Note
Update: Canada’s Start-Up Visa is closed to new applicants. New permanent residence applications closed after December 31, 2025, and the last window for 2025 commitment-certificate holders closed June 30, 2026. See our full update and the pathways open now.
Applying for a Start-Up Visa involved a series of steps. For reference, they were:
1. Obtaining the support of a designated organization, such as a venture capital fund, angel investor group or business incubator in Canada. This could take a few months or more than a year, depending on the organization and the applicant.
2. Completing the permanent residence application forms and submitting the application to IRCC.
3. Gathering the required supporting documents, which included:
- Generic Application form for Canada;
- Declaration of Additional Dependents (if necessary);
- Background check information for the applicant, his/her spouse, and any dependents age 18 or older;
- Completed Use of a Representative form (if applicable);
- Passport and other travel documents;
- Documents to prove Canadian English and/or French language competency (i.e. exam scores);
- Letter of support from the designated organization in Canada;
- Birth certificate;
- Documents for spouse/common-law partner including birth certificate, marriage license, death certificate (if applicable), divorce or annulment documents (if necessary);
- Documents for children which may include birth certificates, documents indicating full custody, and/or adoption documents;
- Police clearance certificates from any country where the applicant resided for 6 months or longer;
- 2 forms of photo identification for the applicant and each member of the applicant’s family;
- Application fee;
- Financial documents for proof of funds (i.e. bank statements);
4. Paying the processing fees, which could include the application fee, biometrics fee, language test fees, medical exam fees and police certificate fees.
5. Giving biometrics (fingerprints and a digital photo).
How Long Did the Start-Up Visa Process Take?
The time for each step varied, mainly with how long it took to secure a designated organization’s support and to gather the documents.
When this page was first published in 2020, processing typically took 12 to 16 months from start to finish after a complete application was submitted. That estimate is historical and should not be relied on today.
Already have a Start-Up Visa application in process? Watch your IRCC online account and respond to any request by its deadline. If your application is refused, read our guide on Start-Up Visa refusals and your options.
Experienced Business Immigration Lawyers Can Help
The Start-Up Visa is no longer an option for new applicants. Entrepreneurs planning a move to Canada now generally look at the C11 entrepreneur work permit or a provincial nominee program (PNP) entrepreneur stream. Each has its own eligibility rules, investment requirements and risks. Our business immigration team can review your profile and tell you which pathway, if any, fits your plans. Contact us to book a consultation.
