Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
| • The Canadian Start-Up Visa is closed to new applicants as of 2026 — both the commitment-certificate deadline (December 31, 2025) and the application deadline (June 30, 2026) have passed. |
| • Only entrepreneurs who already held a valid 2025 commitment certificate could apply by June 30, 2026; that window is now closed. |
| • The related work-permit-while-you-wait stream stopped accepting new applications on December 19, 2025. |
| • Quebec runs its own, separate investor and entrepreneur immigration streams that are not affected by this federal closure. |
| • Entrepreneurs exploring permanent residence should look at Express Entry or Provincial Nominee Program business streams as active alternatives. |
| • Historical eligibility (qualifying business, letter of support, language ability, settlement funds) is kept here for reference, not as a current application pathway. |
The Canadian Start-Up Visa, long one of the more direct federal routes for immigrant entrepreneurs to settle in Canada, is closed to new applicants as of 2026. If you’re researching the Canadian Start-Up Visa hoping to apply, this guide explains exactly where the program stands, who it still affects, and what alternatives exist for entrepreneurs.
Current Status: Closed to New Applicants
According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the Start-up Visa Program is now closed to all new applications outside of one narrow exception. To apply, an entrepreneur needed a valid 2025 commitment certificate and had to submit their application by June 30, 2026. Both of those dates have now passed. Designated organizations — the venture capital funds, angel investor groups and business incubators that support applicants — had until December 31, 2025 to submit a commitment certificate on an entrepreneur’s behalf. IRCC states plainly that the program is closed to all other applications.
| Milestone | Date | Status as of this writing |
|---|---|---|
| Last day for designated organizations to submit a commitment certificate | December 31, 2025 | Passed |
| Work permit while you wait — last day accepting new applications | December 19, 2025 | Passed — stream closed to new applicants |
| Deadline to apply with a valid 2025 commitment certificate | June 30, 2026 | Passed |
| New applications without a valid 2025 commitment certificate | N/A | Not accepted — program closed to all other applications |
Who Can Still Apply
In practice, almost no one can newly apply for the Canadian Start-Up Visa at this point. The only route into the program required a valid 2025 commitment certificate obtained before the designated-organization deadline, followed by an application before June 30, 2026. Entrepreneurs who secured a commitment certificate and applied within that window should continue tracking their case through IRCC’s normal processing channels. Entrepreneurs without a 2025 commitment certificate are not eligible to apply under this program in its current form.
What Happens If You Already Have a Start-Up Visa Work Permit
Entrepreneurs who already hold a temporary work permit issued under the Start-up Visa Program’s “work permit while you wait” stream may be able to extend that permit while their permanent residence application continues processing. New applications for this work-permit stream have not been accepted since December 19, 2025. For the current rules on employer-specific versus open work permits generally, see our guide to getting a work permit for Canada.
Alternatives for Entrepreneurs
With the federal program closed, entrepreneurs interested in immigrating to Canada have a few remaining paths worth exploring.
Quebec’s Investor and Entrepreneur Streams
Quebec administers its own immigration system, separate from the federal Start-up Visa Program, and its investor and entrepreneur streams are not affected by the federal closure described above. Quebec sets its own eligibility criteria and investment thresholds, which should be confirmed directly with Quebec’s immigration ministry rather than assumed to mirror the now-closed federal program’s historical figures.
Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Business Streams
Entrepreneurs with strong skilled work experience may still qualify for permanent residence through Express Entry, and several provinces run entrepreneur or business streams under the Provincial Nominee Program, independent of the federal Start-up Visa Program. For a fuller comparison of routes to permanent residence, see our guide to the different ways to get permanent residency in Canada, or our complete guide to the types of Canadian visa for an overview of every current category.
Historical Eligibility Criteria (For Reference)
The following reflects how the Canadian Start-Up Visa worked before the program closed to new applicants. It’s kept here for reference — for entrepreneurs already in the pipeline, researchers, or in case the program reopens in a future form — and should not be read as a currently available application pathway.
Eligibility centred on four requirements: a qualifying business (up to 5 owners, with the applicant holding at least 10% of voting rights and the applicant plus the designated organization holding at least 50%); a letter of support from a designated venture capital fund (historically requiring a CAN$200,000 investment), angel investor group (CAN$75,000), or business incubator (acceptance into its program); proof of language ability in English or French; and proof of settlement funds sized to family size. Applicants also needed a range of supporting documents, including police and medical clearance, and processing historically took up to 18 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Canadian Start-Up Visa still open in 2026?
No. As of this writing, the Canadian Start-Up Visa is closed to new applicants. The only path in required a valid 2025 commitment certificate and an application submitted by June 30, 2026, and both of those windows have passed.
What happens to my application if I already hold a 2025 commitment certificate?
If you obtained a valid 2025 commitment certificate and submitted your application before the June 30, 2026 deadline, your application should continue processing normally. Check your status through your IRCC account for the most current information.
Can I still get a work permit while my Start-Up Visa PR application is processing?
If you already have a work permit issued under the Start-up Visa Program, you may be able to extend it while your permanent residence application is processed. New applications for this work-permit stream have not been accepted since December 19, 2025.
What are the alternatives to the Canadian Start-Up Visa for entrepreneurs?
Options include Quebec’s separate investor and entrepreneur streams, Express Entry for entrepreneurs with qualifying skilled work experience, and Provincial Nominee Program business or entrepreneur streams offered by individual provinces.
Does Quebec have its own start-up or investor visa?
Yes. Quebec runs its own investor and entrepreneur immigration streams independently of the federal government. These are not affected by the federal Start-up Visa Program’s closure, though Quebec sets its own eligibility criteria and thresholds.
The Bottom Line
The Canadian Start-Up Visa’s federal application window has closed, and the practical takeaway for most entrepreneurs researching the Canadian Start-Up Visa in 2026 is that it is not currently an option to newly apply to. Quebec’s own streams, Express Entry and Provincial Nominee business pathways remain active alternatives worth evaluating directly against your own circumstances.
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