Canada Start-Up Visa Program: Your Gateway to Business and Permanent Residency
Are you an entrepreneur with an innovative business idea? Dreaming of building a global company in a stable, opportunity rich country? Canada’s Start-up Visa Program might be exactly what you need. This unique immigration program is designed to attract entrepreneurs from around the world and give them a chance to launch their business and their future in Canada.
What Is the Start-Up Visa Program? Canada Start-Up Visa (SUV) Program is an immigration pathway that offers permanent residency to entrepreneurs who can launch innovative, scalable businesses that have the potential to create jobs for Canadians and compete internationally. Unlike many other immigration streams, the SUV Program is not based on education or work experience or comprehensive Ranking System ( CRS ) factor alone. Instead, it’s about your business potential and your ability to bring value to the Canadian economy.
Who Can Apply Canada Start-Up Visa Program?
To be eligible for the SUV Program, you must meet four key criteria:
How Does the Application Process Work?
The process starts with getting your business idea approved by a designated Canadian organization they need to believe in your vision and provide a letter of support. With that in hand, you can apply for permanent residency through the Start-Up Visa Program. If you’re ready to hit the ground running, you can also apply for a temporary work permit so you can move to Canada and begin building your business while your PR application is being reviewed.
Processing Fees is required for yourself and any dependents included in your application.
Most applicants between the ages of 14 and 79 need to submit biometrics (fingerprints and photo).
These fees are paid separately to designated organizations and are not part of the IRCC portal payment.
How Long Does It Take to Process the Start-Up Visa and Obtain Permanent Residence?
The processing time for the Start-up Visa Program typically ranges from 12 – 41 months, depending on the volume of applications and your country of origin. If you apply for a temporary work permit first, you can move to Canada in a few months and begin working on your business while your PR application is in progress.
How to Check Your Language Level for Canada Start-Up Visa
To qualify for the Start-Up Visa Program, you must prove your language skills in English or French. Your test scores are matched to the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) or Niveau de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC) levels.
| CLB Level | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Designated Organizations: Who Are They?
These are venture capital firms, angel investor groups, and business incubators that have been approved by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to support start-up visa applicants. You can find the full list of designated organizations on the official Canada.ca website.
Please Note that, if you’re submitting supporting documents that aren’t in English or French, each one must include four essential components. First, include a clear copy of the original document. Along with that, provide a certified copy, which means the translator must sign or stamp it to confirm authenticity. Then, submit a full translation of the original document. Finally, you’ll need an affidavit confirming that the translation is complete and accurate. However, if your translator is certified, the affidavit is not required. You can give this to somebody who knows English and French, but your family members or your consultant can’t do the translation.