Canada's Start-Up Visa
The Start-Up Visa Program (SUV) is a pathway to permanent residence for entrepreneurs looking to start innovative businesses in Canada.
Canada's Start-up Visa Program is for immigrant entrepreneurs with the skills to build businesses in Canada that are innovative, create jobs for Canadians, and compete on a global scale. It applies to all provinces except Quebec.
With the SUV program, business owners and their immediate family members can access permanent residency and contribute to their new communities!
How it Works
Meet with an expert.
Meet with your business immigration consultant to review your business plan and choose the best immigration options for you and your family.
Leave your application with us.
Our experts will guide you through the process of creating your business and seeking support from a Canadian tech incubator.
Welcome to Canada!
We can assist family members with PR, student visas, and more while you focus on your new business.
Why Immigrate
World-Class Immigration Tech
Manage your data and view all of your applications in one place, from your desktop or mobile phone. Our platform combines automation with personal service so you know your applications are completed correctly, in record speed.
End-to-End Solutions
From reviewing your business plan to your arrival in Canada, our services make the entire process a breeze. Immigrate can also complete work permits, student visas and other applications for family members, preventing delays in their journey.
Your Immigration Experts
With over 1,800 applications completed, Immigrate has a proven track record of success. We have experts in every immigration stream, optimizing the chance of success for each application.
Frequently Asked Questions
To qualify for the Start-up Visa Program, you must meet admissibility requirements to enter Canada, plus the four requirements below:
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have a qualifying business,
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have a letter of support from a designated organization,
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meet the language requirements, and
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have enough money to settle and live in Canada before you start making money from your business.
First, we will assist you in developing the documents necessary to pitch your business idea to a designated organization (such as a tech incubator) in order to seek a letter of support.
The process to pitch your idea varies for each designated organization. Once an incubator issues you a letter of support, we can then submit your complete permanent residency application, along with work permit(s) and student permit(s) for immediate family members.
To apply for a start-up visa, you will need to show that you have reached Canadian Language Benchmark 5 in listening, reading, writing and speaking in English or French. You will need to submit the results of your third-party language test with your application.
Up to 5 people can apply through the Start-up Visa Program as owners of a single business. The designated organization will need to determine that all applicants are essential to the business and its operations. This means that each applicant needs to be involved in the day-to-day operations of the business directly, and have the right level of experience to do so.
There’s no minimum investment for your business. However, investing in your business may also help to demonstrate your commitment and confidence in the business to those reviewing your application. In order to succeed in your application, you will need to show that you have enough funds to support your family once you arrive in Canada, before the business generates revenue.
Businesses under this immigration stream must be innovative, often including technology. For example, a restaurant business would not be eligible. However, a new application for mobile phones that restaurants can use for operations is likely to be eligible.
If a business fails, it does not affect the PR status of the applicants. This reduces the risk taken by the applicants.