First, you must pitch your business idea to a designated organization and convince it to support your start-up company. Once a designated organization decides to support your business, it will send us a commitment certificate and give you a letter of support. The process to pitch your idea varies for each designated organization. You must contact the designated organization to find out what you must do to seek its support. If you meet all eligibility criteria, you can submit a completed application, which must include your letter of support.

The Start-Up Visa Program is unique in that it requires the support of a designated organization and is specifically geared towards innovative entrepreneurs. Other business immigration programs, such as the Entrepreneur Program and the Self-Employed Program have different eligibility requirements and application processes.

Yes, you can bring your family members with you to Canada under the Start-Up Visa Program. Your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children can apply for open work permits and study permits, respectively, to accompany you to Canada.

The processing time for a Start-Up Visa application varies depending on the complexity of your business idea and the volume of applications received by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. However, the government aims to process complete applications within 12 to 16 months.

A designated organization is a business incubator, accelerator, or angel investor group that has been approved by the Canadian government to support Start-Up Visa Program applicants.

You need to convince the organization that you have a business idea that is worth supporting.

The process to pitch your idea is different for each organization. Each organization has its own requirements. For example, you may be asked to present your business concept in person or submit a detailed business plan. If you reach an agreement with a designated organization, it will send you a letter of support. You need to include this letter when you submit your application to us. This is the proof you need to show that the venture capital fund, angel investor group, or business incubator is supporting your business idea. The organization will also send a commitment certificate directly to IRCC. They will use both your letter of support and the organization's commitment certificate to assess your application.

To get support from a venture capital fund or an angel investor group, you need a sizable investment from them. To get support from a business incubator, you must be accepted into a designated Canadian business incubator program. Getting into these programs is a competitive process with limited spots available.

First, the designated organization(s) that you seek support from will review the viability of your business proposal. Next, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will review your immigration application, to determine whether you have the necessary support to apply, and to make sure you are eligible to become a permanent resident. Finally, your application may also be subject to an independent peer review process. This is designed to protect against fraud and to ensure that your activities and those of the designated organization are in line with industry standards for this type of support.

No. To get a letter of support, you need to convince a designated organization that your business idea is worth supporting. Each designated organization has its own requirements.

To apply for a start-up visa, you must show that you have reached Canadian Language Benchmark 5 in listening, reading, writing and speaking. With your application, you must submit the results of a third-party language test that show that you meet the requirement.

The amount of money you need depends on how many family members will be coming with you.

In some cases, the designated organization may give you additional money to help cover your living expenses. You can’t use the investment money for your start-up business to cover your living expenses.

Yes. Up to 5 people can apply through the Start-up Visa Program as owners of a single business.

When reviewing your proposal, the designated organization will decide who is essential or non-essential to the business. An essential person is critical to the proposed start-up. Without this person, the designated organization would not invest or support the proposal. If IRCC refuses the application of an essential person, all related applicants will be refused.

An essential person is considered to be critical to the business and will be specifically identified as essential by the designated organization on the commitment certificate and letter of support.

If the investment comes from a designated Canadian venture capital fund, you must secure a minimum investment of $200,000. If the investment comes from a designated Canadian angel investor group, you must secure a minimum investment of $75,000. You don’t need to secure a financial investment from a business incubator. You must be accepted into a Canadian business incubator program.

No, you’re not required to invest any of your own money. The minimum investment required is an investment that comes from a designated Canadian venture capital fund or angel investor group.

If your business fails, it doesn’t affect your permanent resident status. IRCC recognizes that not every business will succeed and this program is designed so that the risk is shared between the public and private sector.