Start Up Visa Program (“CSUV”)

Canada Start Up Visa

Canada Start-up Visa Program

Canada’s Start-up Visa Program targets immigrant entrepreneurs with the skills and potential to build businesses in Canada that, are innovative, can create jobs for Canadians and are capable to compete on a global scale.

This is a Permanent Resident program, whereby applicants will be issued PR to come to Canada, incorporate a company, and work on a start up concept in conjunction with a Canadian government approved incubator.

To apply for the Start-up Visa Program, your business idea or venture must get the support of one or more of the designated organizations listed below:

  • Angel investor groups:
    An applicant should get one or more investors connected to the groups which are approved by IRCC to invest CND $75,000 into business. Candidates can also qualify with two or more investments from angel investor groups totaling $75,000.
  • Venture capital funds:
    An applicant must secure an investment of CND $200,000 from at least one of the approved venture capital funds to invest into their qualifying business.
  • Business incubators must accept the applicant into its business incubator program.

Business Incubators – Application process:

The Canadian Start-up Visa Program was launched in 2013. It is designed for entrepreneurs with the skills and potential to build businesses in Canada that are innovative, can create jobs for Canadians, and can compete on a global scale. The Program aims to connect these entrepreneurs with organizations in Canada that can assist them in realizing their project

Seed Stage and Assessment of Eligibility

At this stage, we collect all of the information required to assess the candidate’s eligibility for the SUV Program. Using our customized and confidential client intake sheet, we will need information related to the candidate’s background, language skills, personal assets and business and employment history.We also ask for a description of the innovative Start-Up idea. At this stage, the idea may still be in its preliminary stages. Our team will review the idea, make suggestions and modifications, and re-work the idea with the Canadian context in mind.

Preliminary Business Plan and Creation of Company

With a team of professionals, we confirm and develop the entrepreneur’s business concept. At this stage, we get a clearer view of the innovation, marketing, production, job creation and financial dimensions of the project. We then send a preliminary version of the business plan for approval.

A Federal Corporation is created under the Canada Business Corporations Act. A Canadian lawyer will be appointed to the board of directors of the newly created company – not only satisfying Canadian law that 25% of the board be comprised of Canadian residents, but also providing guidance, administration and management support to the company, and providing confidence in the eyes of local partners and the Business Incubator.

Complete the Business Plan, Submission of the Project to the Business Incubator, and Receive the Letter of Support

At this stage, the entrepreneur’s project idea will be fully developed, and a thorough business plan will be prepared. The business plan is presented to the Business Incubator for approval. Once submitted, the Business Incubator may require additional information, or may suggest modifications, and may wish to communicate with the entrepreneur(s) to discuss the project. Our team will ensure that the entrepreneur is ready and prepared for those discussions.

Upon the acceptance of the project, the Business Incubator issues a Letter of Support to each entrepreneur

Elements of the Business Plan

A business plan is a blueprint of how a company will be run. Good business plans are usually highly detailed and include information on all aspects of the business, including the industry, marketing, finance, personnel and various operating procedures:

Executive Summary – a brief description of the project, the financing required, and additional information that help explain the business plan

Business Overview – major demographic, economic, social and cultural factors, major players, trends in the industry, government regulations, market segment, products & services, pricing and distribution, market trends, implications or risk factors

The Competition – competitors and type of competition, competitors’ strengths and weaknesses, competitive advantage

Sales & Marketing Plan – customers, suppliers, advertising & promotion, pricing & distribution, customer service

Operating Plan, Human Resource Plan, Action Plan and Timetable

Financial Plan – the projected company’s financial performance, including: sales, cost of goods, sold expenses, income statement, balance sheet, cash flow budget, financial requirements, key performance indicators

Prepare and Submit the Application for Permanent Residence

Our team will prepare the entrepreneur’s application for permanent residence. At this stage application forms need to be completed, and supporting documents need to be gathered, including:

  • Language Test Results
  • Police Clearances
  • Government Fees

Biometric information may be required by IRCC from the entrepreneur(s) and accompanying family members. A medical examination is also necessary prior to the issuance of a permanent resident visa or confirmation of permanent residence.

At the time of applying, the applicant must submit official test results from a designated language testing agency (IELTS, CELPIP, TEF-Canada or TCFCanada) demonstrating a minimum CLB 5 in listening, reading, writing and speaking. These results must be less than 2 years old at the time of submission.

The applicant and any family members 18 years of age and older must provide police clearance certificates from each country where they have lived for 6 months or more, since the age of 18.

The applicant and family will be requested to attend a medical examination. The examination is required to ensure no member of the family’s health poses a danger to Canada’s public health or safety, or could cause too great a demand on health or social services in Canada

Launch of the Start-up and Incubation

The entrepreneur must demonstrate that efforts to develop the business plan have been made and concrete actions to set-up the business are taken. This is the time when the initial steps of the operating plan will be executed. The company’s bank account will be opened, marketing and branding initiatives will start, and its website will be developed. In some cases, the business will hire employees, develop partnerships, gain strategic resources and make strides towards business development. This is done in parallel with Stage 4.

At this stage, an investment in the Start-Up is necessary. The amount of investment required at this stage, will vary depending on the entrepreneur’s project. You should expect that the entrepreneur will be required to invest at least CAD 100,000 to ensure the company has sufficient liquidity during its start up phase.

Temporary Work Permit

Although not required, entrepreneurs are eligible to apply for a work permit while waiting for their permanent residence application to be processed. This allows the entrepreneur(s) to begin the Business Incubator’s program, which usually consists of meetings to better guide the launch of the Start-Up on a period of six months. We assist, guide and represent the entrepreneur(s) in the application for a work visa. If getting a work visa to start the incubation program is not feasible before the permanent residence is granted, the entrepreneur(s) can join the incubation program after receiving permanent residence.

Permanent Residence

Upon positive assessment of the entrepreneur’s application, permanent resident status will be granted to the entrepreneur and his accompanying family members, by the Ministry of Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada.

As the entrepreneur will now be a permanent resident, the appointed Director will resign from the Board of Directors of the Start-up. The entrepreneur will continue to manage his business in Canada and be the principal driver behind its growth and success, including ensuring the business is sufficiently capitalized to ensure its success. Additional investment from the Entrepreneur may be required.

Where is Canada Start Up Visa?

Benefits of investing in Canada

Eligibility Requirements


  • Have a qualifying business


  • Get a letter of support from a designated organization


  • Meet the language requirements


  • Enough money to settle

View More Details

  • Have a qualifying business

    A qualifying business means you created a business that meets the following conditions. At the time you get a commitment from a designated organization:

    • Each applicant holds 10% or more of the voting rights attached to all shares of the corporation outstanding at that time (up to 5 people can apply as owners) &
    • Applicants and the designated organization jointly hold more than 50% of the total voting rights attached to all shares of the corporation outstanding at that time

    At the time you receive your permanent residence:

    • you provide active and ongoing management of this business from within Canada
    • an essential part of the operations of the business happens in Canada
    • the business is incorporated in Canada
  • Obtain letter of support from designated organization

    • provide the designated business incubator a business idea that is worth supporting
    • get letter of support from the business incubator.
  • Language requirements

    You must score a minimum of Canadian Language Benchmark level 5 in speaking, reading, listening and writing in either English or French.

  • Enough money to settle

    As the government of Canada does not give financial support to this “investor” visa, you will have to be able to prove that you have enough money to settle you and your family in Canada.

Read Less ↑

Program Timeline

STEP 1

Month 1

Seed Stage and Eligibility Assessment

STEP 2

Month 2

Preliminary Business Plan and Company Formation

STEP 3

Month 4

Completion of Business Plan and Letter of Support

STEP 4

Month 5

Prepare and Submit the Application for Permanent Residence

STEP 5

Month 5

Launch of the Start-up and Incubation

STEP 6

Month 14 to 20

Permanent Residence

Make an Enquiry DOWNLOAD BROCHURE

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to create a genuine business to immigrate to Canada with this Program?

Yes. The Program is designed for entrepreneurs with the skills and abilities to start a business in Canada.

Do I need to be actively involved in the management of this business?

Yes. You must provide active and ongoing management of this business from within Canada.

If I immigrate through the SUV Program, what happens if my business fails?

If your business fails, it doesn’t affect your permanent resident status. IRCC recognizes that not every business will succeed and the SUV Program is designed so that the risk is shared between the public and private sector.

What is the difference between support from venture capital funds, angel investor groups, and business incubators?

To get support from a VC Fund or angel group, you need to secure a minimum investment of CAD200,000 or CAD75,000 respectively from them. A business incubator on the other hand won’t invest any funds, but will agree to support your project and accept you into their business incubation program.

Can an entrepreneurial team immigrate to Canada together through the Start up Visa Program?

Yes – up to 5 people can apply through the SUV Program as owners of a single business. When reviewing your proposal, the business incubator will decide who is and who isn’t essential to the business. If IRCC refuses the application of any of the entrepreneurs, for any reason, all related applicants will be refused.

Who will review my Start-up Visa Program application?

First, the Business Incubator that you are seeking support from will review the viability of your business proposal. Next, the Department of Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada will review your immigration application to make sure you have received the necessary support to apply and to make sure you’re eligible and admissible to become a permanent resident.

In some cases, your application may also be subject to a an independent peer review process. The peer review process ensures that your activities and those of the Business Incubator are in line with industry standards.

Do I need previous management experience to participate in this Program?

There is no requirement that the applicant have prior management experience. In assessing your application, the designated organization will assess the viability of the business under your management. Plenty of entrepreneurs never had previous management experience before launching their first start-up business, and went on to create very successful businesses.

How much money do I need to invest in the business?

There is no minimum amount. The amount you’ll need to personally invest in your business will vary based on the type of business. We expect that at a minimum, a business will require an initial investment of at least CAD$100,000 to launch, and become operational. There are some initial expenses at the launch of a business, and you want to be sure that the company is well-funded from the beginning. But in most cases additional investment will be required from the entrepreneur.

Can I establish my business anywhere in Canada, or will I be restricted to one Province?

You will be free to establish in any Province, other than the Province of Quebec. There are designated organizations across the country, who can support you regardless of where you choose to settle with your family and establish your business.

If I receive a letter of support from a designated organization, is my permanent residence application guaranteed to be approved?

Obtaining the letter of support is a critical and required step to applying for the SUV Program, but alone doesn’t guarantee that you will be approved. IRCC will review each application and ensure that you meet the eligibility and admissibility criteria, that you have sufficient funds to support yourself and your family when you arrive in Canada, and that you have passed a medical examination and security clearance checks.

Who is Carte Blanche Immigration Services (CBIS) and what is their role?

CBIS is specializes in creating, managing and promoting programs and products geared towards international investors around the world. Its industry-leading team actively works with governments, business communities, lawyers and its extensive network of authorized representatives to bring programs and products to market and to ensure its applicants experience a successful endeavor.

We will assist you through the entire business start up and permanent residence application processes.

Other Citizenship Options

Antigua & Barbuda Citizenship Program

Antigua also known as Waladli or Wadadli by the native population is an island in the West Indies. It is one of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean region and the main island of the country of Ant...

Read More

Dominica Citizenship Program

Commonwealth of Dominica is an island country Dominica situated in the Lesser Antilles region of the Caribbean Sea with a total land area of 751 km2. Dominica is known as the Nature Isla...

Read More

Grenada Citizenship Program

Grenada also known as ‘Isle of Spice’ and is one of the most magnificent islands in the West Indies. The nation of Grenada measuring 344 km2. It is composed of three key islands: Grenada and it...

Read More

Malta Citizenship Program

The Republic of Malta is a chain of islands in the central Mediterranean Sea. Three of those islands are inhabited – Malta, Gozo, and Comino. The capital city is Valletta. It is an incredibly...

Read More

St. Lucia Citizenship Program

Known as the ‘Helen of West Indies’, St Lucia is located in the East of the Caribbean sea and it is considered to be one of the most politically and economically stable countries in the region ...

Read More

St.Kitts & Nevis Citizenship Program

St. Kitts & Nevis is located in the northern section of the eastern Caribbean Sea approximately 2,000 km2 southeast of Miami (USA).

Read More

Vanuatu Citizenship Program

Vanuatu, officially known as the Republic of Vanuatu, is an archipelago nation, spread across 82 islands in the south Pacific Ocean. The country’s capital and largest city is Port Villa and its o...

Read More

Antigua & Barbuda Citizenship Program

Antigua also known as Waladli or Wadadli by the native population is an island in the West Indies. It is one of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean region and the main island of the country of Ant...

Read More

Dominica Citizenship Program

Commonwealth of Dominica is an island country Dominica situated in the Lesser Antilles region of the Caribbean Sea with a total land area of 751 km2. Dominica is known as the Nature Isla...

Read More

Grenada Citizenship Program

Grenada also known as ‘Isle of Spice’ and is one of the most magnificent islands in the West Indies. The nation of Grenada measuring 344 km2. It is composed of three key islands: Grenada and it...

Read More

Malta Citizenship Program

The Republic of Malta is a chain of islands in the central Mediterranean Sea. Three of those islands are inhabited – Malta, Gozo, and Comino. The capital city is Valletta. It is an incredibly...

Read More

St. Lucia Citizenship Program

Known as the ‘Helen of West Indies’, St Lucia is located in the East of the Caribbean sea and it is considered to be one of the most politically and economically stable countries in the region ...

Read More

St.Kitts & Nevis Citizenship Program

St. Kitts & Nevis is located in the northern section of the eastern Caribbean Sea approximately 2,000 km2 southeast of Miami (USA).

Read More

Vanuatu Citizenship Program

Vanuatu, officially known as the Republic of Vanuatu, is an archipelago nation, spread across 82 islands in the south Pacific Ocean. The country’s capital and largest city is Port Villa and its o...

Read More