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CANADA START-UP VISA

Perfect for immigrant entrepreneurs with the skills and potential to build innovative businesses in Canada that create jobs for locals and can compete on a global scale.

ELIGIBILITY FOR CANADA START-UP VISA

Language skills

The principal applicant must provide English or French test results of at least CLB5 (IELTS 5 except for Reading Factor IELTS 4) to confirm their ability to communicate and work in either of Canada’s official languages. An authorized organization must conduct the test. The document is valid for two years from the date of the test report.

Letter of Support

An essential document to submit the permanent residency and work permit application, the letter of support is issued as part of a Commitment Certificate directly transmitted to IRCC by the designated organization (business incubator, venture capital funds, angel investor groups). 

Innovative business

The SUV applicant must intend to develop an innovative business from within Canada and establish that it is scalable globally. Evidence of progress in the development of the business from within Canada will be required before the issuance of the permanent residency visa.

CANADA
Fact Sheets

Capital: Ottawa
Major cities: Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver
Population: 38.25 million (2021)
GDP: 1.991 trillion USD (2021)
Average Income:  $40,630

KEY BENEFITS CANADA START-UP VISA

Direct Permanent Residency

Direct permanent residency status is granted to successful SUV applicants, spouses, and dependent children under 22 years old.

Quick access

With a letter of support from a designated organization, applicants can apply for a work permit to develop their business from within Canada.

Development support

A dedicated team provides comprehensive support to help SUV applicants navigate business development from within Canada.

OUR SERVICE

Profile Qualification

Analyze the candidates’ profiles and collection of due diligence documentation to ensure their capability for the
SUV program.

Corporate Support

Assist with Canadian company incorporation, share allocation, shareholders’ agreement, and account management support.

Intellectual Property

Analyze the candidates’ profiles and collection of due diligence documentation to ensure their capability for the
SUV program.

Product Development

Support the SUV applicants in the effort to prototype and test their SUV product from within Canada.

Commercialization

Support the SUV applicants with their social media outreach, website development, and SEO, allowing a product market validation process from within Canada.

Immigration

Provide a representation of the clients by Canadian lawyers before the Canadian immigration authorities.

Download our factsheet (PDF)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Up to 5 team members can form one SUV team and multiply their skill sets for the venture's success. Team members must justify their relevance by leveraging their academic and professional experiences.

The Canada Start-Up Visa Program conditions were found in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (SOR/2002-227), starting at Article 98.01.

The major conditions are:

Receive support from the designated organization.
Meet the language requirement: CLB5 (IELTS 5, except for Reading Factor IELTS 4)
Incorporate a qualifying business in Canada and hold the requested voting rights of the corporation's shares.
Have access to sufficient capital to fund your settlement in Canada and to meet the business' initial needs.
Be admissible to Canada.

While we are not privy to the details of every refusal due to their confidentiality, the federal court case law indicates some refusal motives (not extensive):

  • Apply for the SUV primarily to acquire an immigration status, not to engage in business
  • The SUV applicant is essential to the start-up
  • No document to evidence the development of the idea after submitting the permanent residence application: the venture was not incorporated, for instance.
  • The designated organization supported similar competing ideas in the past.
  • The marketplace/competition description is too general; strong competition from major corporations, revenue projection is not rational, no supporting intellectual property, management team without start-up experience, and "cookie-cutting" business plan.
  • Business plan focusing on foreign markets, raising doubts about the intent to develop the business from within Canada
  • Intellectual property ownership is not documented.
  • The business idea is not innovative or can not be scaled up globally

Designated Organizations are those business groups or associations that were selected by the Canadian government (IRCC) to Back emerging ventures through the SUV Program by offering support or investing in promising startup businesses.

There are three types of designated organizations:

Business Incubators
Venture Capital Funds
Angel Investor Groups

Each and every designated organization has its own due diligence process. It is usual for a designated organization to request the submission of a detailed business plan, pitch deck, financial forecasts, competition analysis, minimum viable product, prototype, etc.

If a designated organization supports a business concept, it will issue a Letter of support, an essential document for the permanent residence visa application under the Start-up visa Business Class.

Most designated organizations will request SUV applicants to provide evidence that they can finance the initial development cost of the project.

The IRCC will also request the submission of evidence that SUV applicants have enough funds to support their settlement in Canada. The required amounts are regularly updated and can be found here: P.R. Settlement Funds and Work Permit Settlement Funds

No, the Start-up Visa program is a permanent economic immigration program.

On March 30th, 2013, the Canadian immigration department published its Ministerial Instructions in the Official Gazette, formally establishing the new Start-up Visa Pilot Program. On March 31st, 2018, final regulations were adopted for the Start-up Business Class to become a permanent program, effective on April 11th, 2018.

While each designated organization has its ideal profile, the following characteristics can help the SUV applicant's case:

Experience in an innovative field:

  • advanced manufacturing 
  • engineering 
  • energy 
  • Internet 
  • big data analytics 
  • software development 
  • artificial intelligence 
  • robotics 
  • life sciences 
  • financial technology 
  • clean technology 
  • health care/health technology 
  • biotechnology 
  • environmental technology 

 

A net worth of: 

  • at least CAD 300,000 for a business supported by a Business Incubator 
  • at least CAD 500,000 for a business supported by a Venture Capital Fund or an Angel Investor Group. 

 

Business ownership, management, or entrepreneurship experience :

2+ years of post-secondary education.

CLB 5 is equivalent to the following IELTS test results:

  • Reading 4
  • Writing 5
  • Listening 5
  • Speaking 5
  • Step 1: Initial Profile and Business Concept Review (Preliminary Eligibility Review) by Eterna
  • Step 2: Intake Meeting and Eterna contract signature
  • Step 3: Introduction to a designated organization
  • Step 4: Canadian company incorporation
  • Step 5: Designated organization term sheet and agreement signature
  • Step 6: Issuance of the letter of support
  • Step 7: Permanent residence visa and work permit application submission to IRCC
  • Step 8: Project development from within Canada
  • Step 9: Landing in Canada and further project development
  • Step 10: IRCC decision on the Permanent residence visa application.
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