Startup Visa Program Timeline

[Fiat@fifo]

Thanks, Application was filled in July 2023, quickly received the Letter of support, the medical request in March 2024 (not dec 2023), and the PAL was issued in April 2024, in fact we also thought that our file is on some steroids and so we expected the COPR on or before Q4 2025 and planned everything accordingly, afterwards everything went upside down and we are still waiting for the result , only change was second medical request in February 2025 and the refusal of open work permit after more than a years wait.

Your expectation of receiving the COPR by Q4 2025 was actually reasonable based on the situation at that time. Your file was progressing normally and there was no indication that it would be delayed for this long.

The main obstacles now are not your application timeline or the progress of your file, but rather the current priority system and the limited quota allocated for the SUV program. Many applicants with completed steps are simply waiting in the queue until IRCC can process their files within the available numbers.

 

[shinobi]

Hi All,

I am curious to know if anyone recently received an OWP under SUV program. I was given a work permit by the immigration officer at the port of entry with a condition “Not authorized to work for any employer other than stated”, despite the fact that I specifically applied for an OWP before coming to Canada. I reapplied for the “Change of conditions” last year in November and still waiting for the condition to be removed by IRCC. Any feedback?

 

[kenkenk]

Thanks, Application was filled in July 2023, quickly received the Letter of support, the medical request in March 2024 (not dec 2023), and the PAL was issued in April 2024, in fact we also thought that our file is on some steroids and so we expected the COPR on or before Q4 2025 and planned everything accordingly, afterwards everything went upside down and we are still waiting for the result , only change was second medical request in February 2025 and the refusal of open work permit after more than a years wait.

I've seen some immigration consultants' analysis suggesting that processing priority SUV applications will take approximately 5 years, and they recommend that SUV applicants with priority projects consider waiting. I'm not sure whether the consultants' data and information are accurate, but I think waiting five years is still acceptable. After all, your project has already made significant progress. Many people haven't even received their AOR yet.

 

[Fiat@fifo]

I've seen some immigration consultants' analysis suggesting that processing priority SUV applications will take approximately 5 years, and they recommend that SUV applicants with priority projects consider waiting. I'm not sure whether the consultants' data and information are accurate, but I think waiting five years is still acceptable. After all, your project has already made significant progress. Many people haven't even received their AOR yet.

Given the current situation and the quota allocated to the Start-Up Visa (SUV) program, a five-year waiting period, or potentially less, may be credible for applicants in the first-priority tier. However, for applicants in the second and third tiers, such a timeline appears highly unlikely unless IRCC rethinks the allocation in a more practical and logical manner.

IRCC has established a combined annual admissions target ranging from approximately 250 to 1,000 applicants for the Self-Employed Persons Program and the Start-Up Visa. If we assume a 30% allocation for Self-Employed and 70% for SUV, this would translate roughly into 175 to 700 places annually for the SUV program, depending on the actual number selected within the range.

Based on this, applicants in Tiers 2 and 3 can look at the number of applicants ahead of them and use the annual SUV allocation to make a rough estimate of their potential waiting time.

Applicants can also check IRCC's processing-time information here:

IRCC – Check processing times

 

[Fiat@fifo]

Dear forum colleagues,

Yesterday, the Canadian government unveiled its Immigration Levels Plan for 2027–2029, revealing two significant developments for many of us in the Start-Up Visa (SUV) program.

First, the government announced a new, time-limited measure covering up to 200,000 people across two cohorts, building on the one-time initiative introduced in the previous federal budget.

The first cohort will include up to 100,000 workers in Canada who are awaiting decisions on their permanent residence applications under the following programs:

• Start-Up Visa Program
• Self-Employed Persons Program
• Agri-Food Pilot
• Home Care Worker programs

Second, and particularly important for us, the government has substantially increased the 2027 admission target for the Business category, which covers both the Start-Up Visa and Self-Employed Persons programs.

The target has increased from 500 to 1,500 admissions, while the minimum target has risen from 250 to 500, and the maximum target has increased from 1,000 to 5,000.

These two developments are particularly noteworthy for those of us waiting for our permanent residence applications to be processed. They deserve close attention as we assess what the new immigration plan could mean for the SUV backlog.

 

[Hali-2025]

Dear forum colleagues,

Yesterday, the Canadian government unveiled its Immigration Levels Plan for 2027–2029, revealing two significant developments for many of us in the Start-Up Visa (SUV) program.

First, the government announced a new, time-limited measure covering up to 200,000 people across two cohorts, building on the one-time initiative introduced in the previous federal budget.

The first cohort will include up to 100,000 workers in Canada who are awaiting decisions on their permanent residence applications under the following programs:

• Start-Up Visa Program
• Self-Employed Persons Program
• Agri-Food Pilot
• Home Care Worker programs

Second, and particularly important for us, the government has substantially increased the 2027 admission target for the Business category, which covers both the Start-Up Visa and Self-Employed Persons programs.

The target has increased from 500 to 1,500 admissions, while the minimum target has risen from 250 to 500, and the maximum target has increased from 1,000 to 5,000.

These two developments are particularly noteworthy for those of us waiting for our permanent residence applications to be processed. They deserve close attention as we assess what the new immigration plan could mean for the SUV backlog.

Thank you very much for your very helpful update
By the way, do you know any draft data in which we can estimate how many percent % of Start up Visa PR applications who are in tier 01 - 1st priority ? Because, I am in Tier 02.
Many thanks

 

[Fiat@fifo]

Thank you very much for your very helpful update
By the way, do you know any draft data in which we can estimate how many percent % of Start up Visa PR applications who are in tier 01 - 1st priority ? Because, I am in Tier 02.
Many thanks

I assume I understand the reason behind your question: you want to know whether the 100,000 places allocated across the group of immigration programs will be sufficient to cover inland SUV applicants.

Actually, I once conducted an extensive search to find out how many SUV applicants are currently inside Canada waiting for their PR decisions. However, I couldn't find any official or unofficial figures indicating the actual number.

Nevertheless, my hunch is that the portion of the 100,000 places allocated to the SUV program could be sufficient to cover all inland applicants.

If that turns out to be the case, Tier 2 applicants outside Canada could become a priority under next year's immigration plan. So, if you are in the queue and there are approximately 5,000 applicants ahead of you, you might reasonably anticipate receiving your COPR next year, given that the 2027 admission target is 1,500, with a minimum of 500 and a maximum of 5,000.

 

[Hali-2025]

I assume I understand the reason behind your question: you want to know whether the 100,000 places allocated across the group of immigration programs will be sufficient to cover inland SUV applicants.

Actually, I once conducted an extensive search to find out how many SUV applicants are currently inside Canada waiting for their PR decisions. However, I couldn't find any official or unofficial figures indicating the actual number.

Nevertheless, my hunch is that the portion of the 100,000 places allocated to the SUV program could be sufficient to cover all inland applicants.

If that turns out to be the case, Tier 2 applicants outside Canada could become a priority under next year's immigration plan. So, if you are in the queue and there are approximately 5,000 applicants ahead of you, you might reasonably anticipate receiving your COPR next year, given that the 2027 admission target is 1,500, with a minimum of 500 and a maximum of 5,000.

Thank you very much for your information my friend.
My AOR is Jan 2020 => I have checked and saw " People ahead of you: Less than 100 people ahead of you"
What I am mostly concerning is : Even my team passed the 2nd MR...but We are outside Canada so there is not too much thing to do with our project since it is very limited when we are outside and not PR yet. We only have the monthly meeting minutes, update the Business plan, market research.... I don't know if we will be considered as not actually run the business outside Canada or not. Because we don't know how to actually run the project when we are outside
Please advise me
Thanks in advance
All best for all of us
Have a nice day

 

[Aleem123]

Thank you very much for your information my friend.
My AOR is Jan 2020 => I have checked and saw " People ahead of you: Less than 100 people ahead of you"
What I am mostly concerning is : Even my team passed the 2nd MR...but We are outside Canada so there is not too much thing to do with our project since it is very limited when we are outside and not PR yet. We only have the monthly meeting minutes, update the Business plan, market research.... I don't know if we will be considered as not actually run the business outside Canada or not. Because we don't know how to actually run the project when we are outside
Please advise me
Thanks in advance
All best for all of us
Have a nice day

My friend, I wouldn’t be overly concerned.


Many businesses require substantial capital, land and infrastructure. It is neither practical nor commercially sensible to expect entrepreneurs to establish such businesses in Canada before obtaining PR.


Remember, SUV was designed primarily as a PR-first program. The work permit was optional, and many genuine applicants chose to wait for PR, particularly when processing times were around 10–12 months.


Therefore, not having commenced business operations in Canada should not, by itself, be grounds for refusal. Updating business plans, conducting market research and holding regular team meetings demonstrate continued commitment.


If IRCC has concerns, you may receive a Procedural Fairness Letter (PFL), giving you an opportunity to explain your circumstances and provide supporting evidence.


So, my friend, don’t lose heart. Being outside Canada while awaiting PR does not automatically mean you have abandoned your business commitment. Wishing you all the very best!

Best Regards and Best of luck

 

[ufarooqi]

I think this backlog will be cleared by 2028.

So we have 47K applications in pipeline. If 15% are rejected. 40K will be remaining.

Out of these 40K, 25K may be covered by one-time initiative and remaining 15K will be cleared in next 3 years.

Just a hypothesis.

 

[kenkenk]

I hope you’re right. I think it depends on how IRCC actually defines this initiative. Unlike other programs, SUV involves the assessment of every team member as well as the project itself, so if IRCC continues with its existing review process, I’m not sure it will even be able to use up the 1,500 allocation.

The complexity of SUV reviews, along with factors such as processing priorities, has previously made IRCC’s processing very slow. Now that the quota has increased, including the 100,000 allocation shared across multiple immigration programs, if IRCC continues with its existing approach, SUV may be at a disadvantage in the allocation of spaces. However, there is also no reason for IRCC to disregard the existing review requirements for SUV and simply expedite or simplify the processing of in-Canada SUV work-permit holders.

That is the current contradiction. If we could see some positive information on this part, people would feel more reassured. I hope IRCC can make a change.

 

[Fiat@fifo]

My friend, I wouldn’t be overly concerned.


Many businesses require substantial capital, land and infrastructure. It is neither practical nor commercially sensible to expect entrepreneurs to establish such businesses in Canada before obtaining PR.


Remember, SUV was designed primarily as a PR-first program. The work permit was optional, and many genuine applicants chose to wait for PR, particularly when processing times were around 10–12 months.


Therefore, not having commenced business operations in Canada should not, by itself, be grounds for refusal. Updating business plans, conducting market research and holding regular team meetings demonstrate continued commitment.


If IRCC has concerns, you may receive a Procedural Fairness Letter (PFL), giving you an opportunity to explain your circumstances and provide supporting evidence.


So, my friend, don’t lose heart. Being outside Canada while awaiting PR does not automatically mean you have abandoned your business commitment. Wishing you all the very best!

Best Regards and Best of luck

My friend, I don't think IRCC would necessarily expect applicants who are still abroad to demonstrate extensive business operations in Canada, particularly when they are waiting for PR and the nature of their business requires physical presence, substantial investment, or infrastructure.

There is a difference between not having started operations because you are still waiting to relocate and abandoning your business commitment altogether.

I believe the focus should be on demonstrating that you remain committed to the project and intend to establish and manage the business in Canada once you obtain PR.

So I wouldn't be overly concerned about the absence of actual operations at this stage, provided you can demonstrate that your commitment remains genuine.

 

[Fiat@fifo]

I think this backlog will be cleared by 2028.

So we have 47K applications in pipeline. If 15% are rejected. 40K will be remaining.

Out of these 40K, 25K may be covered by one-time initiative and remaining 15K will be cleared in next 3 years.

Just a hypothesis.

Possible

 

[Hali-2025]

My friend, I wouldn’t be overly concerned.


Many businesses require substantial capital, land and infrastructure. It is neither practical nor commercially sensible to expect entrepreneurs to establish such businesses in Canada before obtaining PR.


Remember, SUV was designed primarily as a PR-first program. The work permit was optional, and many genuine applicants chose to wait for PR, particularly when processing times were around 10–12 months.


Therefore, not having commenced business operations in Canada should not, by itself, be grounds for refusal. Updating business plans, conducting market research and holding regular team meetings demonstrate continued commitment.


If IRCC has concerns, you may receive a Procedural Fairness Letter (PFL), giving you an opportunity to explain your circumstances and provide supporting evidence.


So, my friend, don’t lose heart. Being outside Canada while awaiting PR does not automatically mean you have abandoned your business commitment. Wishing you all the very best!

Best Regards and Best of luck

Hi my friend @leem 123
Long time no see! Hope you are doing well there!
Your words make me feel better....after a long and a long nightmare waiting.
I forgot the details of yours, but just remember that you are also Tier 2, aren't you ?...
All the best for you and for all of the forum members
Cheers

 

[Hali-2025]

My friend, I don't think IRCC would necessarily expect applicants who are still abroad to demonstrate extensive business operations in Canada, particularly when they are waiting for PR and the nature of their business requires physical presence, substantial investment, or infrastructure.

There is a difference between not having started operations because you are still waiting to relocate and abandoning your business commitment altogether.

I believe the focus should be on demonstrating that you remain committed to the project and intend to establish and manage the business in Canada once you obtain PR.

So I wouldn't be overly concerned about the absence of actual operations at this stage, provided you can demonstrate that your commitment remains genuine.

Hi Fiat - my Hero Member,
How expert you are !
Receiving your post even better than from my paid lawyer
Many thanks my friends
Cheers & Have a nice day