Canada · 11 min
Study in Canada from India: SDS, GIC, and visa checklist (2026)
A practical Canada study guide for Indian students: SDS vs non-SDS, GIC amount, DLI selection, and how to brief a consultant.
Who this is for
Use this if you are comparing Canadian colleges and universities from India and need a clean document plan before you pay a consultant. Canada still rewards students who pick a Designated Learning Institution, fund a GIC correctly, and keep the study-permit story consistent with the course they actually enrolled in.
SDS in plain language
Student Direct Stream is a faster visa lane for applicants who meet extra upfront conditions: language scores, paid first-year tuition, and a Guaranteed Investment Certificate at the current IRCC amount. Non-SDS still works. It is slower and more document-heavy. A consultant who pushes SDS without checking your language test is guessing, not advising.
Ask every consultant you shortlist to write down: DLI name, program length, SDS or non-SDS, GIC bank, and who pays the biometrics fee. If they cannot put that on one page, keep looking.
How to use Kohinooor for Canada
Filter the directory by Canada specialists in your city. Compare at least three agencies. Call them with the same questions: SDS eligibility, college vs university pathway, and whether visa filing is included in the fee. Then open the consultant profile and save the ones who answer in writing.
Next step: browse consultants in your city and compare three agencies with this checklist in hand.