How to Immigrate to Canada in the Start-Up Business Class
Canada’s Start-Up Visa (SUV) Program targets immigrant entrepreneurs with the skills and potential to build businesses in Canada that:
Are innovative
Can create jobs for Canadians
Can compete on a global scale
To apply for the SUV program, your business idea or venture must get support from a
Venture capital fund: Minimum investment of $200,000 CAD
An angel investor group: Minimum investment of $75,000 CAD
A business incubator: No financial investment required, but the immigrant must be accepted into the business incubator program.
Many of our clients work with local business incubator, the Spark Centre. The Spark Centre serves technology and innovation entrepreneurs.
Requirements for the Canada Entrepreneur Start-Up Visa Program
To apply for the SUV program, you must meet the following requirements:
Prove your business is supported by a Designated Organization. You must have a Letter of Support from a Designated Organization.
You must show that your business meets the ownership requirements. ✓ Each applicant must hold 10% or more of the voting rights in the business. ✓ Up to 5 people can apply for the SUV Program as owners of a single business. ✓ The Designated Organization and applicants must jointly hold more than 50 percent of the voting rights in the business
Meet the language requirements. You must take a language test from an approved agency and include the results with your application.
Bring enough money to settle. When you apply, you’ll need to give proof that you have the money to support yourself and your dependents after you arrive in Canada. The amount you need depends on the size of your family. ✓ Find out how much it costs to live where you’re planning to settle in Canada.
How to Apply to the Start-Up Visa Program?
You must prepare and submit a paper-based application to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada.
Gather all required documents. ✓ Travel documents and passport ✓ Proof of language proficiency ✓ Letter of support ✓ Identity documents ✓ Children’s documents (if applicable) ✓ Police certificates ✓ Photos
Complete the application forms. You must complete several documents such as a Document Checklist, a Generic Application Form, and the SUV Program form.
Pay the fees. You must pay all fees with your application to ensure it is processed in a timely manner. Some fees include: ✓ Application processing fee $1050 CAD ✓ Right of permanent residence fee $490 CAD ✓ Biometrics fee $85 CAD
Mail the application. You must mail a physical copy of your completed forms and documents to IRCC’s SUV Class office.
Applications are typically processed within 12 to 16 months. However, applicants can apply for a temporary work permit, which allows them to work in Canada prior to the approval of their permanent residence application.
Once an application is approved, the principal applicant and all accompanying family members will receive Canadian permanent resident status.
Our Services
Calver and Associates is a leading provider of Canadian Immigration services in Durham Region. We serve clients in Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax, and beyond. Our Registered Canadian Immigration Consultant has over 10 years of experience in Canadian Immigration law and over four years of experience serving those in the Oshawa area.
We can provide assistance with applications for both temporary and permanent residency in Canada. We handle applications for study permits, permanent residency, family class sponsorship, visitor visas, work permits, and Canadian citizenship. We also handle criminal inadmissibility cases by developing remedies for refusal.
