As of 1 January 2026, the start-up visa has been discontinued following a recent decision of the Canadian government. In recent monts, waiting times had achieved as much as 10 years. The government intends to introduce a new visa for foreign entrepreneurs who wish to settle in Canada.
The SUV programme for start-ups
The SUV was a special visa programme for foreign entrepreneurs intending to establish themselves in Canada. “SUV” stands for “Start-up Visa”. This programme gave applicants the opportunity to obtain a Canadian permanent residence permit.
One important criteria was that the business project was innovative and created jobs in Canada. Also, it had to be competitive at an international level. The SUV programme was intended for all Canadian provinces except Québec. Applicants needed the support of a venture capital fund or a start-up centre for new entrepreneurs.
Reasons for the discontinuation of the SUV programme
In October 2025, the waiting times for the processing of new applications had reached as much as 10 years. Some applications had even an estimated waiting time of 35 years. The total number of applicants on the waiting list went up to 43,200. Due to the long waiting times, the performance of the programme could no longer be guaranteed. Applicants cannot wait decades for a decision regarding their visa application. Also, by that time, their business plans may already be outdated. For this reason, the Canadian government decided to discontinue the programme.
What can expect young entrepreneurs for the future in Canada?
The government intends now to focus on entrepreneurs who live already in Canada and want to extend their residence permits. Young entrepreneurs who have already started an application and have just found an investor willing to support their project will have until 30 June 2026 to apply for a permanent residence permit. However, it is not possible to sumbit new applications.
Isabelle Dubois, a spokesperson for the Canadian Immigration Service (IRCC), stated that a new programme will be developed in the coming months. It is expected to be launched in 2026. According to Dubois, the new program will have clear requirements, and will be much smaller than the SUV programme.
Due to the long waiting times, doubts have recently been raised about Canada's attractiveness to young entrepreneurs and start-ups.
Short waiting times for the eTA for tourism, business trips or transfers
If you want to travel to Canada for a holiday, business trip or transfer, it is best to apply for an eTA Canada. The eTA Canada is a digital travel authorisation for which most British and European travellers are eligible. At e-Visa.co.uk you will be able to use an application form with useful explanations for each field. Once your application submitted, your eTA will usually be approved within 3 days days. If you submit an urgent application, it will be approved within 45 minutes on average. The eTA has a validity of 5 years and allows you to enter Canada an unlimited number of times. Each stay may last up to 6 consecutive months. Find out more about the requirements and the validity.