Licensed & Regulated
Regulated by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC)
Build an innovative business in Canada and earn permanent residence — backed by a designated Canadian venture capital fund, angel investor group, or business incubator. We guide founders from concept to landing.
Canada's Start-Up Visa (SUV) Program is a federal permanent residence pathway designed for innovative entrepreneurs who can build businesses that are competitive on a global scale and create jobs for Canadians. Unlike most immigration programs, SUV grants permanent residence directly — not via a temporary work permit stage.
To qualify, applicants must obtain a Letter of Support from a IRCC-designated organization: a venture capital fund (minimum investment of $200,000), an angel investor group (minimum $75,000), or a business incubator (no minimum investment, but highly competitive acceptance). Each founder must also meet a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 in English or French across all four language abilities (speaking, listening, reading, writing). Up to 5 founders can apply together under one business. Alfalah works with entrepreneurs and their advisors to assess program fit, develop the business case, and navigate both the designated organization engagement and the IRCC application.
A Letter of Support from a IRCC-designated venture capital fund, angel investor group, or business incubator is mandatory. The designated organization assesses the business idea independently — Alfalah helps founders understand what each type of organization looks for and how to approach them.
Each founder must achieve a minimum CLB 5 in all four language abilities in English (IELTS, CELPIP) or French (TEF Canada, TCF Canada). Language testing should be planned early as processing can take several weeks.
Each founder must hold a minimum 10% voting rights in the corporation, and together all founders must hold more than 50% of the voting rights. The business must be incorporated in Canada and the founders must plan to actively manage it from Canada.
We review your business concept, ownership structure, language scores, and background to confirm SUV eligibility and determine whether a VC fund, angel group, or incubator is the best fit for your venture.
We help you understand the criteria each designated organization applies, prepare your pitch materials, and navigate the engagement process to maximize your chances of receiving a Letter of Support.
Once the designated organization has agreed to support your venture, we work with them and your legal counsel to ensure the Letter of Support and any commitment agreement meet IRCC's requirements.
We prepare the complete permanent residence application — all IRCC forms, language test results, identity and civil documents, Letter of Support, business documentation, and a well-structured submission package.
While the PR application is processing, we can apply for a bridging work permit so founders can begin operating in Canada. We then prepare the founding team for medical exams, biometrics, and their final PR landing.
Licensed & Regulated
Regulated by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC)
Book a free 15-minute consultation with a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant — we review your situation, clarify your options, and give you a clear path forward.
Up to 5 applicants may jointly apply under the same qualifying business. A temporary work permit may be available while PR is processed.
Understanding why applications are refused helps you avoid the same pitfalls. Our consultants review every detail before submission to minimize your risk.
Applications must include a letter of support from a designated organization — a venture capital fund, angel investor group, or business incubator. Without one, the application cannot proceed.
IRCC assesses whether the venture has genuine potential to be innovative, create jobs for Canadians, and compete globally — vague or unsubstantiated plans are refused.
All founders must meet CLB 5 minimum in all four language abilities — this requirement is frequently overlooked and is a common disqualification reason.
The equity or investment amount committed by the designated organization must meet IRCC's minimum thresholds — a shortfall results in refusal.
Each founder must hold at least 10% of voting rights and play an active management role — passive investors or silent partners are ineligible.
Plans without market validation, financial projections, or a clear competitive advantage are assessed as insufficiently credible to qualify.
⚠ A Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant reviews every file before submission to identify and address potential refusal grounds. Book a free consultation to have your specific situation assessed.
The Start-Up Visa Program is a federal immigration pathway for innovative entrepreneurs providing a direct route to Canadian permanent residency by requiring applicants to secure support from a designated Canadian organization.
Yes. The Start-Up Visa Program is a direct pathway to Canadian permanent residency for eligible entrepreneurs and their qualifying family members.
There is no mandatory minimum personal investment requirement. However, applicants must show sufficient settlement funds and must secure a Letter of Support from a designated organization.
A designated organization is a Canadian venture capital fund, angel investor group, or business incubator approved by the Government of Canada to support Start-Up Visa applicants.
Applicants must demonstrate a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark 5 in English or French through an approved language test such as IELTS, CELPIP, or TEF.
Yes. Eligible applicants may include their spouse and dependent children in the permanent residence application.
In many cases, Start-Up Visa applicants may qualify for a temporary work permit to begin operating their business in Canada while the permanent residence application is in progress.
Disclaimer: Immigration requirements, processing times, fees, and eligibility criteria are subject to change without notice based on policies set by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). All applications are assessed individually by IRCC. Professional immigration assistance does not guarantee the approval of any application. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Regulatory Notice: Alfalah Immigration Services is regulated by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC). In Canada, only Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) and licensed lawyers are authorized to provide paid immigration advice. You may verify any consultant's registration at college-ic.ca.
The information on this page is provided for general guidance only and does not constitute legal immigration advice. For advice specific to your individual circumstances, please consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant.
Alfalah Immigration Services is based in the Greater Toronto Area, Ontario and proudly assists clients across Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Markham, Richmond Hill, Oakville, Vaughan, Hamilton, Ottawa, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, and communities throughout all provinces of Canada.
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