Updated June 2025
Foreign entrepreneurs can gain permanent residence in Canada by starting innovative businesses through Canada’s start-up visa. The program offers a pathway for entrepreneurs and their families to relocate to Canada, emphasizing the eligibility requirements, application process, and potential for securing permanent residence.
The Canada Start-Up Visa Program is a business immigration program that allows foreign entrepreneurs to obtain permanent residence in Canada by starting innovative businesses
| Foreign Entrepreneurs |
|
|---|---|
| Eligibility Requirements |
|
| Investment Amount | Recommended: Access to minimum $100,000 CAD for startup investment. *Not mandatory by law, but often needed to secure a Letter of Support. |
| Processing Time |
|
| Key Risks |
|
| Benefits |
|
| Approval Rate | 86% approval rate (IRCC, February 2024). Higher success with strong designated organizations. |
To be eligible for the Canada Start-up Visa Program, applicants must:
Obtain a Letter of Support from a Designated Organization in Canada
Incorporate the business within Canada;
Individually hold a minimum of 10% voting rights in the company alongside a Designated Organization;
Collectively, the applicants and the Designated Organization must possess over 50% of voting rights;
Actively manage the business, with core operations in Canada during and after the application process;
Fulfill language proficiency at CLB 5 in English or French;
Have adequate settlement funds and operational capital, ideally over $200,000.
In addition to the Start-Up Visa program, there are various business immigration programs in Canada that international entrepreneurs can use to relocate to Canada. Specifically, you can explore the C11 Entrepreneur Work Permit, Intra-Company Transfer Program, Self-Employed Category, Provincial Nominee Programs, or Quebec Immigrant Investor Program. See our table below to compare these programs and understand the pros and cons of some of the most popular business immigration programs.
| Criteria | Start-Up Visa | Provincial Nominee Programs | Temporary Work Permits to run a business in Canada (C11, ICT, C10) | Self-Employed Category (paused until January 2027) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who can apply? | Business owners or professionals with experience or specialized knowledge | Individuals willing to start a business or invest in a particular province and obtain PR | Business owners, entrepreneurs, investors, professionals | Self-employed professionals in cultural or artistic fields, including athletics, with unique skills. |
| Type of Business | Innovative, scalable, business that can create jobs for Canadians, and compete globally. Must attract support or investment from Canadian designated organizations. | New or existing business that aligns with the target province's economic development and diversification priorities and contributes to the local economy. | Any business that will bring economic, social or cultural benefits to Canada (such as create jobs, stimulate economy or transfer knowledge or skills to Canadians) | Businesses that make a significant contribution to the cultural or athletic life of Canada. |
| Ownership Structure | Applicants must hold at least 10% of shares in the proposed business. Up to 5 applicants may apply | At least 33% of ownership, but may vary depending on province | Min. 51% of ownership is required | 100% ownership is common |
| Investment Amount | No min. investment is required, but recommended: $150,000–$200,000 | Vary by province, but starting investment amount is $100,000 (Alberta) | Business specific. Recommended: min. $200,000 | Business specific. Recommended: $100,000 |
| Language Skills | CLB 5 | Min. CLB 4 | Not required, but strongly recommended CLB 5 | Not required, but strongly recommended CLB 5 |
| Processing Time for Work Permit | Country specific, usually 2–6 months | Program specific, usually 4–6 months | Country specific, usually 2–6 months | Country specific, usually 2–6 months |
| Processing Time for Permanent Residence | Non-priority: 3+ years; Priority: no data available. | 2–3 years | N/A | Paused until January 2027. |
| Approval Rate | In 2024: 86% | No available data | Between 75%–88% | In 2024: 44% |
Here is a complete list of the designated organizations.
If you successfully secure a Letter of Support, congratulations! You can now begin your permanent residence application by collecting the required documents such as:
Submit your complete application online through IRCC’s permanent residence portal.
While your permanent residence application is processing, essential team members can apply for a 3-year open work permit to come to Canada and begin building the business.
This permit allows you to work on your start-up and pursue employment or other business opportunities.
Your family is eligible to join you in Canada.
You must demonstrate sufficient liquid funds to support yourself and your dependents while awaiting permanent residence approval.
While awaiting your permanent residence status, it is crucial to keep IRCC updated on your start-up’s progress, as approval rates declined to 51% in early 2023 from a historical average of 75%.
IRCC officers routinely refuse SUV applications when applicants show minimal progress, present poor business models, or lack serious intent.
To mitigate these concerns, proactively provide business progress updates every 6 months, demonstrating your commitment to the venture and the quality of your business development.
If your application is successful, you will be granted PR status, marking a significant milestone on your entrepreneurial journey in Canada.
Should the decision be negative, you will be given reasons and, if applicable, instructions on how to address any deficiencies or appeal the decision.
Based on the latest IRCC internal data from December 2024, the Startup Visa program shows significant application volume with 18,780 applications currently in the system across all processing stages. With applications in inventory and annual admission targets of 5,000, there’s approximately 6 years’ worth of inventory at current processing capacity, explaining the extended processing times.
Realistic Timeline Expectations
Given the current inventory levels, applicants should plan for processing times at the upper end of estimates and consider the priority stream criteria to potentially reduce wait times.
The Canada Startup Visa program demonstrates strong and improving approval rates, with a clear upward trajectory over the past three years.
| Year | Applications | Approved | Refused | Withdrawn | Approval Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 290 | 230 | 55 | 5 | 79.3% |
| 2018 | 365 | 230 | 130 | 5 | 63.0% |
| 2019 | 800 | 620 | 155 | 25 | 77.5% |
| 2020 | 260 | 185 | 50 | - | 71.2% |
| 2021 | 720 | 600 | 70 | 50 | 83.3% |
| 2022 | 600 | 470 | 70 | 60 | 78.3% |
| 2023 | 3,850 | 3,145 | 440 | 270 | 81.7% |
| 2024 | 6,655 | 5,390 | 1,025 | 245 | 81.0% |
The improving trend suggests that both applicants and designated organizations have become more sophisticated in preparing applications that meet IRCC requirements.
With an 86% approval rate in 2024, applicants who successfully secure a Letter of Support from a designated organization and submit complete applications have strong prospects for permanent residence approval, making the program’s primary challenge obtaining initial support from designated organizations rather than the final IRCC decision.
The fees are approximate estimates based on market averages. Actual costs may vary depending on your business type and development stage.
| Stage | Description | Cost (CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| Stage 1: Pre-Letter of Support | Business concept development, validation, pitch training, business plan refinement, designated organization selection and application assistance | $15,000 – $25,000 |
| Stage 2: Designated Organization Fees | Due diligence and support services (varies by organization and business strength) | $10,000 – $70,000 per founder |
| Stage 3: Immigration Application |
Legal Fees: $30,000–$50,000 per family. Government Fees: - Main Applicant: $2,385 - Spouse: $1,525 - Dependent Child: $260 each |
$30,000+ per family |
| Stage 4: Living Costs in Canada |
Minimum funds required (for 52 weeks): - 1 person: $29,380 - 2 people: $36,576 - 3 people: $44,966 - 4 people: $54,594 - 5 people: $61,920 - 6 people: $69,834 - 7 people: $77,750 |
$30,000 – $78,000 Varies by family size |
| Stage 5: Business Investment | Seed capital to cover operational costs of your start-up in Canada | Minimum $50,000 per founder or $200,000 per company |
Total Estimated Cost Range: $120,000 – $400,000+ depending on family size, business complexity, and designated organization chosen.
Recently, a series of cases at the Federal Court level highlighted common issues that IRCC officers have been questioning in Start-Up Visa applications. These cases shed light on several key areas of concern for IRCC, such as:
“These cases suggest a more rigorous examination of the authenticity and intent of SUV applicants’ business activities in Canada. Therefore, it’s essential to demonstrate intent that aligns with the program’s objectives—to establish and grow an innovative business in Canada and to relocate permanently to oversee its development rather than using the program solely as a means for immigration.” Feruza Djamalova, Senior Business Immigration Lawyer
Therefore, we suggest keeping the following in mind:
If your application fails for any reason, you may request a substituted evaluation based on your likelihood of economic establishment in Canada. IRCC can still approve your application if you prove you’re capable of generating income in Canada independent of your start-up through factors like educational credentials, in-demand skills, work experience, and available funds.
It’s important to build a strong professional portfolio in Canada and demonstrate your ability to establish yourself economically regardless of the start-up program outcome – this serves as both a safety net and strengthens your overall application.
Below, you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions that are based on market research and our experience with Start-Up visas:
Your AI Immigration Assistant
👋 I'm here to help you explore Canadian business immigration options — specifically for investors, entrepreneurs, and business owners.
How it works: We'll chat for up to 60 minutes. I'll ask a few questions, suggest immigration pathways, and answer yours. I’ll notify you when 15 minutes remain.
📌 What I Can (and Can't) Do:
