Start-Up Visa Canada: Paused in 2026

Licensed RCIC guidance on the Start-Up Visa in 2026: the program is paused and not accepting new permanent residence applications, while IRCC continues processing applications accepted before June 30, 2026.

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: September 7, 2026.

The Start-Up Visa Program is paused and IRCC is not currently accepting new permanent residence applications. Applicants with a valid 2025 commitment certificate had until June 30, 2026 to apply, and IRCC continues processing applications it accepted before that date. This page explains the current post-deadline position, options for people with a pending SUV application or existing SUV work permit, and how new entrepreneurs can assess other pathways.

Status: The Start-Up Visa Program was paused on June 30, 2026 and IRCC is not currently accepting new permanent residence applications. IRCC continues processing applications it accepted before that date. New optional Start-Up Visa open work permit applications are closed; existing SUV work permit holders may be able to extend while their permanent residence application is processed. IRCC has announced a future targeted entrepreneur pilot, but the official sources checked for this review do not establish a currently open replacement intake. The Self-Employed Persons Program also remains paused.

1. Current status of the Start-Up Visa

The Start-Up Visa is a federal permanent residence program for entrepreneurs supported by a designated Canadian organization, but IRCC is not currently accepting new permanent residence applications. Applicants with a valid 2025 commitment certificate had to apply by June 30, 2026. IRCC continues processing applications it accepted before that date, and designated organizations stopped submitting new commitment certificates after December 31, 2025. IRCC’s own Start-up Visa page still shows the status Paused and says the program is closed to all other applications (canada.ca, page modified 21 July 2026, checked 7 September 2026). For current official guidance, see IRCC Start-Up Visa status and IRCC SUV work permit status.

2. If you applied by June 30, 2026

If IRCC accepted your Start-Up Visa permanent residence application before June 30, 2026, it continues to be processed under the paused program. Follow the requests and deadlines in your IRCC correspondence and keep your application information current. If you already hold a Start-Up Visa work permit, current IRCC instructions say you may be able to extend it while your permanent residence application is being processed, subject to the extension criteria.

3. If you did not apply by June 30, 2026

If you did not submit a Start-Up Visa permanent residence application by June 30, 2026, you cannot make a new application under the paused program at this time. IRCC previously announced a future targeted entrepreneur pilot, but the official sources checked for this review do not establish a currently open replacement intake. New entrepreneurs should assess only routes that are currently open and applicable to their facts; availability of provincial entrepreneur pathways varies by province and can change. Our business immigration overview sets out the Canadian routes we assess for entrepreneurs and investors.

4. How MAK helps

MAK works with licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants and a CPA. We can review a pending Start-Up Visa file, current SUV work-permit extension questions, or a new entrepreneur’s profile against business-immigration routes that are actually open and relevant. We do not treat C11, a provincial entrepreneur pathway, or any future federal pilot as a guaranteed or like-for-like replacement for the Start-Up Visa.

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: IRCC paused the Start-Up Visa Program on June 30, 2026 and is not currently accepting new permanent residence applications. Applications accepted before that date continue to be processed. There is no currently confirmed like-for-like replacement intake on the official sources checked for this review.

If you submitted your Start-Up Visa permanent residence application by the June 30, 2026 deadline, IRCC continues processing applications it accepted before that date. An unused 2025 commitment certificate does not create a new filing window after the deadline.

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). Some provinces and territories operate entrepreneur or business immigration pathways, but availability, intake and requirements vary and can change. Where a province operates an entrepreneur stream, the process may be staged and may include business performance requirements before a nomination decision. A nomination supports a separate federal PR application; it is not PR by itself. Depending on the province and stream, requirements may include net worth, investment, business ownership or performance conditions, so it is worth understanding source of funds for business immigration early. A provincial entrepreneur pathway can be relevant for some business owners, but it is not a direct or universally available replacement for the Start-Up Visa. 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 announced plans for a future targeted entrepreneur pilot, but the official sources checked for this review do not establish a currently open intake or eligibility criteria. See the official IRCC notice.

The practical next step depends on your facts and objective. C11 is a temporary work-permit category, while provincial entrepreneur pathways have separate provincial requirements and are not universally open. Neither is a guaranteed or direct replacement for the Start-Up Visa. A licensed RCIC can assess which currently available route, if any, fits your situation.

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