Entrepreneurs who received a valid commitment certificate from a designated organization in 2025 have until June 30, 2026, to apply for permanent residence (PR) through Canada’s Start-up Visa (SUV) program.
Applicants who are already in Canada with an SUV-specific work permit continue to receive priority for permanent residence applications. This supports the government’s goal of reducing the temporary resident population by helping eligible temporary residents become permanent residents.
Entrepreneurs who did not receive a valid commitment certificate from an approved business incubator, venture capital fund, or angel investor group by December 31, 2025, cannot apply under this final deadline.
Well, Canada officially stopped accepting new Start-up Visa applications on December 31, 2025. Since then, only applicants holding a valid 2025 commitment certificate have remained eligible to submit a permanent residence application.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) also ended new applications for the optional SUV open work permit on December 19, 2025. However, eligible applicants can still apply to extend their existing open work permits.
When announcing these changes, the federal government explained that they were part of the transition to a new pilot program for immigrant entrepreneurs. The decision was also made because of the large number of business immigration applications already waiting to be processed.
At present, newly submitted Start-up Visa applications face wait periods of more than 10 years. Around 46,600 applicants are currently waiting for a final decision on their applications.
So far, IRCC has not released further details about the entrepreneur immigration program that will replace the Start-up Visa.
How To Apply For Permanent Residence?
Applicants who qualify under the 2025 commitment certificate requirement must submit their permanent residence application by June 30, 2026.
Before applying, applicants should carefully read the Start-up Visa Application Guide (IMM 5759), confirm that they meet all eligibility requirements, and collect every required document.
The eligibility requirements include:
- Having a qualifying business
- Holding a valid 2025 commitment certificate from a designated angel investor group, venture capital fund, or business incubator
- Having a Letter of Support from the designated organization supporting the business
- Meeting at least Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 5 in all four language skills
- Having enough settlement funds that are available and not tied to the business investment
- Intending to live outside Quebec
Applicants can apply alone or with a group of up to five business owners. Together with the designated organization, they must hold more than 50% of the voting rights in the qualifying business.
After confirming eligibility, applicants must complete the permanent residence application and attach all required documents listed in the Start-up Visa Business Class Document Checklist (IMM 5760).
Applicants may prepare and submit the application themselves or choose a licensed immigration representative, such as an immigration lawyer, to complete the process on their behalf.
Those submitting their own application must use the Permanent Residence Portal.
Applicants using a representative must include the Use of Representative Form (IMM 5476). The representative must then submit the application through the Representative Portal.
Applications must generally be submitted online unless the applicant or representative qualifies for an approved exception.
For group applications, each business partner must submit a separate permanent residence application. IRCC will begin reviewing the group’s applications only after every co-applicant has submitted their application.
Applicants who are already in Canada with a Start-up Visa work permit may also apply to extend their work permit, allowing them to continue working while waiting for a decision on their permanent residence application.
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