🇨🇦 Canada · Business / Investor
Start-up Visa (SUV)
Permanent residence pathway for founders who secure support from a designated Canadian incubator, angel investor group, or VC fund. No investment threshold from the applicant — the value is in the business idea and endorsement.
- Scoring
- Employer-sponsored
- Timeline
- 9mo–2yr
- Est. cost
- $8K
- Category
- Business / Investor
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The Start-up Visa (SUV) is Canada's permanent residence pathway for founders. Unlike most investor visas, SUV doesn't require you to invest your own capital. Instead, you need a letter of support from a Canadian designated organisation, an incubator, angel investor group, or VC fund vetted by IRCC, confirming your business idea is investment-worthy. Get the letter, and you're on a fast track to PR with your co-founders and family.
There are about 70 designated organisations across the three categories. Designated incubators (like Creative Destruction Lab, MaRS, DMZ, Techstars Canada, Founder Institute) accept founders into their programmes; if you graduate or are accepted you can receive the letter of support. Designated angel investor groups require minimum CAD 75,000 investment; designated VC funds require minimum CAD 200,000. The bar is the business idea and team, not personal wealth.
Up to five founders can apply per business, each receiving Canadian PR. The visa supports temporary work permits while the PR application processes (typically 18-30 months). For ambitious founders with a credible business idea and traction, SUV is one of the most generous founder immigration routes anywhere. The catch: securing the letter of support is genuinely competitive, with success rates at top incubators well below 10%.
Is this visa for you?
A strong fit if you…
- You're a founder or co-founder with a scalable business idea, ideally with early traction (users, revenue, technology, IP, or a strong team).
- You have a STEM, tech, or innovative business background that fits the focus areas of Canadian designated organisations (deep tech, SaaS, biotech, climate, AI).
- You can dedicate 1-2 years to building the business in Canada while the PR application processes.
- You want to bring co-founders (up to 5 per business) to receive PR together.
Look elsewhere if you…
- Your business is a traditional retail, restaurant, or franchise concept. Designated organisations focus on scalable innovation, not lifestyle businesses.
- You have no traction, no team, no IP, and no prior founder track record. Designated organisations want some signal of viability.
- You don't speak English or French at CLB 5+. Language proficiency is required for visa approval (though not for the letter of support itself).
Key requirements
- Letter of support from a IRCC-designated organisation (incubator, angel group, or VC)
- Own 10%+ voting rights in the business; at least 50% of the board must reside in Canada
- Language proficiency: CLB 5 minimum
- Sufficient settlement funds
- Intention to run an active business in Canada
Eligibility, in plain English
Letter of support from a designated organisation
The single hard requirement. About 70 designated organisations across three categories: incubators (acceptance into programme yields support letter), angel investor groups (minimum CAD 75,000 investment commitment), VC funds (minimum CAD 200,000 investment commitment). Each organisation has its own process, criteria, and success rates.
Qualifying business structure
Up to 5 founders per business can apply for PR through SUV. Each must own at least 10% of the voting rights, and collectively the SUV founders plus the designated organisation must own at least 50% of voting rights. The business must be incorporated in Canada and have essential operations in Canada.
Ownership and active role
Each SUV founder must be actively engaged in the business, managing it from Canada. Passive investors don't qualify. After PR grant, all founders must continue to be involved with the Canadian business for the immigration commitment to be honoured.
Language at CLB 5+
Minimum CLB 5 (IELTS 4.5-5.0 depending on band) in English or French. This is lower than Express Entry's CLB 7 requirement, making SUV accessible to founders who'd struggle with traditional skilled-worker streams. Test required: IELTS General, CELPIP, TEF Canada, or TCF Canada.
Sufficient settlement funds
Show enough funds to support yourself and family in Canada until the business generates income. Amount scales with family size, similar to Express Entry. Funds must be in your name and accessible.
Temporary work permit available during PR processing
After the letter of support is in hand, founders can apply for a temporary work permit to start building the business in Canada while the PR application processes. This is essential because PR processing takes 18-30 months.
Education and admissibility
No specific education requirement (unlike Express Entry's CLB 7 + post-secondary). Standard admissibility checks apply: criminal background, medical, security.
How the application actually goes
- 01
Build the pitch and approach designated organisations
Develop the business case: pitch deck, traction, team, financials, market opportunity. Identify designated organisations that match your sector and stage. Incubators take the most applicants; angel groups and VC funds have higher absolute bars (committed investment).
1-6 months prep
- 02
Secure the letter of support
Apply to selected designated organisations. Incubators run cohort intakes (Y Combinator-style); angels and VCs run continuous diligence. Acceptance into an incubator programme typically yields the letter; investment commitment from an angel group or VC yields it. This is the slowest and most uncertain step.
3-12 months
- 03
Apply for a temporary work permit (optional)
With the letter in hand, founders can apply for a work permit to start the business in Canada while PR processes. This is LMIA-exempt (under the Start-up Visa programme designation) and typically processes in 1-3 months.
1-3 months
- 04
Lodge the PR application
Submit the SUV PR application to IRCC with the letter of support, identity documents, language test results, settlement funds, business plan, and ownership structure. Application fees apply.
1-2 weeks prep
- 05
IRCC processing
Service standard is 12-16 months but actual processing has typically run 18-30 months due to volume. During this time you can be in Canada on the work permit building the business.
18-30 months
- 06
PR grant and ongoing business commitment
On grant, all SUV founders and their dependants receive PR. Continued involvement in the Canadian business is expected (though not legally enforced after grant). Citizenship eligible after 3 years of physical presence.
What it costs
Incubator programme fees (if accepted)
Many top incubators have no fees
CAD 0-20,000
Designated organisation fee (commitment cost)
Or CAD 200,000+ for VC, often invested
CAD 75,000+ (angel)
Language test fee
CAD 300-450
ECA fee (if claiming foreign education)
Optional but recommended
CAD 200-300
PR application processing fee
+ CAD 575 RPRF
CAD 2,140 (primary)
Spouse/partner fee
CAD 950 + RPRF
Dependent child fee
CAD 260 each
Work permit fee
For optional bridging work permit
CAD 155-255
Legal/business consultancy
Often used for SUV cases
CAD 10,000-30,000
Total typical out-of-pocket
Excluding investment to designated org
CAD 15,000-50,000
Common pitfalls
- Treating the letter of support as a checkbox. It's the single hardest step. Top incubators accept under 5% of applicants; getting an angel commitment is similarly competitive.
- Picking the wrong designated organisation. Incubators focus on early-stage; angels on validated traction; VCs on scalable Series A-stage businesses. Match your stage to the organisation type.
- Filing without traction. Designated organisations want some signal of viability: prototype, paying users, IP, team, prior founder success. Pre-MVP ideas rarely succeed.
- Misunderstanding ownership rules. SUV founders must collectively own at least 50% of voting rights with the designated organisation. Diluted cap tables can disqualify the application.
- Forgetting language requirements. Even though CLB 5 is lower than Express Entry, it's still required for PR. Schedule the language test early.
- Underestimating processing time. PR processing has been 18-30 months. Plan for the business to operate in Canada through that period - work permits help bridge but extend complexity.
Consider these instead
CA
Express Entry — Federal Skilled Worker
If you have skilled work experience and strong credentials but you're not yet at a fundable startup stage, FSW is a faster path that doesn't require a designated organisation.
Read more →
CA
PNP — Provincial Nominee Programs
Some provincial entrepreneur streams (BC Entrepreneur, Saskatchewan Entrepreneur) offer founder pathways with lower bars than SUV designated organisations.
Read more →
CA
Global Talent Stream (Work Permit)
If your business plan involves working at an established Canadian tech company first, GTS gets you on the ground in 2 weeks while you build.
Read more →
Frequently asked
How hard is it to get a letter of support?
Genuinely hard. Top incubators (Creative Destruction Lab, MaRS, DMZ, Techstars Canada) accept under 5% of applicants. Angel groups and VC funds run their own diligence and typically commit only to businesses they'd invest in commercially. The letter isn't a checkbox; it's the binding constraint of the route.
Can multiple co-founders apply through SUV?
Yes, up to 5 founders per business. Each must own at least 10% voting rights and be actively engaged in the business. Each applies separately for PR; all 5 (and their families) can receive PR through the same business.
How long does SUV take to process?
Service standard is 12-16 months but actual processing has run 18-30 months in recent years. Bridging work permits let founders start building the business in Canada immediately while PR processes.
Do I need to invest my own money?
Not necessarily. If you secure a letter from a designated incubator, no investment from you is required (the incubator is investing time and resources). Designated angel groups require minimum CAD 75,000 investment commitment (often from the angels themselves, not the founder). Designated VC funds commit CAD 200,000+.
What if the business fails after I get PR?
PR is unconditional after grant. The expectation is continued involvement in the business but it's not legally enforced. Many SUV founders pivot or join other ventures after PR; the immigration outcome is secure.
What language requirement applies?
CLB 5 minimum in English or French (IELTS 4.5-5.0 depending on band). Lower than Express Entry's CLB 7. Take IELTS General, CELPIP, TEF, or TCF.
Can I work in Canada during PR processing?
Yes, with a bridging work permit. After the letter of support is secured, founders can apply for an LMIA-exempt work permit specifically for the Start-up Visa programme. This typically processes in 1-3 months and lets you start building the business in Canada.
Other Canada visas
Permanent Residency
Express Entry — Federal Skilled Worker
Points-based permanent residence pathway for skilled workers worldwide. Candidates enter the Express Entry pool and receive Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in periodic draws based on CRS score.
Permanent Residency
Express Entry — Canadian Experience Class
Express Entry stream reserved for people who already have at least one year of skilled work experience inside Canada. Typically sees lower CRS cutoffs in targeted category-based draws.
Permanent Residency
Express Entry — Federal Skilled Trades
Express Entry stream for qualified tradespeople: electricians, plumbers, welders, carpenters, HVAC technicians, and similar NOC TEER 2–3 trades occupations.
Permanent Residency
PNP — Provincial Nominee Programs
Each Canadian province and territory runs its own streams targeting workers, entrepreneurs, and international graduates that match local labour needs. A PNP nomination adds 600 CRS points, making virtually any profile competitive in Express Entry.
Permanent Residency
Self-Employed Persons
Permanent residence for individuals with relevant experience in cultural activities or athletics who can make a significant contribution to Canadian cultural or athletic life as self-employed persons.
Work Visa
Global Talent Stream (Work Permit)
Fast-tracked 2-week work permit processing for high-demand tech/STEM workers sponsored by a Canadian employer. Part of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
Ready when you are
Find your immigration path.
Pick where you're headed. We score you against every visa we cover in that country.
1 of 4 selected.
Show me my matches, free→