The Start-Up Visa combines elements of immigration law, corporate law, and business negotiation. A skilled lawyer ensures that your share structure, agreements with designated organizations, and compliance documents meet IRCC standards. Expert legal guidance helps minimize the risk of refusal, financial loss, or legal disputes, and increases your chances of success in the Start-Up Visa process.

No. Permanent residency is granted based on your genuine effort and intention to operate the business, not its financial success. As long as you actively participated in your start-up and fulfilled your obligations, your PR status will remain secure even if the business does not succeed.

As of January 1, 2026, IRCC has paused the Start-Up Visa Program and is not accepting new commitment certificates after December 31, 2025. Applicants who already have a valid 2025 commitment certificate must submit their permanent residence application by June 30, 2026.
For files already in process, processing times vary significantly based on IRCC’s inventory and capacity. IRCC’s current forward-looking estimates for Start-Up Visa have recently been reported as “more than 10 years” for new/typical cases—reflecting the size of the backlog and projected admissions capacity.

Not necessarily. Some organizations may have limited activity or impose unfair financial terms. Before signing any agreement, always verify the organization’s legitimacy on the official IRCC website and have the contract reviewed by a qualified immigration lawyer to avoid financial and legal risks.

The top three reasons for refusal include:

Unrealistic or non-genuine business plans, incomplete or inaccurate documentation, and failure to respond to IRCC’s follow-up requests.

Working with an experienced immigration lawyer to prepare a well-documented and compliant application significantly reduces the risk of rejection.

There is no fixed investment amount set by IRCC. The required capital depends on the nature of your business and the expectations of the designated organization supporting it. Typically, a startup investment between CAD 75,000 and CAD 200,000 is considered reasonable. What matters most is a viable business plan and sufficient financial resources to launch the project.

Yes. Eligible applicants can apply for a three-year temporary work permit to start operating their business in Canada while their PR application is under review. This is usually an Open Work Permit, issued to essential team members who can demonstrate significant economic benefit to Canada.

Unlike provincial entrepreneur or Owner-Operator programs that focus primarily on investment and job creation, the Start-Up Visa (SUV) program grants permanent residency based on innovation, scalability, and endorsement from a designated organization. The emphasis is on the business idea, its global competitiveness, and the strength of the founding team.

In most cases, yes. If a key or essential team member is refused or withdraws from the process, the entire application may become invalid. Therefore, conducting a thorough legal and background review of each team member before submitting the application is essential for success.

No. Your company can initially be registered outside of Canada, but you must demonstrate a genuine intention to establish and operate it within Canada. The IRCC recognizes a business as eligible only if its active operations, shareholding, and management structure are aligned with the program’s requirements.