It seems no chance in reduction of SUV backlogs within next couple of years, If in any case multiple tech incubators or immigrant entrepreneur groups jointly pressure with data on lost innovation/talent. This is a significant issue and matter of concern for all..
Startup Visa Program Timeline
- Thread starter deenfae
- Start date
Next month, in November 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is expected to unveil the new Immigration Levels Plan for 2026–2028—a pivotal update that will set the direction for Canada's intake across all immigration categories. If the Start-Up Visa (SUV) allocation is not increased in this announcement, it would signal continued stagnation for the program, leaving thousands of entrepreneurs and innovators stuck in multi-year backlogs
What I’ve heard is that the current info came out during the handover of the new immigration minister, they discovered these issues and made them public to get the government’s attention and hopefully push for policy changes. My take is that they’re basically dumping the mess from the previous minister and avoiding blame, while waiting to see which groups’ pressure might lead to new policies or reforms for IRCC. The SUV problem is a clear example. Whether it can actually be reformed, and when, nobody knows. I think for those who haven’t submitted their SUV application or haven’t started the real project yet, it’s kind of good news , they can adjust early. But for people who already started their SUV projects, there’s nothing to do except wait and hope for luck. I wouldn’t expect anything positive for now.
