Canada Start-Up Visa Requirements & Current Status
The Start-Up Visa Program is a federal permanent residence pathway for entrepreneurs with the potential to build innovative businesses in Canada, create jobs for Canadians and compete internationally. Applicants previously needed support from a designated venture capital fund, angel investor group or business incubator and could apply individually or as part of a group of up to five owners. The Start-Up Visa Program was paused on June 30, 2026, and IRCC is no longer accepting new permanent residence applications. Applications accepted before the pause continue to be processed, and no official reopening date has been announced.
Former Start-Up Visa Requirements
Before the program was paused, applicants generally needed to:
- have a qualifying business
- obtain a Letter of Support from a designated organization
- meet the program’s business ownership requirements
- achieve at least CLB 5 in English or French in speaking, listening, reading and writing
- have sufficient funds to settle in Canada
- intend to establish and operate the qualifying business in Canada outside Quebec
Applicants could apply individually or as part of a group of up to five owners. Each applicant had to hold at least 10% of the voting rights in the business, while the applicants and designated organization together had to hold more than 50% of the voting rights.
If permanent residence was approved, the business had to be incorporated in Canada, the applicant had to actively and continuously manage it from within Canada, and an essential part of its operations had to take place in Canada.
Support from a designated organization was a central requirement. Depending on the type of organization, applicants generally needed:
- at least $200,000 in investment from one or more designated venture capital funds
- at least $75,000 in investment from one or more designated angel investor groups, or
- acceptance into a qualifying program operated by a designated business incubator
There was no general minimum personal net worth requirement, although applicants had to demonstrate sufficient settlement funds. The required amount depended on family size and was updated periodically by IRCC.
A business plan or similar business proposal was commonly required by designated organizations when assessing a start-up, but IRCC did not prescribe one universal business-plan format as a separate core eligibility requirement. Each designated organization could establish its own assessment process and requirements.
Start-Up Visa Pause and Current Status
The Start-Up Visa Program was paused on June 30, 2026. IRCC is no longer accepting new permanent residence applications under the program but continues to process applications accepted before that date.
The transition began earlier. IRCC stopped accepting new commitment certificates from designated organizations after December 31, 2025. Applicants who already had a valid commitment certificate issued in 2025 had until June 30, 2026 to submit their permanent residence application.
IRCC is also not currently designating new organizations under the program.
The Start-Up Visa Program is currently indefinitely paused, and IRCC has not announced a reopening date for the existing program. Federal immigration planning also refers to a new High Impact Start-up Pilot intended to replace the Start-Up Visa Program. Details such as eligibility requirements, application procedures and the launch date of the new pilot have not yet been fully announced.
The changes were introduced to help IRCC reduce the large inventory of business immigration applications, limit further growth in the backlog and address long processing times. IRCC also indicated that the pause would support a transition toward a more targeted approach to entrepreneur immigration that better aligns application intake with planned admission levels.
Processing and Applications in Progress
Applicants whose Start-Up Visa permanent residence applications were accepted before the pause remain in processing.
Start-Up Visa applications have experienced significant processing delays and inventory pressures. Processing times can vary depending on application volumes, completeness, verification requirements, admissibility checks and other case-specific factors. Applicants with pending files should check IRCC’s current processing-time information rather than rely on older processing estimates.
During processing, IRCC may request:
- additional eligibility or business-related documents
- biometrics
- medical examinations
- police certificates
- additional information relating to the applicant or family members
- other documents required to assess eligibility or admissibility
Permanent residence applicants between 14 and 79 must provide biometrics when instructed by IRCC, even if they previously provided biometrics for another application.
Applicants should continue to monitor IRCC communications and report relevant changes affecting their contact information, family circumstances or qualifying business.
Certain Start-Up Visa applications may receive priority processing depending on the type of support provided by the designated organization and other IRCC criteria. Priority processing does not guarantee approval or a specific processing time.
Start-Up Visa Open Work Permit
The Start-Up Visa open work permit is no longer available to new applicants.
Eligible existing Start-Up Visa work-permit holders may still be able to extend their permits. In some cases, applicants who previously held an eligible Start-Up Visa work permit and qualify for restoration may also be able to apply for an extension.
Start-Up Visa open work permits issued under this measure could be valid for up to three years and allowed eligible holders to work on their start-up as well as for most other employers in Canada.
Where the Start-Up Visa application involves an entrepreneurial team, the applicant seeking a work permit extension must be identified as an essential member of the team, and all members of the group must continue to have their permanent residence applications pending. These conditions apply in addition to the other work permit extension requirements.
Start-Up Visa Costs and Processing
Applicants with Start-Up Visa permanent residence applications may be subject to federal processing fees, the Right of Permanent Residence Fee and biometrics fees, where applicable. Because government fees can change, applicants should confirm current amounts directly with IRCC.
Additional costs may include:
- language testing
- medical examinations
- police certificates
- translations
- fees charged by designated organizations
- professional services
- business-development or incorporation expenses
Fees charged by designated organizations and other third parties are separate from IRCC fees and can vary. You can also review our immigration service fees and packages to understand the professional service options available for your case.
There is no guaranteed processing time or guarantee of approval under the Start-Up Visa Program. Processing depends on IRCC’s application inventory, the complexity and completeness of the file, verification requirements and admissibility processing.
Applicants with pending applications should use IRCC’s current processing-time tool for the most up-to-date estimate rather than relying on historical processing times.
