Start-Up Visa Program

This program has been suspended. On December 19, 2025, IRCC announced that effective January 1, 2026, intake for the Start-Up Visa Program is set to zero and the program is paused. Applicants holding a valid 2025 commitment certificate may still apply until June 30, 2026 under transitional provisions. A replacement "high impact" Start-Up Visa pilot targeting elite entrepreneurs is expected but detailed parameters have not yet been published.

The Start-Up Visa (SUV) Program was a federal economic immigration pathway enabling foreign entrepreneurs to obtain permanent residence in Canada by launching innovative businesses with support from designated venture capital funds, angel investor groups, or business incubators. Established as a pilot in April 2013 and made permanent in April 2018, the program was administered by IRCC and targeted entrepreneurs whose businesses were innovative, could create jobs for Canadians, and could compete globally. Under the 2026--2028 Immigration Levels Plan, federal business class admissions were reduced to 500 per year, down from 2,000 in 2025.

• Commitment certificate (letter of support) from a designated organization: venture capital fund (minimum CAD $200,000 investment), angel investor group (minimum CAD $75,000), or business incubator (acceptance into program, no minimum investment)
• Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 in all four skills (speaking, reading, writing, listening) in English or French, with test results less than 2 years old
• Settlement funds based on family size (e.g., CAD $15,263 for one person, CAD $28,362 for a family of four, as of July 2025)
• Qualifying business incorporated in Canada with active management and essential operations in Canada
• Each applicant must hold at least 10% of voting rights; applicants and designated organization combined must hold more than 50%
• Up to 5 applicants may apply as co-owners of the same business
• Must intend to reside outside Quebec
• Commitment certificate must be less than 6 months old at the time of application

• Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008) and Schedule 13 (Start-up Business Class)
• Schedule A -- Background/Declaration (IMM 5669)
• Additional Family Information (IMM 5406)
• Supplementary Information -- Your Travels (IMM 5562)
• Valid passport or travel document
• Language proficiency test results (CLB 5+)
• Letter of support / commitment certificate from designated organization
• Birth certificates for all family members
• Police certificates from every country where applicant has lived 6+ months since age 18
• Proof of settlement funds (bank statements)
• Photographs of applicant and all family members
• Medical examination results from an approved panel physician
• Certified translations for any non-English/French documents

The program grants permanent residence directly -- there is no fixed visa duration. The PR card is valid for 5 years and can be renewed by demonstrating at least 730 days of physical presence in Canada within any 5-year period.

Spouse or common-law partner and dependent children under 22 (or over 22 if dependent due to a physical or mental condition) may be included. Each must pass medical and security checks. All family members become permanent residents simultaneously upon approval. Fees: CAD $950 processing + CAD $575 RPRF for a spouse/partner; CAD $260 per dependent child.

Permanent residents who establish residential ties in Canada are considered tax residents and must report worldwide income to the Canada Revenue Agency. Canada has a progressive federal and provincial income tax system. Business income from the start-up is subject to Canadian corporate and personal income tax. Canada has tax treaties with over 90 countries to prevent double taxation.

1. Pitch your business to a designated organization (venture capital fund, angel investor group, or business incubator)
2. If accepted, the organization issues a commitment certificate to IRCC and provides a copy to you
3. Create an account on the IRCC PR Portal and complete the required forms
4. Upload supporting documents, pay processing fees (CAD $2,385 for principal applicant) and biometrics fee (CAD $85 per person)
5. Submit the application -- for team applications, IRCC does not begin processing until all co-owners have applied
6. Complete biometrics within 30 days of notification
7. If any essential team member is refused or withdraws, all team members' applications are refused

Standard processing has exceeded 36 months. Priority-processed applications -- those backed by venture capital, angel investors with CAD $75,000+, or Canada Tech Network incubators -- have taken approximately 12--24 months. A backlog of roughly 44,000 applications existed at the time of the program pause. In March 2026, Bill C-12 (the Strengthening Canada's Immigration System and Borders Act) received Royal Assent, granting IRCC new powers to cancel, suspend, or change large groups of immigration documents -- these powers are expected to be used to address the backlog, particularly applications linked to business incubators where integrity concerns have been identified. The December 2025 Ministerial Instructions setting intake to zero remain in effect until March 30, 2030, unless earlier repealed.

Permanent residents may apply for Canadian citizenship after 1,095 days (3 years) of physical presence in Canada within a 5-year period. Business failure after obtaining permanent residence does not affect PR status.