🇨🇦 Canadian Start-up Visa (SUV).
Canada's Start-up Visa (SUV) is administered by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and leads to permanent residence. It requires a letter of support from a designated organization (venture capital fund, angel investor group, or business incubator), not a fixed amount of self-investment by the applicant. ⚠️ **The current SUV has officially closed**: IRCC suspended new applications as of 2025-12-19; holders of valid 2025 commitment letters had a final submission deadline of 2026-06-30, which has passed, and no new applications (including from commitment letter holders) are currently accepted. IRCC has indicated that it will launch a new 'High-Impact' Start-up Visa pilot to replace the current program, aligned with the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan (federal start-up quota reduced by approximately 50%), expected to prioritize entrepreneurs who already hold a valid Canadian work permit. However, the official relaunch timeline has not yet been announced. This is a neutral compilation of publicly available information; please refer to the latest official IRCC announcements.
Canadian Start-up Visa (SUV). Key Requirements Overview
| Type | Start-up Immigration (leading to permanent residence) — ⚠️ The current program has closed; see recent changes below. |
|---|---|
| Minimum Investment Threshold | (Current program closed) Original requirement: Applicants were not required to invest a fixed amount; designated VC commitment of at least approximately CAD 200,000, angel investment of at least approximately CAD 75,000, and incubator had no funding threshold. |
| Primary investment methods. | (Previous requirement) Obtain a support commitment from a designated organization (VC/angel/incubator) for the entrepreneurial project. |
| Residency Requirements | After obtaining permanent residency, comply with general residency obligations for Canadian permanent residents. |
| Pathways to citizenship. | One may apply for citizenship after becoming a permanent resident and meeting residency requirements. |
| Dependent relatives | Can include spouse and dependent children (as per regulations). |
| Processing Timeline | (Current program closed, no new applications accepted) Public data on existing cases shows backlogs in recent years, often taking several years. |
| Recent Changes | Suspension of new applications from 2025-12-19; holders of 2025 commitment letters had a final submission deadline of 2026-06-30, **that deadline has passed, and no new applications are currently accepted**. IRCC has indicated plans for a new 'High-Impact' Start-up Visa pilot to replace the current program (aligned with the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, federal start-up quota reduced by approximately 50%, expected to prioritize applicants who already hold a valid Canadian work permit), but the official relaunch timeline has not yet been announced. |
Canadian Start-up Visa (SUV). Key considerations
- ⚠️ The current SUV has officially closed (the 2026-06-30 submission deadline has passed) and no applications can be submitted at present, even for holders of 2025 commitment letters. If you are considering this path, you should first confirm whether IRCC has announced the launch of the new pilot program; do not plan finances or timelines based on the previous program details (thresholds, processes) on this page.
- IRCC has stated plans for a replacement 'High-Impact' Start-up Visa pilot, which tends to prioritize entrepreneurs who already hold a work permit in Canada and features a significant quota reduction—the logic may differ substantively from the previous scheme's 'apply from abroad with a commitment from a designated organization,' and it is not advisable to assume the new program will retain the old conditions.
- The core original program required obtaining a commitment from a designated organization and meeting conditions such as equity ownership and language ability (CLB 5), not merely a financial investment—this is provided for reference to understand the previous program logic and is not a currently available application pathway.
Canadian Start-up Visa (SUV). Application Process
- ⚠️ The current program has closed; the following is the previous program process for reference only, and does not represent current actionable steps:
- (Previous program) Submit a proposal to a designated organization and obtain a commitment certificate (Commitment Certificate / letter of introduction).
- (Previous program) Meet qualification requirements such as language, settlement funds, and equity ownership.
- (Previous program) Submit a permanent residence application to IRCC within the acceptance period.
Canadian Start-up Visa (SUV). Frequently Asked Questions
Can one still apply for the Canadian Startup Visa?
No. The current Start-up Visa officially closed on June 30, 2026 (the final submission deadline for holders of 2025 commitment letters), and IRCC is currently not accepting any new applications, even with valid commitment letters. IRCC has indicated plans for a new 'High-Impact' Start-up Visa pilot to replace the current program, but the official relaunch timeline has not yet been announced. Please continue to monitor official IRCC announcements.
How much money do I need to invest for an entrepreneurial visa?
(This is the original requirement under the previous program; the current program has closed, provided for historical understanding only.) According to the original published rules, applicants were not required to invest a fixed amount into the program; funds were invested by designated organizations (VC/angel) according to their rules, and the incubator stream had no funding threshold.
What will the new pilot replacing the SUV look like?
IRCC has stated its plans for a new 'High-Impact' Start-up Visa pilot, aligned with the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan (federal start-up category quota reduced by approximately 50%), expected to prioritize entrepreneurs who already hold a valid Canadian work permit—there may be substantive differences in thresholds and target applicants compared to the previous scheme. Official details and launch timeline have not yet been announced; please refer to the latest IRCC announcements and do not base planning on the previous program information on this page.
How to verify if an investment immigration program is still valid and avoid misleading claims?
The conditions of investment immigration programs often change or may even be suspended. Recommendations: ① Check official announcements from the country's immigration or investment authority (official source links are provided at the bottom of this page). ② Verify the data date indicated on this page. ③ Before engaging a consultant, check whether they are registered with the relevant regulatory body (e.g., Australia's OMARA, Canada's CICC; for lawyers, check with the local bar association). ④ Be wary of exaggerated claims such as "guaranteed approval" or "exempt from review." This site provides a neutral compilation of public information, and all content is subject to the latest official announcements.
Official sources：Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Start-up Visa. · Data Date：2026-07。This page is a neutral compilation of publicly available information, for reference only, notImmigration/LawAdvice; programs are subject to the latest official announcements.