- JANUARY 2026
The Start-Up Visa (SUV) Program officially CLOSED on December 31, 2025. IRCC is no
longer accepting new SUV applications except for those with valid 2025 commitment
certificates (deadline: June 30, 2026). The Self-Employed Persons Program also remains
suspended indefinitely. This makes the C11 Entrepreneur Work Permit the PRIMARY
federal entry mechanism for entrepreneur immigration to Canada.
If you're an entrepreneur dreaming of building a business in Canada, you've likely heard
about the Start-Up Visa program. For years, it was touted as the golden ticket for
innovative founders seeking permanent residence. But here's what most people don't
tell you: the SUV program had become increasingly problematic, with processing times
stretching beyond 10 years and approval rates plummeting.
Now, with IRCC's announcement that the SUV program has closed, entrepreneurs
worldwide are asking: "What are my options now?"
The answer has been hiding in plain sight: the C11 Entrepreneur Work Permit under
Canada's International Mobility Program (IMP). And after 25 years of helping over 5,000
families immigrate to Canada, I can tell you with confidence that even before the SUV
closure, the C11 was often the smarter choice for most entrepreneurs.