Canada visas
Canada Start-up Visa for entrepreneurs
A permanent residence route for entrepreneurs backed by a designated Canadian organization. IRCC currently shows the program as closed to new applications.
- Needs
- Letter of support
- Language
- CLB 5
- Status
- Check before planning
Who it suits
Is this visa for you?
- You have a business idea an organization will back
- You can show settlement funds of your own
- You can work with a group of up to five founders
The basics
What the authorities look for
- A commitment certificate and letter of support from a designated organization
- You each hold at least 10% of voting rights, and with the organization more than 50%
- Language ability at Canadian Language Benchmark 5 in all four skills
- Your own settlement funds, not borrowed
- The business is incorporated and managed in Canada
A summary of the published rules. The full rules have more conditions, and they change. Last reviewed October 2026. IRCC: Start-up Visa eligibility
Take care
Where cases go wrong
- **Program status.** IRCC lists new applications as paused. Confirm the current position before spending money.
- **Organization caps.** Each designated organization can support only a limited number of applications.
- **Founder-led.** The business needs to be real and run from Canada.
Your case has details a web page cannot cover.
A short call tells you where you stand, and what to do first.
Book a free 15-minute callFAQs
Start-up Visa questions
Is the Start-up Visa open?
IRCC's page shows new applications as paused. It is not a route to plan around until that changes. Ask us about alternatives.
What else can an entrepreneur consider?
Depending on the profile, a work permit, a provincial program or Express Entry may be more realistic.
Keep reading
Other Canada visa pages
Let's map your global pathway
A first consultation covers eligibility, realistic timelines, total cost and the tax consequences of the move. You leave with a written plan, not a brochure.