No more Canadian start-up visas for foreign entrepreneurs. Canada has announced that it will stop accepting new start-up visa (SUV) commitment certificates from December 31, 2025, as well as new SUV work permit applications, effective December 19. IRCC will also extend the current pause on accepting applications to the Self-Employed Persons Program until further notice.
But, not all hope is lost as Canada will prepare to launch a new pilot by the end of 2026 that better targets entrepreneurs and manages the current inventory of business program applications.
New Deadline
The start-up visa window was open till June 30, 2026, and foreigners were allowed to apply with a valid 2025 commitment certificate. But, now effective December 31, 2025, at 11:59 p.m., IRCC will stop accepting new SUV Program applications, except for those from applicants who have a valid commitment from a designated organization that was made in 2025 but haven’t applied yet.
Work Permits
IRCC will no longer be accepting applications for the optional work permit available to Start-Up Visa (SUV) Program applicants, except for those already in Canada applying to extend their current SUV work permit.
If you have a work permit that’s about to expire or that you need to change, you must apply to extend it or change the conditions on it. You should apply to extend your work permit at least 30 days before your current permit expires.
Permanent Residence
In support of reducing Canada’s temporary resident population through transitions to permanent residence, IRCC is also prioritizing the permanent residence applications of those already in Canada with a SUV-specific work permit, as the Levels Plan targets allow. The existing criteria for prioritization also remain in place.
