students will be required to prove that they have access to $20.635, instead of the previous requirement of $10.000 that has been in effect for twenty years. This is in addition to covering the costs of travel and tuition.