Overview

Canada's Start-up Visa Program is geared towards immigrant entrepreneurs with the skills and potential to build innovative businesses in Canada that can create jobs for Canadians and compete on a global scale.

If a foreign national is able to get support for their idea from a designated organizations, they may be able to immigrate to Canada.

Eligibility Requirements

Applications to come to Canada through the Start-up Visa Program will be assessed on a pass/fail basis. Four requirements must be met. Entrepreneurs must:

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

If these requirements are met, the application will be reviewed based on CIC's standard admissibility criteria, including health, criminality and security.

For further information regarding the procedures for applying for the Start-up Visa Program, please contact our office.