Canada pauses the Start-Up Visa: Key deadlines and what’s next in 2026

Canada’s Start-Up Visa program is paused for new applications. On December 19, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced major changes to business immigration programs, effectively shutting the Start-Up Visa (SUV) to most new applicants.

Key timeline

• December 19, 2025: IRCC stops accepting new SUV work permit applications (except in-Canada extensions).
• December 31, 2025 (11:59 PM): IRCC stops accepting new SUV PR applications and stops accepting new commitment certificates from designated organisations.
• January 1, 2026: Start-Up Visa is officially paused.
• June 30, 2026: final deadline only for people with a valid 2025 commitment certificate.

The pause addresses a massive backlog. IRCC-linked reporting in late 2025 showed over 43,000 people waiting in this category, and some applicants faced extremely long waits.

Quick explainer: A commitment certificate is an official document that a designated organisation (like an approved incubator, angel group, or venture capital fund) sends directly to IRCC to confirm it is supporting your start-up application. You, the applicant, usually receive a letter of support, while IRCC receives the commitment certificate as the formal proof behind your Start-Up Visa file.

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Who can still apply for a Start-Up Visa

If you don’t have a 2025 commitment certificate

You cannot apply through the Start-Up Visa during the pause. IRCC will not accept commitment certificates dated after December 31, 2025. There is no path for new applicants via SUV until a replacement program is launched.

Scam warning: Only trust Start-Up Visa updates from Canada.ca (IRCC) and verified designated organisations—ignore anyone promising “guaranteed” letters of support or asking for money to fast-track your application.

If you DO have a valid 2025 commitment certificate

You still have a window. You must submit your permanent residence application by June 30, 2026. Your commitment certificate must be from a designated organisation and issued in 2025. IRCC will accept these applications even though the program is paused.

After June 30, 2026, the exception closes. IRCC will not accept SUV applications under the current framework, regardless of when your commitment certificate was issued.

Work permits during the pause

As of December 19, 2025, IRCC no longer accepts new applications for the optional SUV work permit. The only exception: individuals already in Canada applying to extend an existing SUV-specific work permit while their permanent residence application remains in process.

This means:

• New work permit applications: Closed
• Extensions for people already in Canada on SUV work permit: Allowed
• Priority processing: IRCC will prioritise permanent residence applications for applicants already in Canada on SUV-specific work permits, subject to 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan capacity

The build-up: Caps and backlog measures

The pause didn’t come out of nowhere. In April 2024, IRCC imposed a cap: each designated organisation could support only 10 complete group applications per calendar year. With dozens of designated organisations, the cap limited how many complete group applications each organisation could support per year.

Despite the cap, backlogs continued growing. Processing times stood at 37 months when the cap was introduced, then deteriorated to over 10 years just six months later. The measure failed to meaningfully reduce inventory or speed processing.

What are designated organisations?

These are IRCC-approved entities that provide support or investment to start-ups under the SUV program. Without one, you cannot apply.

Types of designated organisations include:

• Venture capital funds: Minimum $200,000 investment required
• Angel investor groups: Minimum $75,000 investment required
• Business incubators: No minimum investment, but acceptance into incubation/acceleration program is required

Designated organisations issue commitment certificates and letters of support that form the basis of SUV applications. Without their backing, you cannot apply.

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Will there be a replacement in 2026?

What IRCC has said

IRCC announced plans for “a new, targeted pilot program for immigrant entrepreneurs” to launch in 2026. However, the department has not released detailed eligibility requirements, processing capacity, application procedures, or timeline.

Industry sources indicate the new pilot may feature:

• 12-month service standards (dramatically faster than current processing)
• Sector-specific quotas tied to clean-tech, AI, and life sciences clusters
• Milestone-based work-permit extensions
• Fewer designated organisations with tighter selection criteria
• Higher verified investment requirements
• Third-party due diligence audits

Important: These details are not confirmed. Until IRCC publishes the official program design, treat predictions as speculation. The government has provided no specific launch date, only “2026.”

What founders can do instead

While the SUV is paused, several alternative pathways exist. These are commonly discussed routes, but eligibility varies significantly by province, industry, and individual circumstances.

Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) entrepreneur streams: Multiple provinces offer entrepreneur immigration programs with different criteria. Examples include Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) Entrepreneur Stream, British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) Entrepreneur Immigration, and others. Each has distinct investment thresholds, net worth requirements, and sector focuses.

Work-permit-led pathways:

• Intra-company transfers: For founders with established businesses abroad, opening Canadian operations
• Global Talent Stream: For tech companies hiring specialised foreign workers
• CUSMA professional visas: For qualifying professionals under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement

Federal and regional pilots: Some provinces run sector-specific pilots or innovation programs. Quebec has its own entrepreneur programs separate from federal pathways.

Important caveat: These alternatives have completely different eligibility criteria, timelines, and investment requirements. What works for one founder may not suit another. Professional immigration advice is essential to evaluate which route matches your situation.

If you’re mid-process: What to do now

If you’re caught in the transition, take these steps immediately:

1. Confirm your commitment certificate year

Check the issue date on your commitment certificate. If issued in 2025, you can apply through June 30, 2026. If issued in 2024 or earlier, you needed to apply before December 31, 2025.

2. Track document deadlines

Set calendar reminders for June 30, 2026, if you have a 2025 certificate. Don’t wait until the last minute. Gather documents now.

3. Preserve business and incubator documentation

Keep all correspondence with designated organisations, investment agreements, business plans, and progress reports. If transitioning to alternative pathways, this documentation supports your entrepreneurial track record.

4. Get professional advice if changing strategy

Immigration lawyers can assess your options: continuing with SUV application (if eligible), pivoting to PNP entrepreneur streams, pursuing work permits, or waiting for the 2026 pilot. Don’t navigate this alone. Stakes are too high.

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Is the Start-Up Visa cancelled or paused?

Paused. IRCC describes this as a “pause” to set the foundation for a new pilot program. However, the pause is indefinite. There’s no confirmed reopening date for the current SUV framework.

Can I still apply in 2026?

Only if you have a valid 2025 commitment certificate and apply by June 30, 2026. After that deadline, no applications will be accepted under the current program. The new pilot may open later in 2026, but details are not yet published.

What if my commitment certificate is from 2024?

You needed to apply for permanent residence by December 31, 2025, 11:59 PM. If you missed that deadline, you cannot apply under the current program. The 2024 certificate does not qualify you for the June 2026 extension.

What happens to people already in Canada?

If you’re already in Canada on an SUV work permit, you can apply for extensions while your permanent residence application is processed. IRCC will prioritise your application, subject to Immigration Levels Plan capacity.

If your permanent residence application was already submitted before December 31, 2025, it will continue to be processed under existing program rules.

When will the new pilot open?

IRCC has not announced a specific launch date, only “2026.” Watch the official IRCC website (canada.ca) for updates. Given typical government timelines, expect details in Q2 or Q3 2026 at the earliest.

Does the 10-application cap still matter?

Not for new applications, since the program is paused. However, if you applied in 2025 under the cap, your application proceeds. The cap was replaced by a complete pause, which is more restrictive.