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Canada Start-Up Visa Program Eligibility
Check Your Visa Eligibility Score in 60 Seconds
Free • Canada
1. Do you have a Letter of Support from a designated organisation?
2. Which designated organisation type are you targeting?
3. Language proficiency in English or French (CLB)?
4. Settlement funds available (per IRCC family-size table)?
Canada Start-Up Visa Program Overview
Canada Start-Up Visa Program is one of the most searched immigration pathways for people moving to Canada
This page gives you a fast, no-signup way to check where you stand before you spend money on application fees or agents. Our calculator mirrors the official rule set and then translates the answers into a clear, percentage-based eligibility score. You will see exactly which requirements you already meet, which ones need work, and what the realistic next step looks like.
If you want a deeper, AI-personalised plan covering documents, timeline, costs and alternative pathways, run the full assessment — it compares your profile against every visa we track for your destination and ranks the routes most likely to succeed for someone with your background.
Start-Up Visa Program Requirements
Letter of Support
Commitment Certificate + Letter of Support from a designated Canadian VC fund, angel investor group, or business incubator.
Investment thresholds
Designated VC fund: CAD $200,000 minimum. Designated angel group: CAD $75,000 minimum. Designated incubator: acceptance into the program (no minimum funding).
Qualifying business
Each applicant must hold ≥10% of voting rights; applicants + designated organisation must hold >50% combined. Active management must be in Canada and essential operations conducted in Canada.
Language (CLB 5)
CLB 5 in English or French across all four skills (IELTS General, CELPIP-G, TEF, TCF). No score combination below CLB 5 is accepted.
Settlement funds
IRCC settlement funds based on family size — CAD $14,690 (1 person), $27,297 (4 persons), 2026 figures. Not waivable.
Max 5 co-founders
Up to 5 essential people per business; if one is removed/refused, the application can fail for all unless designated org confirms remainder is essential.
Official Start-Up Visa Program Resources
Canada Start-Up Visa Program FAQs
Common mistakes to avoid
Paying an unlicensed “consultant” for a guaranteed Letter of Support — designated organisations are publicly listed by IRCC and any pay-for-support arrangement is grounds for refusal.
Bringing in non-essential co-founders just to share fees — IRCC scrutinises essentialness and the application can fail for everyone.
Misunderstanding ownership rules: each applicant needs ≥10% AND applicants + org must collectively hold >50%.
Submitting a language test below CLB 5 in one skill (e.g. writing) — there is no averaging.
Underestimating processing time — expect 3+ years; plan the business to operate from outside Canada until landing or via a work permit.
Improve your chances
- 1
Target a designated VC fund — VC-backed files now receive priority processing.
- 2
Get accepted into a top-tier national incubator (Communitech, MaRS, Highline Beta, Creative Destruction Lab) — strongest signal of essentialness.
- 3
Aim for CLB 7+ in language tests to strengthen settlement and admissibility narrative.
- 4
Apply for a bridging or LMIA-exempt work permit (C11 or intra-company transfer) to start operating in Canada while PR is processed.
- 5
Document essentialness for each co-founder with role specs, equity, and operational responsibility — protect the whole application.
Designated organisation investment thresholds
| Type | Minimum commitment |
|---|---|
| Designated VC fund | CAD $200,000 |
| Designated angel investor group | CAD $75,000 |
| Designated business incubator | Acceptance into program (no $ minimum) |
Fees (CAD, 2026)
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Principal applicant processing fee | $1,810 |
| Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) | $575 (total $2,385 with RPRF) |
| Spouse / partner | $950 + $575 RPRF |
| Dependent child | $260 |
| Biometrics (per person) | $85 (family max $170) |
Caps & timelines (2024–2026 changes)
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| SUV admissions cap 2026 | ~5,000 PR admissions |
| Per designated org cap | 10 supported applications per year (priority to VC-supported / national incubators) |
| Bridging open work permit | Available while PR is processed if business is established in Canada |
Step-by-step application process
- Self-assess eligibility. Use this calculator and review the official Canada Start-Up Visa Program Eligibility criteria before paying any fees. Confirm you meet every hard gate (age, language, health, character, qualifying offer or investment) — failing one gate cannot be offset by scoring well elsewhere.
- Gather and translate documents. Collect passport, civil documents, qualifications, language test, police clearances from every country lived in 12+ months since age 17, and proof of funds. Obtain certified translations and apostilles/attestations where the destination authority requires them.
- Submit the formal application. Lodge online through the official government portal listed on this page. Pay the correct government fee, complete biometrics at the designated centre, and upload supporting evidence in the exact format the authority specifies.
- Respond to requests for evidence. Caseworkers commonly request additional payslips, employer letters, or medicals. Respond inside the deadline given — most refusals come from missed deadlines, not weak profiles.
- Travel and activate status. On approval, collect your visa vignette or eVisa, enter the country before it expires, register your address where required, and collect any biometric residence permit/card. Keep digital and paper copies of every document.
Sources & references
Every figure on this page is sourced from official government or regulator publications. Cross-check before applying — rules change.
This calculator is editorial guidance, not legal advice. Immigration thresholds, points, salary floors and occupation lists change frequently — always verify your route against the official government source linked on this page before applying. For complex cases, consult a licensed immigration adviser regulated in the destination country.
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