Start-Up Visa Canada: Paused in 2026

Licensed RCIC guidance on the Start-Up Visa in 2026: paused, who can still apply, the June 30, 2026 deadline, and the realistic alternatives.

Written and reviewed by Usman Khalil, RCIC (R709592), a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant and member of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC). Last reviewed: June 2026.

As of January 1, 2026, the Start-Up Visa Program is paused. It is closed to all applications except applicants with a valid 2025 commitment certificate who apply by June 30, 2026. This page explains what that means, what to do if you hold a commitment, and the realistic alternatives if you do not.

Status: As of January 1, 2026, the Start-Up Visa Program is paused. It is closed to all applications except applicants with a valid 2025 commitment certificate who apply by June 30, 2026. The optional Start-Up Visa work permit is also closed to new applicants. A new federal entrepreneur pilot has been signalled but is not open. The Self-Employed Persons Program is also paused, so it should not be treated as a simple replacement.

1. Current status of the Start-Up Visa

The Start-Up Visa is a federal permanent residence program for entrepreneurs with a scalable business backed by a designated Canadian organization, but in 2026 it is not a program you can simply apply to. The only applications still being accepted are from people who already secured a valid 2025 commitment certificate from a designated venture capital fund, angel investor group or business incubator, and even those applications must be submitted by June 30, 2026. After that, this route is not open. We explain this plainly because several sources still describe the Start-Up Visa as if it were accepting new applicants, and acting on that out of date information wastes time and money.

2. If you hold a valid 2025 commitment

If you hold a valid 2025 commitment, the priorities are straightforward. Confirm that your commitment is genuinely valid, make sure your complete application is submitted before the June 30, 2026 deadline, and ensure the supporting elements, including language ability at the required level and settlement funds, are in order. A commitment from a designated organization is a strong asset, but it is not a guarantee of permanent residence. The federal government conducts its own assessment and can review the commitment independently.

3. If you do not hold a 2025 commitment

If you do not hold a 2025 commitment, the honest position is that the Start-Up Visa is not currently a route for you. A new federal entrepreneur pilot has been signalled for 2026, but it is not open and no one should plan around it as though it were available. The realistic alternatives today are the provincial entrepreneur streams, where status varies by province, and for some founders the skilled worker routes through Express Entry. The right move is an assessment of which active route, if any, fits your profile now.

4. How MAK helps

MAK works with licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants and a CPA. If you hold a 2025 commitment, we help you confirm validity and submit before the deadline. If you do not, we assess which active route fits your profile, including provincial entrepreneur streams and Express Entry, so you are not waiting on a program that has not launched.

Business-owner work permit options

Looking at business-owner work permit options? The C11 business owner work permit is not the Start-Up Visa and is not permanent residence. It may be relevant for some business owners seeking temporary entry to operate a business in Canada.

What to do now that the Start-Up Visa is closed to new applicants (2026)

Quick answer: as of the end of 2025, IRCC stopped accepting new Start-Up Visa applications except from people who already hold a valid 2025 commitment from a designated organization. There is no direct, like-for-like replacement, but if your goal is to operate in Canada now, look at the C11 work permit, and if your goal is permanent residence, look at a provincial entrepreneur stream.

If your Start-Up Visa plan is blocked, here is the accurate picture and your realistic options. If you already hold a valid 2025 commitment certificate, the Start-Up Visa route may still be open to you, so confirm your status before assuming it is closed.

The C11 work permit (temporary, not PR). The federal C11 lets an eligible business owner come to Canada and run their own business temporarily, without an LMIA. It can let you start building now, but it is not permanent residence, it requires genuine temporary intent, and time self-employed on a C11 does not count toward the Canadian Experience Class. It is a different tool, not a Start-Up Visa substitute. See our C11 Work Permit Guide, and if you are weighing it against a provincial route, our comparison of C11 vs PNP Entrepreneur.

Provincial entrepreneur streams (staged provincial routes toward PR). Most provinces and territories run their own entrepreneur or business immigration streams. These are staged: you apply to the province, build and operate a business there, often on a temporary work permit, meet a performance agreement, and if you satisfy the province’s requirements, it may nominate you. A nomination supports a separate federal PR application; it is not PR by itself. These streams have their own net-worth and investment requirements that vary by province, so it is worth understanding the source of funds for business immigration early. For many people whose Start-Up Visa plan is blocked and whose real goal is permanent residence, a provincial entrepreneur stream is the closest in purpose, even though the process is very different. See Provincial Business Streams.

A note on the federal Self-Employed Persons Program. The pause on this federal program has been extended until further notice, so do not assume it is open. IRCC has also said a new targeted entrepreneur pilot will be announced in 2026; its details are not yet known, so we do not speculate on eligibility. See the official IRCC notice.

The honest summary: if your goal is to operate now, the C11 may fit. If your goal is permanent residence, a provincial entrepreneur stream is usually the more relevant direction. Neither is a guaranteed path, and neither is a direct replacement for the Start-Up Visa. A licensed RCIC can help you work out which, if any, fits your situation.

Frequently Asked Questions