published on 16 January 2026 @ 3:30 pm · COMMENT

Start-Up Visa Program Closed to New Intake as Canada Prepares New Entrepreneur Pilot

Effective December 31, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) stopped accepting new applications under the Start-Up Visa (SUV) Program, with limited exceptions during the transition. Applicants who secured a valid commitment certificate from a designated organization in 2025 may still apply for permanent residence until June 30, 2026. IRCC has also ended new intake for the SUV-specific work permit, allowing extensions only for individuals already in Canada under this category.

These changes reflect the federal government’s effort to manage a growing inventory of business immigration applications while aligning admissions with the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan and Canada’s Talent Attraction Strategy. By prioritizing permanent residence applications from SUV applicants already in Canada, IRCC is signalling a shift toward reducing the temporary resident population through targeted transitions to permanent status, rather than expanding new temporary entry pathways.

The pause on the SUV Program, alongside the continued suspension of the Self-Employed Persons Program, marks a significant contraction of Canada’s existing entrepreneur immigration options. IRCC has indicated that these measures are intended to facilitate a transition to a new, more targeted pilot program for immigrant entrepreneurs, with further details expected in 2026. In the interim, foreign entrepreneurs without an existing designated-organization commitment may need to consider alternative immigration or business pathways.

filed under: IMMIGRATIONPERMANENT RESIDENCE