Entrepreneurs hoping to obtain Canadian permanent residence through the federal Start-Up Visa (SUV) programme can no longer file new applications as of 1 January 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has confirmed. Media outlets highlighted the development on 17 January, sparking renewed interest in alternative pathways for innovative founders.
Launched in 2013, the SUV allowed foreign entrepreneurs with backing from designated venture-capital funds, angel investors or business incubators to apply for permanent residence without meeting minimum investment or net-worth thresholds. Critics, however, argued that processing backlogs—nearly 5 000 cases at their peak—and a lack of post-landing support limited the programme’s economic impact.
IRCC says it will honour applications already in the queue and grant a six-month grace period—until 30 June 2026—for founders who secured commitment certificates in 2025 but have yet to submit permanent-residence paperwork. Work-permit extensions under the SUV stream will also remain possible for existing holders.
![Canada formally closes federal Start-Up Visa programme]()
Amid this evolving landscape, entrepreneurs can turn to VisaHQ for support. The company’s digital platform—available at https://www.visahq.com/canada/—guides users through visa and work-permit requirements, supplies up-to-date document checklists, and offers real-time application tracking, helping founders and their mobility teams avoid costly delays.
With the federal door now closed, attention shifts to provincial entrepreneur streams, Quebec’s distinct investor and entrepreneur categories, and the C-11 significant-benefit work permit, which can serve as a bridge to permanent residence. Immigration consultants expect heightened competition for spots in Ontario and British Columbia’s entrepreneur draws and predict that IRCC will outline a “smaller, sector-specific pilot” for start-ups later this year.
Corporate relocation managers should reassess mobility policies: executives with founder roles may need province-sponsored pathways, and timelines could stretch. Legal advisers recommend starting market-entry planning early, ensuring business concepts align with provincial economic priorities to improve invitation odds.
Launched in 2013, the SUV allowed foreign entrepreneurs with backing from designated venture-capital funds, angel investors or business incubators to apply for permanent residence without meeting minimum investment or net-worth thresholds. Critics, however, argued that processing backlogs—nearly 5 000 cases at their peak—and a lack of post-landing support limited the programme’s economic impact.
IRCC says it will honour applications already in the queue and grant a six-month grace period—until 30 June 2026—for founders who secured commitment certificates in 2025 but have yet to submit permanent-residence paperwork. Work-permit extensions under the SUV stream will also remain possible for existing holders.
Amid this evolving landscape, entrepreneurs can turn to VisaHQ for support. The company’s digital platform—available at https://www.visahq.com/canada/—guides users through visa and work-permit requirements, supplies up-to-date document checklists, and offers real-time application tracking, helping founders and their mobility teams avoid costly delays.
With the federal door now closed, attention shifts to provincial entrepreneur streams, Quebec’s distinct investor and entrepreneur categories, and the C-11 significant-benefit work permit, which can serve as a bridge to permanent residence. Immigration consultants expect heightened competition for spots in Ontario and British Columbia’s entrepreneur draws and predict that IRCC will outline a “smaller, sector-specific pilot” for start-ups later this year.
Corporate relocation managers should reassess mobility policies: executives with founder roles may need province-sponsored pathways, and timelines could stretch. Legal advisers recommend starting market-entry planning early, ensuring business concepts align with provincial economic priorities to improve invitation odds.
