Startup Visa Program Timeline

[nanoxide]

Hi @nanoxide ,
That's a very helpful shared information of you! Many thanks!
It makes us to understand and to explore why most of the SUV application files have been likely blocked and not moving forward at all from Jan 2025 so far.
Let make a calcaultation for the data from Jan-April 2025:
1) Angel =>Approval rate = 15%
2) Business In. =>Approval rate = 27%
3) Venture C. =>Approval rate = 85%
=> The average approval rate of the 1st half 2025= 42%.
With the total of processed applications were only = 265 Applications
=> 265 x 42% = 112 (Approved Applications) !
Basing on the target of 2025 is around 2000 applications for SUV.
I don't know what will happen next and wonder why the processing speed is too slow!
Furthermore, I am so confused the calculating unit here e.g whether the posted number 265 & 2000 applications is only for PAs or for the whole number of dependents?
Wish IRCC will speed up to process for our SUV application and do hope we all will have a good news or udpated soonest
Cheers
Hali

If you look at the data, for 2025 the approvals are just 60 across Angel (20), Business In (30) and Venture Cap (10). So far approved applications are 60 and refused are 200.

 

[Aleem123]

I got access to this document from my incubator slack channel and thought of sharing it here for everyone to look at SUV approval and refusal data - https://meurrensonimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/SUV-Stats.pdf

This is a gold mine of information which we could not have got anywhere, thank you

 

[Aleem123]

That's a very helpful shared information of you! Many thanks!
It makes us to understand and to explore why most of the SUV application files have been likely blocked and not moving forward at all from Jan 2025 so far.
Let make a calcaultation for the data from Jan-April 2025:
1) Angel =>Approval rate = 15%
2) Business In. =>Approval rate = 27%
3) Venture C. =>Approval rate = 85%
=> The average approval rate of the 1st half 2025= 42%.
With the total of processed applications were only = 265 Applications
=> 265 x 42% = 112 (Approved Applications) !
Basing on the target of 2025 is around 2000 applications for SUV.
I don't know what will happen next and wonder why the processing speed is too slow!
Furthermore, I am so confused the calculating unit here e.g whether the posted number 265 & 2000 applications is only for PAs or for the whole number of dependents?
Wish IRCC will speed up to process for our SUV application and do hope we all will have a good news or udpated soonest

Thanks for sharing this — it’s very useful in understanding the current slowdown.

By the way, can you see what the approval rate is for CIAI (your Angel)?

Also, just to confirm — when IRCC reports “number of applications,” it refers to Principal Applicants only, not the total including dependants.

Looking at your data, it also seems clear that, going forward, there may be more rejections than approvals. Plus, with the restrictions on the number of applications each Designated Organisation can submit per year, the overall processing speed could improve in the future.

 

[Hali-2025]

Thanks for sharing this — it’s very useful in understanding the current slowdown.

By the way, can you see what the approval rate is for CIAI (your Angel)?

Also, just to confirm — when IRCC reports “number of applications,” it refers to Principal Applicants only, not the total including dependants.

Looking at your data, it also seems clear that, going forward, there may be more rejections than approvals. Plus, with the restrictions on the number of applications each Designated Organisation can submit per year, the overall processing speed could improve in the future.

Thank you mate
Cheers
Hali

 

[kenkenk]

This is a gold mine of information which we could not have got anywhere, thank you

This information is excellent, thank you.
In the form, the field "PR App Decision Process Date - Year" refers to the year when the PR decision was made, right? If the decision was made in 2025, is it usually referring to PR approvals for PR applications (SUV) submitted in 2022 or 2023?
Given such a large difference in IRCC approval rates over time, this should be an issue related to policy management, correct?

 

[VSPATEL635]

Greetings of the day!

I have applied for SUV - PR back in March, 2023. After my PR application immediately we applied for a work permit to support our business but unfortunately it was rejected in June / July 2024.

In October 2024 a new rule of OWP for 3 years was announced which is great news but our IELTS is expired by the time. Can we apply for OWP with the same expired IELTS which was submitted with our PR application or do we need to again go for IELTS for OWP application?

 

[Hali-2025]

Greetings of the day!

I have applied for SUV - PR back in March, 2023. After my PR application immediately we applied for a work permit to support our business but unfortunately it was rejected in June / July 2024.

In October 2024 a new rule of OWP for 3 years was announced which is great news but our IELTS is expired by the time. Can we apply for OWP with the same expired IELTS which was submitted with our PR application or do we need to again go for IELTS for OWP application?

Hi,
I am not an immigration lawyer but If I were you I would have renewed the IELTs then re-apply the WP again.
Cheers & Good lucks
Hali

 

[JDI]

Greetings of the day!

I have applied for SUV - PR back in March, 2023. After my PR application immediately we applied for a work permit to support our business but unfortunately it was rejected in June / July 2024.

In October 2024 a new rule of OWP for 3 years was announced which is great news but our IELTS is expired by the time. Can we apply for OWP with the same expired IELTS which was submitted with our PR application or do we need to again go for IELTS for OWP application?

Hi,

i recommend you to discuss it with an immigration lawyer and kindly provide feedback to forum here for others to know the right path with this issue.

cheers

 

[Aleem123]

Greetings of the day!

I have applied for SUV - PR back in March, 2023. After my PR application immediately we applied for a work permit to support our business but unfortunately it was rejected in June / July 2024.

In October 2024 a new rule of OWP for 3 years was announced which is great news but our IELTS is expired by the time. Can we apply for OWP with the same expired IELTS which was submitted with our PR application or do we need to again go for IELTS for OWP application?Yes, you must retake IELTS if it’s expired by the time you apply for an Open Work Permit (OWP)—IRCC will not accept expired language test results.

Yes, you must retake IELTS if it’s expired by the time you apply for an Open Work Permit (OWP)—IRCC will not accept expired language test

 

[JDI]

Yes, you must retake IELTS if it’s expired by the time you apply for an Open Work Permit (OWP)—IRCC will not accept expired language test

Hi Aleem,
is there any GOVT. reference for that
cheers

 

[Aleem123]

Hi Aleem,
is there any GOVT. reference for that
cheers

I read some where that If your OWP is tied to another application that does require language proof (e.g., PR under Express Entry or SUV), you’ll need valid results for that application — but not for the OWP itself.

Since we are talking about WP tied to SUV, in most probability it is required

As suggested by a member, better to check with an immigration lawyer

 

[Fiat@fifo]

Hi @nanoxide ,
That's a very helpful shared information of you! Many thanks!
It makes us to understand and to explore why most of the SUV application files have been likely blocked and not moving forward at all from Jan 2025 so far.
Let make a calcaultation for the data from Jan-April 2025:
1) Angel =>Approval rate = 15%
2) Business In. =>Approval rate = 27%
3) Venture C. =>Approval rate = 85%
=> The average approval rate of the 1st half 2025= 42%.
With the total of processed applications were only = 265 Applications
=> 265 x 42% = 112 (Approved Applications) !
Basing on the target of 2025 is around 2000 applications for SUV.
I don't know what will happen next and wonder why the processing speed is too slow!
Furthermore, I am so confused the calculating unit here e.g whether the posted number 265 & 2000 applications is only for PAs or for the whole number of dependents?
Wish IRCC will speed up to process for our SUV application and do hope we all will have a good news or udpated soonest
Cheers
Hali

Hi

Do you know why this drop in approval percentage in 2025, should we worried.

 

[Aces]

Hi

Do you know why this drop in approval percentage in 2025, should we worried.

It’s the same reason IRCC set a quota on SUV applications each year.

If your startup isn’t generating revenue and is one of those “5 co-founder” setups, it could be a warning sign.

 

[Fiat@fifo]

It’s the same reason IRCC set a quota on SUV applications each year.

If your startup isn’t generating revenue and is one of those “5 co-founder” setups, it could be a warning sign.

yes , agree . but I think the refusal before PAL ( on eligibility stage ) .

 

[VTMan]

Not confirmed, but can say the refusal can be at stage when IRCC check all submitted documents.The check of fake or expired Letter of Support and say other related documents. And, at stage of Medical and security checks...