Canada’s Start-up Visa Program: Last Chance for Immigrant Entrepreneurs

Immigrant entrepreneurs who received a valid commitment certificate from a designated organization in 2025 have until June 30, 2026, to apply for permanent residence (PR) under Canada’s Start-up Visa (SUV) program.

Those already in Canada on a SUV-specific work permit are currently being prioritized for PR, in accordance with efforts to reduce the temporary resident population by transitioning eligible individuals to PR.

Those who did not have a certificate issued to them by an eligible business incubator, venture capital fund, or angel investor group by December 31, 2025, do not qualify for this final deadline.

Canada’s immigration department stopped accepting new SUV program applications on December 31, 2025, effectively closing the program to all applicants except those with a valid 2025 commitment certificate.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) also stopped accepting new applications for the optional SUV open work permit on December 19, 2025. As of this date, only OWP extensions are being accepted.

When IRCC announced these measures late last year, the government noted they are in place for the “transition to a new, targeted pilot program for immigrant entrepreneurs,” as well as due to its excessive business application inventory.

At the time, and currently still, the wait time for a newly submitted SUV application is more than 10 years. About 46,600 people are currently waiting for their applications to be finalized as of the time of this writing.

IRCC has not provided any further details on the replacement entrepreneur program, as of the time of writing.

How to apply for PR if you have a 2025 commitment certificate

All applications for a SUV must be submitted by June 30.

Prior to applying, read the SUV application instruction guide (IMM 5759), verify your eligibility, and gather the required documentation.

SUV eligibility requirements include:

  • Having a qualifying business;
  • Having secured a valid 2025 commitment certificate from a designated organization;
  • Meeting language proficiency requirements;
  • Having enough funds to settle in Canada.

For more information on the Start-up Visa program and the application process, visit the official Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website.