The Startup Visa Program: Accessing immigration through your business
- Marcela Hartvig
- May 21, 2023
- 5 min read
Updated: May 27, 2025
The Startup Visa (SUV) is a Canadian immigration program for international entrepreneurs who plan to build or expand a business in the Canadian market.
This unique program provides entrepreneurs with direct access to permanent residency, offering an attractive pathway compared to tradicional immigration routes.
The SUV program connects foreign entrepreneurs with Canadian incubators, accelerators, or investor groups designated by the government. Acceptance by one of these organizations is mandatory, as they issue the Letter of Support required for a permanent residency application.
In this article, I’ll outline the main components of the program—eligibility, requirements, language proficiency, and proof of funds—and how Innova in Canada supports entrepreneurs through each step.
What the Government is Looking For
To qualify for the Startup Visa program, your business should meet the following criteria:
Offer a product or service with a digital or technological component.
Demonstrate potential for short-term scalability.
Show the ability to create jobs in Canada over the medium to long term.
If it involves a physical product, it should be patentable or linked to intellectual property.
Demonstrate that your business can bring a real economic contribution to the country.
What does that mean in practice?
The government looks for businesses that will:
Create employment for Canadians
Introduce innovation to the market
Contribute to regional development, including outside major urban centres
Provide training or upskilling opportunities for local talent
It’s important to provide documents that support your experience as an entrepreneur and explain how your business will generate this type of value.
Benefits
Participating in the Startup Visa program offers meaningful advantages:
Your business can include up to five partners, and the required investment for incubation can be shared among them.
All partners, their spouses, and dependent children under the age of 22 may apply for Permanent Residency.
If one or more partners are deemed essential to the business, they may apply for a work permit while the permanent residence (PR) process is underway. An essential person is considered critical to the business and will be specifically identified as such by the designated organization on the commitment certificate and letter of support.
Since October 3, 2024, founders and their spouses are eligible to apply for an open work permit, valid for up to three years, which allows them to live and work in Canada while their permanent residency application is being processed.
Other Startup Visa Requirements
Beyond the innovation criteria, several other requirements apply:
A language proficiency level equivalent to CLB 5 in English or French.
A Letter of Support from a government-designated incubator, accelerator, or investor group.
Proof of funds to support yourself and your family after landing in Canada.
The ability to meet Canada’s admissibility requirements, including medical exams and criminal background checks.
To meet the Startup Visa language requirement, you must take one of the official language tests accepted by the Canadian government:
For English:
CELPIP (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program)
IELTS General Training (International English Language Testing System)
For French:
TEF Canada (Test d’évaluation de français)
TCF Canada (Test de connaissance du français)
Additional Notes:
You must achieve a minimum score equivalent to CLB 5 in all four skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
Each testing organization provides details about registration, availability, and test preparation on its official website.
Letter of Support: How to Obtain
There are two recognized ways to obtain a Letter of Support (LOS) for the Startup Visa:
Through a Designated Incubator – By being accepted into a government-approved business incubation program that supports your project and issues the LOS.
Through Investment – By receiving funding from a designated Angel Investor Group or Venture Capital Fund recognized by the Canadian government.
At Innova in Canada, we operate under the first pathway.
Proof of Funds
Providing proof of funds is a mandatory requirement under the Startup Visa program.
The amount depends on the size of your family and whether you will apply for Permanent Residency only or include a Work Permit.
Immigration authorities use two reference tables:
Table 1 – Permanent Residency only: Applies if you plan to remain outside Canada while waiting for PR approval.
Table 2 – Work Permit + PR: Applies if you intend to move to Canada before receiving PR. This table requires approximately double the amount, as it assumes you will need additional resources during the ideation and validation stage of your business.
While the proof of funds requirement may be higher for those applying with a work permit, there are ways to balance initial living costs:
Most cofounders are eligible for a work permit, which allows them to earn an income in Canada while their permanent residence (PR) application is being processed.
Spouses can also apply for an open work permit and work for any employer.
Children can attend public schools at no cost.
However, it’s important to remember that the primary purpose of the cofounder’s presence in Canada is to build the business. If they focus solely on working elsewhere and neglect the development of their startup, this may jeopardize the permanent residency application.
Admissibility to Canada
To qualify for permanent residency under the Startup Visa program, you must meet Canada’s admissibility requirements, which include:
Legal eligibility to enter Canada – This typically applies to individuals who have had previous issues with their immigration status, such as overstaying a visa or facing removal orders.
Medical examination – You must not have any severe health conditions that could pose a risk to public health or create excessive demand on Canada’s healthcare system.
Criminal background check – You’ll need to provide police clearance certificates from every country where you’ve lived for six months or more since turning 18.
For general guidance, you can consult the official government site: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/medical-police/admissibility.html
If you have questions about your specific case, it’s essential to speak with a licensed immigration advisor who can help assess your admissibility before you proceed.
💼 How Innova Can Help You
At Innova in Canada, we support entrepreneurs through every stage of the Startup Visa process. Our approach is pragmatic and tailored, focused on turning your business into a viable project for the Canadian market and designated organizations.
Here’s how we assist:
Business adaptation – We help you define or adapt your idea to fit the Canadian context and meet incubator criteria.
Document preparation – We develop your pitch deck, business plan, and operational documentation.
Incubator matching – We identify and present your project to 3–5 designated incubators aligned with your sector and budget.
Application support – We guide you through the steps until the Letter of Support is issued.
Post-submission advisory – If desired, we will continue supporting your startup during the initial incubation period.
In addition, we offer a specialized service called Business Structure & Financial Setup, which includes:
Company incorporation in Canada
Shareholder agreement drafting
Initial accounting system setup — so your company is ready to invoice, receive payments, and record expenses from day one
This ensures your business is structurally and financially prepared to operate in Canada and meet the requirements of incubators and immigration authorities.
We also connect you with trusted partners who offer essential complementary services, such as immigration consulting, accounting, branding, and language studies, each priced separately and tailored to your needs.
Immigration consulting to handle the legal visa process
Accounting and bookkeeping to keep the business compliant
Website creation and branding to present the company professionally
Language schools (English or French) to meet language requirements
Ready to take the next step toward launching your business in Canada through the Startup Visa program?
The Startup Visa is a solid pathway for entrepreneurs to establish their business and secure immigration status in Canada, but it requires thorough preparation and a strong commitment. To determine if your profile aligns with the program, book an Eligibility Session with us. We'll walk you through the criteria, the financial planning, and how to get started the right way.
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