Canada suspends Start Up Visa, plans new 2026 pathway
Canada has stopped taking new applications for its federal Start Up Visa program and says it will launch a new, more targeted entrepreneur pathway in 2026. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada confirmed that intake under the scheme will close at 11.59 p.m. on December 31, 2025, after years of mounting backlogs and long processing times. IRCC already halted applications for the optional Start Up Visa work permit on December 19, ending the route that allowed many founders to move to Canada while they waited for permanent residence decisions. Only entrepreneurs already in Canada on a valid SUV related permit can still apply for extensions. Officials say the pause will help clear existing cases and prepare for a new pilot program for immigrant entrepreneurs that is expected to start in 2026. The government says the replacement will focus on quality over […]