Canadian Start-up Visa Program: Permanent Residence for Innovative Entrepreneurs

TL;DR — The Start-up Visa (SUV) Program grants permanent residence to entrepreneurs whose innovative business is supported by a designated Canadian organization: a venture capital fund (committing at least CAD $200,000), an angel investor group (committing at least CAD $75,000), or a business incubator (no investment required). Up to five entrepreneurs can co-apply on a single business. The program closed temporarily to new intake in early 2024 and reopened in 2025 with a cap and stricter assessment criteria.

What the SUV is

Launched in 2013 and made permanent in 2018, the Start-up Visa Program is Canada's primary federal pathway for innovative entrepreneurs. It targets early-stage businesses that:

• Have a scalable, innovative product or service.
• Plan to operate primarily in Canada (outside Quebec — Quebec runs separate entrepreneur streams under MIFI).
• Are supported by a designated Canadian organization.

Unlike many other entrepreneur programs, SUV grants permanent residence directly rather than starting with a temporary work permit. Applicants do not need to prove personal investment in the business beyond meeting settlement-funds requirements.

Eligibility

SUV applicants must:

1. Have a qualifying business

The business must:

• Be incorporated in Canada (each applicant must own at least 10 percent of voting rights, with the designated organization owning some shares).
• Have its essential operations conducted in Canada.
• Provide an innovative or scalable concept.

2. Get a Letter of Support from a designated organization

The applicant must secure a commitment from one of three types of designated entities:

• Venture capital fund: must commit at least CAD $200,000 of investment.
• Angel investor group: must commit at least CAD $75,000.
• Business incubator: must accept the business into its program (no minimum financial commitment).

Designated organizations are listed on the IRCC website. Multiple organizations can support the same business.

3. Meet language requirement

Applicants must score Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 or higher in all four abilities (English or French) on an approved language test.

4. Have settlement funds

Applicants must show settlement funds based on family size — typically equivalent to 50 percent of the LICO for the family. As of 2026, this is approximately CAD $13,757 (1 person) up to CAD $36,407 (7+ persons).

Funds must be unencumbered (no loans secured against them) and accessible.

5. Be admissible

Must pass medical, criminal, and security screening.

Up to 5 co-applicants

SUV is unique in that up to five entrepreneurs can be co-applicants on a single qualifying business. Each gets PR if approved. This makes SUV well-suited to founding teams.

• Each applicant must own at least 10 percent of voting rights.
• Together with the designated organization, the applicants must own more than 50 percent of voting rights.
• All co-applicants must meet language and settlement-funds requirements.

If one applicant is deemed essential to the business, IRCC may issue PR to that applicant first while assessing the others.

Application process

Step 1: Develop a business and find a designated organization

Applicants approach designated venture capital funds, angel investor groups, or business incubators with a pitch. Acceptance into an incubator program or commitment from a fund/angel group is the prerequisite.