Startup Visa Program
Build your business in Canada.
Arrive as a permanent resident.
The Canada Startup Visa is one of the few immigration pathways that offers permanent residency — not just a temporary permit — for entrepreneurs ready to grow their venture in Canada.
Check Your EligibilityProgram Intake Paused
As of December 2025, the Start-up Visa is not accepting new applications, and no reopening date has been announced. The information below is kept for reference and for applicants already in the queue. Entrepreneurs starting now are usually best served by a provincial entrepreneur stream — see Entrepreneur PNP options → Mahyar will confirm the current status of both during your free assessment.
Program Overview
What makes the Startup Visa different.
Most immigration pathways get you into Canada temporarily and require you to build toward permanent residence over years of work. The Startup Visa does the opposite — it targets permanent residence from day one.
The program was designed to attract innovative entrepreneurs who can bring their ideas, their capital, and their businesses to Canada. The core requirement is securing a Letter of Support from a designated Canadian organization — a venture capital firm, an angel investor group, or a business incubator — that validates your concept.
Mahyar has guided three separate families through the Startup Visa process to PR approval in under two years, which puts him at the faster end of a process that typically runs considerably longer.
OutcomePermanent Residence (not a work permit)
ApplicantsUp to 5 founders per business concept
FamilySpouse and dependent children included
LanguageCLB 5 minimum in English or French
Typical Processing12 to 36 months
Current Intake StatusPaused for new applications (December 2025)
Eligibility Requirements
What you need to qualify.
| Qualifying business | A business you own at least the minimum required ownership stake in, that is incorporated or being incorporated in Canada, and that meets IRCC's definition of innovative and capable of competing globally |
| Letter of Support | A commitment from a designated venture capital fund, angel investor group, or business incubator — each category has its own minimum investment or acceptance criteria |
| Language ability | CLB 5 minimum in English or French, across all four abilities (speaking, listening, reading, writing) |
| Settlement funds | Proof of sufficient funds to support yourself and any accompanying family, based on family size, unless you already have valid Canadian work authorization |
| Founders per business | Up to 5 founders can be named on a single qualifying business, provided each meets the ownership and involvement requirements |
Designated Organizations
Three types of backing, three different processes.
Venture Capital Fund
Minimum investment commitment set by IRCC, subject to periodic review
Typically the most rigorous vetting process, involving formal due diligence similar to a real VC funding round.
Angel Investor Group
Lower minimum investment threshold than VC funds, set by IRCC
Often faster to engage with than institutional VC funds, but still requires a credible pitch and business case.
Business Incubator
No investment requirement — acceptance into the incubator's program is the qualifying event
Frequently the most accessible route for early-stage founders, but competition for incubator spots can be significant.
The Process
Four stages from concept to permanent residence.
01
Develop your business concept
Your business must be innovative and capable of competing in the global market. It does not need to already exist — but you need a clear, credible concept to present to a designated organization.
02
Secure a Letter of Support
You must obtain a Letter of Support from a designated Canadian organization — a venture capital fund, angel investor group, or business incubator. This is the most challenging step and where experienced guidance makes the biggest difference.
03
Meet language and immigration requirements
Applicants must demonstrate English or French language ability (CLB 5 minimum), have sufficient settlement funds, and pass standard immigration medical and background checks.
04
Apply for permanent residence
Once the Letter of Support is secured, you apply directly for permanent residence — not a temporary work permit. Processing times typically run 12 to 36 months, though Mahyar has clients approved in under two years.
Fees & Costs
What the Startup Visa costs, roughly.
Figures change with each IRCC update — Mahyar will confirm your current numbers during assessment. Letter of Support costs vary by designated organization and are set independently of government fees.
| Item | Approximate Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Processing fee (principal applicant) | ≈ CAD $2,000+ | Covers the application processing fee; figures change with each IRCC update — Mahyar will confirm your current numbers during assessment. |
| Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) | ≈ CAD $550 | Paid per adult applicant, typically at the time of application or before landing. |
| Letter of Support — designated organization costs | Varies significantly by organization | Some incubators charge no fee; VC funds and angel groups may require equity, board seats, or other terms as part of their investment — this is negotiated directly with the organization, not IRCC. |
| Language testing | ≈ USD $200–300 | IELTS General Training or CELPIP for English; TEF Canada or TCF Canada for French. |
| Biometrics | ≈ CAD $85 (individual) | Required for most applicants; family maximum fees may apply. |
| Open work permit (optional, while PR is processed) | ≈ CAD $155–255 | Allows you to begin operating your business in Canada before permanent residence is finalized. |
Common Refusal Reasons
Why Startup Visa applications get refused.
Letter of Support withdrawn or never secured
The designated organization's backing is the core of the whole application — a weak pitch, an underdeveloped business plan, or approaching the wrong type of organization for your business are the most common points of failure.
Business does not meet the innovation and ownership thresholds
IRCC requires the business to be genuinely innovative and to meet minimum ownership requirements among the founders — a business that is largely a service arm of an existing foreign company can struggle to qualify.
Insufficient settlement funds
Settlement fund requirements scale with family size and must be demonstrated with legitimate, traceable funds — undocumented or very recent large transfers can raise concerns.
Language test results below CLB 5
This is a hard eligibility threshold, not a scored factor — falling short in even one of the four language abilities can make an application ineligible outright.
Founders' roles and equity split raise credibility questions
When multiple founders are named, officers may look for genuine, proportionate involvement from each person — equity splits that don't match actual contribution can undermine the application.
Incomplete documentation or inconsistent business narrative
The business plan, the Letter of Support materials, and the immigration application need to tell a consistent story — gaps or contradictions between these documents are a common and avoidable refusal driver.
A Strong Fit If
- Entrepreneurs with a genuinely innovative business concept, even if it hasn't launched yet
- Founders who can credibly pitch to a venture capital fund, angel group, or business incubator
- Applicants planning to actively build and manage the business from within Canada
- Teams of up to five co-founders who each bring real, verifiable involvement to the venture
Probably Not the Right Fit If
- Business concepts that are primarily a Canadian branch office of an existing foreign business with limited independent innovation
- Applicants looking for a passive investment route without hands-on involvement in the company
- Anyone who needs a fast, predictable timeline — the Letter of Support process alone can take months, and total processing commonly runs well over a year
Common Questions
What people ask about the Startup Visa.
Do I need to already have a running business?
No. The Startup Visa Program accepts new business concepts. What matters is that the concept is innovative and viable enough to secure a Letter of Support from a designated organization.
Can my family come with me?
Yes. Your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children can be included in your application and will receive permanent residence along with you.
How long does the Startup Visa take?
Typically 12 to 36 months from application to PR approval. Mahyar has achieved approvals for three families in under two years, which is considered exceptional given current processing times.
What if my application is rejected?
Mahyar's approach is to assess viability honestly before filing. If a Startup Visa application is unlikely to succeed based on your profile, you will hear that directly — before spending time and money on the wrong pathway.
Can I work in Canada while my application is in process?
Applicants can apply for an open work permit while their permanent residence application is being processed, allowing them to operate their business in Canada before PR is granted.
What is a designated organization, exactly?
It's a venture capital fund, angel investor group, or business incubator that IRCC has formally approved to issue Letters of Support for the Startup Visa program. Only Letters of Support from currently designated organizations count — the list changes periodically, and Mahyar confirms an organization's active status before recommending it.
How much do I need to invest in my own business?
There's no fixed personal investment requirement from IRCC itself, but you do need sufficient settlement funds for your family size, and depending on which type of designated organization backs you, that organization may have its own minimum investment or equity expectations. These figures are set independently by each organization and change over time — Mahyar will help you understand what a specific organization is likely to require.
Can I apply if I've previously had a US visa refused?
A prior US visa refusal does not automatically disqualify a Canadian Startup Visa application — the two systems assess different criteria. That said, honesty and consistency across your immigration history matter, and Mahyar will review your full background during assessment to flag anything that needs to be addressed directly.
Get Started
Is the Startup Visa right for your business?
The Letter of Support process is where most applications succeed or fail. Book a free assessment to discuss your concept and whether this pathway fits your profile.
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