x
Contact us

Contact Information

1 (403) 452-9515

1 (800) 932-1190

Learn how we can help you

More Options...

Start-up Visa Program Has Come To Stay!

Blog posted on by Evelyn Ackah in Business Immigration to Canada, Start-Up Visa Program, Permanent Residence and Start-Up Visa Program

Start-up Visa Program Has Come To Stay!

The Canadian Start-up Visa Program is the first of its kind in the world, launched in 2013 by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), to link innovative immigrant entrepreneurs with Canadian experienced private sector organizations that have expertise in working with start-ups.

Innovative entrepreneurs are those who have the expertise to turn their ideas into successful companies or those who have the potential to build dynamic companies that can compete with other companies on a global scale.

The Start-up Visa Program was introduced to support innovative entrepreneurs to become Canadian permanent residents with no conditions attached to the success of their business, after they partner with a Canadian venture capital fund or angel investor group that will make significant financial commitments to their business idea, or after a business incubator has accepted them into their program.

The program was meant to run for up to five years. However, due to its successful track record, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, Navdeep Bains and Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Ahmed Hussen announced that the program has come to stay and would now become a core part of Canada’s immigration policy starting in 2018.

To qualify for the program, you must meet the four requirements, which include:

  • having a Letter of Support from a designated angel investor group, venture capital fund or business incubator
  • meeting the ownership requirement for a qualifying business
  • getting the scores of at least Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB 5) in all four categories in either English or French
  • having an adequate amount of money to settle and provide for the cost of living prior to earning an income

Although you are not required to invest any of your own money to apply for a start-up visa, you must however, be able to secure the minimum investment fund from a Canadian venture capital fund or angel investor group that has been named as a participant in the program, as follows:

  • $200,000 if the investment is coming from a designated Canadian venture capital fund
  • $75,000 if the investment is coming from a designated Canadian angel investor group
  • You do not need to secure any investment from a business incubator but you must be accepted into a Canadian business incubator program

Upon meeting the above requirements, your application will be reviewed based on IRCC's standard admissibility criteria on issues such as health, criminality, security as well as making a request for an independent peer review to ensure that due diligence was performed by the designated organization that is issuing a Letter of Support to you. For more information on the Startup Visa Program, click on http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/business/start-up/index.asp


Evelyn L. Ackah, BA, LL.B.

Founder/Managing Lawyer

Ms. Ackah is passionate about immigration law because it focuses on people and relationships, which are at the core of her personal values. Starting her legal career as a corporate/commercial ...

More About Evelyn L. Ackah, BA, LL.B.

Pre-Removal Risk Assessment in Canada (2025 Guide)

Pre-Removal Risk Assessments in Canada (What You Need to Know in 2025)Pre-Removal Risk Assessment is a last-chance review process to determine if someone would face danger or persecution ...

Read More

What to Know Before Moving to Canada (A Practical Guide)

What to Know Before Moving to Canada (A Practical Guide)Healthcare system: Public healthcare is free for residents, but many newcomers need private coverage for the first 3 months.Housing ...

Read More

A Guide to Building Your Legacy Through Immigration

How Building Your Legacy Through Immigration Can Help You Live the Life You WantBuilding your legacy through immigration starts with a vision for your future and the courage to act.Immigration ...

Read More

Are Tariffs Why Canadian Businesses Move to the U.S.?

Canadian businesses are feeling the pressure. Tariffs are climbing, profits are shrinking, and cross-border trade feels more like a maze than a highway. If you're running ...

Read More

Growing Up Black in Canada: Honouring Black History and Embracing the Future

Black History Month is a time for reflection, learning, and celebration. It serves as a catalyst for deeper conversations about race, identity, and progress. My journey, from immigrating ...

Read More

Navigating Canada’s Start-Up Visa Program: A Step by Step Guide for Foreign Entrepreneurs

Canada is a land of opportunity, and its Start-Up Visa Program (SUV) for foreign entrepreneurs is a golden gateway for foreign entrepreneurs who dream of establishing their business ...

Read More

We have been working on a very delicate situation in which a young temporary foreign worker was unfortunately seriously injured during an armed robbery and has left him requiring many surgeries and extensive rehabilitation. We are working hard to have this wonderful young man remain in Canada so he may continue to receive the level and quality of care he requires and deserves. As we navigate through the system, the guidance, compassion, commitment and concern that Evelyn and the entire team have provided, has been invaluable to us all. I feel truly fortunate and privileged to have Ackah Business Immigration Law on our side as their passion genuinely shines through.

– Peter Kilty, Parkland Fuel Corporation

View All Testimonials

Love is a word I dare not diminish. Built with intention, care and respect by Bryce Kirk