Start-up Visa Program
Targets immigrant entrepreneurs who wish to start a business and create jobs
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Depending on your nationality, you may need to give your biometrics:
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Canada's Start-up Visa Program targets immigrant entrepreneurs with the skills and potential to build businesses in Canada that (i) are innovative, (ii) can create jobs, and (iii) can compete on a global scale. This article will let you know the eligibility requirement, the application process and supporting documents you need to succeed in your application.
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Eligibility
In order for you to be eligible for the Start-up Visa Program, you have five main requirements that you need to fulfill:
- Prove that your business is supported by a designated organization (see below). Those are Canadian venture capital firms, angel investors groups and business incubators, that need to issue you a Letter of Support. You need to contact them directly to ask for support.
- Show that the designated organization(s) that supports you hold(s) at least 50% of voting rights in the business and that you and a maximum of 4 others persons, hold the remaining 50% of voting rights, each one having at least 10% of voting rights.
- Prove that you meet the minimum language requirements, either in French or in English. You must meet the minimum level of the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 in all of these four areas: speaking, reading, listening, and writing. You can learn more about the French test and the English test requirement here.
- Bring enough money to settle. The amount needed, updated every year, depends on the number family members that are coming with you. You will need to show proof that you own the money and that it is not borrowed. The funds must be readily transferable funds in a convertible currency. Find out more here.
- You most not intend to live in the province of Quebec.
List of designated organizations
Designated Venture Capital Funds
You must get one or more of these groups to agree to invest a minimum of $200,000:
- BDC Venture Capital
- Celtic House Venture Partners
- Extreme Venture Partners LLP
- Golden Venture Partners Fund, LP
- Impression Ventures
- Information Venture Partners Management Inc.
- Innovation Platform Capital International LP
- iNovia Capital Inc.
- Lumira Capital
- Nova Scotia Innovation Corporation (o/a Innovacorp)
- OMERS Ventures Management Inc.
- Pangaea Ventures Ltd.
- PRIVEQ Capital Funds
- Real Ventures
- Relay Ventures
- ScaleUp Venture Partners, Inc.
- Top Renergy Inc.
- Vanedge Capital Limited Partnership
- Version One Ventures
- Westcap Management Ltd.
- Yaletown Venture Partners Inc.
Designated Angel Investor Groups
You must get one or more investors connected to these groups to agree to invest a minimum of $75,000:
Designated Business Incubators
You must be accepted into one of these programs:
- Alacrity Foundation
- Alberta Agriculture and Forestry
- Biomedical Commercialization Canada Inc. (operating as Manitoba Technology Accelerator)
- Calgary Technologies Inc.
- Communitech
- Creative Destruction Lab
- Empowered Startups Ltd.
- Extreme Innovations
- Genesis Centre
- Highline BETA Inc.
- Innovacorp
- Interactive Niagara Media Cluster o/a Innovate Niagara
- Invest Ottawa
- Knowledge Park o/a Planet Hatch
- Launch Academy
- LaunchPad PEI Inc.
- NEXT Canada
- Real Investment Fund III L.P. o/a FounderFuel
- Ryerson Futures Inc.
- Spark Commercialization and Innovation Centre
- Spring Activator
- The DMZ at Ryerson University
- TSRV Canada Inc. (operating as Techstars Canada)
- Waterloo Accelerator Centre
- York Entrepreneurship Development Institute
Application Process and Supporting Documents
You can only apply on paper. After filling and signing the required forms, gathering your supporting documents, and paying your fees, you will need to mail your application package to this address.
In regards to forms to fill and supporting documents to provide, we invite you to check our dedicated guide on the matter.
In regards to forms to fill and supporting documents to provide, we invite you to check our dedicated guide on the matter.
Medical Exam
You will need to pass a Medical Exam with an IRCC approved doctor. Find out more in our medical exams article.
Application Fees
When applying to the Start-up Visa Program, you must pay a $1,050 Business Immigration application fee in addition to the $490 Right of Permanent Residence fee. You can pay your fees ($1,540) online here.
For your spouse or common-law partner, you also need to pay a $550 Application fee and a $490 Right of Permanent Residence fee. For each dependent child, you need to add $150.
The $1,050 is not refundable if the application processing started. The Right of Permanent Residence fee is refundable if the application is rejected, or cancel your application, or decide not to come to Canada.
For your spouse or common-law partner, you also need to pay a $550 Application fee and a $490 Right of Permanent Residence fee. For each dependent child, you need to add $150.
The $1,050 is not refundable if the application processing started. The Right of Permanent Residence fee is refundable if the application is rejected, or cancel your application, or decide not to come to Canada.
Quebec Entrepreneur Program
Quebec has its own Businesspeople Immigration Programs. The Quebec equivalent of the Start-up Visa Program is the Entrepreneur Program.
It is quite different from the Federal program as you will need a minimum net worth of $900,000, and intend to invest at least $300,000 if inside de Montréal area, or $200,000 if outside. You won't need to have your business supported by a designated organization.
The processing times are very slow, you might need to wait up to 5 years to get your "Certificate de Selection du Québec" (CSQ) after paying a little more than a $1000 fee for the CSQ application. And you will need then to apply to the federal government for your permanent residence, which can take a few months.
You can learn more about this program and how to apply here.
It is quite different from the Federal program as you will need a minimum net worth of $900,000, and intend to invest at least $300,000 if inside de Montréal area, or $200,000 if outside. You won't need to have your business supported by a designated organization.
The processing times are very slow, you might need to wait up to 5 years to get your "Certificate de Selection du Québec" (CSQ) after paying a little more than a $1000 fee for the CSQ application. And you will need then to apply to the federal government for your permanent residence, which can take a few months.
You can learn more about this program and how to apply here.
Processing Times
A Start-up Visa application is processed approximately within 12 to 16 months.
You can find out the processing times here. You need to select "Economic Class", then "Start-up Visa".
You can find out the processing times here. You need to select "Economic Class", then "Start-up Visa".
