Startup Visa Program Timeline

[sqribbled]

I don’t want to sound dis-respectful to anyone who has been part of this process since a long time back, but, I would sincerely like to tell you to start making backup plans whether that is Canada, or elsewhere.

Things will only get harder for everyone….more scrutiny, more additional documentation, more red tape. I think it is fair to say those already in Canada will be preferred whether priority or not, rest may have to wait the 10 years or as long as it takes.

Expect more changes to the way applicants will be processed, after all it’s a closed program. You will not have a say. Courts will get overwhelmed too with cases.

Will need to keep on being innovative, show progress all the time while navigating all of this, keep the health good to keep eligibility in check.

New programs could signal also that priority will be given to the new program (when announced).

Not trying to put anyone down, but things will only get more challenging.

 

[Aleem123]

I don’t want to sound dis-respectful to anyone who has been part of this process since a long time back, but, I would sincerely like to tell you to start making backup plans whether that is Canada, or elsewhere.

Things will only get harder for everyone….more scrutiny, more additional documentation, more red tape. I think it is fair to say those already in Canada will be preferred whether priority or not, rest may have to wait the 10 years or as long as it takes.

Expect more changes to the way applicants will be processed, after all it’s a closed program. You will not have a say. Courts will get overwhelmed too with cases.

Will need to keep on being innovative, show progress all the time while navigating all of this, keep the health good to keep eligibility in check.

New programs could signal also that priority will be given to the new program (when announced).

Not trying to put anyone down, but things will only get more challenging.

I completely agree. This isn’t negativity, it’s realism. Many of us have been in this process for years and have unintentionally put parts of our professional and personal lives on hold. Being honest about that and planning alternatives is simply being sensible, not discouraging.

This is thoughtful advice meant to help people protect their well-being, and it deserves to be taken in that spirit.

 

[Fiat@fifo]

Next year iRCC is expected to reduce the massive backlog—although it is largely responsible for its creation due to poor management. This will be achieved through several measures. First, refusal rates will increase under various pretexts, which has already begun. Second, under Bill C-12 (fraud-related provisions), many Designated Organizations will have their status revoked, leading to the refusal of applications linked to them. After these steps, the remaining backlog will become much easier to manage, enabling IRCC to justify increasing quotas to eliminate it.

 

[kenkenk]

Next year iRCC is expected to reduce the massive backlog—although it is largely responsible for its creation due to poor management. This will be achieved through several measures. First, refusal rates will increase under various pretexts, which has already begun. Second, under Bill C-12 (fraud-related provisions), many Designated Organizations will have their status revoked, leading to the refusal of applications linked to them. After these steps, the remaining backlog will become much easier to manage, enabling IRCC to justify increasing quotas to eliminate it.

I wonder if IRCC will set some specific targets that it can verify quickly, such as using corporate tax filings, registration records and other government documents to confirm a company’s status. Based on the submission of these documents, they could then use Bill C‑2 to remove companies that have not started any business activities at all from the waiting queue.

 

[VTMan]

https://betakit.com/canada-suspends-start-up-visa-as-feds-look-to-transition-to-new-program/

According to Canadian immigration news site immigration.ca, the proposed Bill C-12could give the feds the power to cancel PR applications for those in Canada on a work permit, if the organization that backed their application does not meet certain ministerial instruction guidelines released in 2024. Bill C-12, which would expand the powers of immigration and law enforcement agencies, passed its first Senate reading in December and could become law when the Senate reconvenes in February.

 

[Fiat@fifo]

https://betakit.com/canada-suspends-start-up-visa-as-feds-look-to-transition-to-new-program/

According to Canadian immigration news site immigration.ca, the proposed Bill C-12could give the feds the power to cancel PR applications for those in Canada on a work permit, if the organization that backed their application does not meet certain ministerial instruction guidelines released in 2024. Bill C-12, which would expand the powers of immigration and law enforcement agencies, passed its first Senate reading in December and could become law when the Senate reconvenes in February.

Look my last post

 

[RonaldoNazario]

Look my last post

I don’t know how they want to do a “new pilot program in 2026” and they still cant process and finalise the SUV. Instead of thinking about a new program they can think in what to do to clear all the backlog and process, filter all the applications in 2026 and then think in a new program.
They will create a new one, then have a 50,000 backlog and then create a new one and so on? Or what’s their plan?

 

[Fiat@fifo]

I don’t know how they want to do a “new pilot program in 2026” and they still cant process and finalise the SUV. Instead of thinking about a new program they can think in what to do to clear all the backlog and process, filter all the applications in 2026 and then think in a new program.
They will create a new one, then have a 50,000 backlog and then create a new one and so on? Or what’s their plan?

No one truly knows what IRCC is going to do. However, in my view, they will try to reduce part of the backlog by using the C-12 Bill, and another part by increasing refusal rates on minimal or technical grounds (a process that has already started). This would then allow them to justify increasing quotas in order to absorb the remaining backlog over a few reasonable years.

As you know, the current quota and the backlog are completely misaligned—50,000 applications divided by an annual quota of around 500 simply does not work. Even if applicants are willing to wait, IRCC will not tolerate or operate any program where processing timelines exceed four to five years.

 

[Fiat@fifo]

This is the start:

• Biomedical Commercialization Canada Inc. (operating as Manitoba Innovates, previously as Manitoba Technology Accelerator)
  • Ability to issue commitment certificates suspended from December 19, 2025 to September 19, 2026.

 

[Fiat@fifo]

Approval and Refusal Rates of Permanent Resident Applications Processed under the Start-up Business Immigration Category between January 1, 2024 and May 31, 2025, Broken down by Year, Final Decision and Organization Sub Type (in Cases)

2023
• Angel Investor Network: Approved 200 (80%), Refused 50
• Business Incubator: Approved 725 (89%), Refused 85
• Venture Capital Funds: Approved 20 (78%), Refused 5
• Grand Total: Approved 945 (87%), Refused 145

2024
• Angel Investor Network: Approved 555 (91%), Refused 60 (9%)
• Business Incubator: Approved 1,010 (82%), Refused 225 (18%)
• Venture Capital Funds: Approved 65 (73%), Refused 25 (27%)
• Grand Total: Approved 1,625 (84%), Refused 305 (16%)

2025 (as of May 31)
• Angel Investor Network: Approved 5 (15%), Refused 30 (85%)
• Business Incubator: Approved 15 (25%), Refused 45 (75%)
• Venture Capital Funds: Approved 5 (80%), Refused — (20%)
• Grand Total: Approved 25 (24%), Refused 75 (76%)

⸻

Approval and Refusal Rates of Permanent Resident Applications Processed under the Start-up Business Immigration Category between January 1, 2024 and May 31, 2025, Broken down by Year, Final Decision and Organization Sub Type (in Persons)

2023
• Angel Investor Network: Approved 735 (82%), Refused 160 (18%)
• Business Incubator: Approved 2,360 (90%), Refused 270 (10%)
• Venture Capital Funds: Approved 65 (89%), Refused 10 (11%)
• Grand Total: Approved 3,155 (88%), Refused 440 (12%)

2024
• Angel Investor Network: Approved 2,065 (91%), Refused 195 (9%)
• Business Incubator: Approved 3,265 (82%), Refused 710 (18%)
• Venture Capital Funds: Approved 220 (71%), Refused 90 (29%)
• Grand Total: Approved 5,550 (85%), Refused 995 (15%)

2025 (as of May 31)
• Angel Investor Network: Approved 20 (15%), Refused 115
• Business Incubator: Approved 45 (27%), Refused 125
• Venture Capital Funds: Approved 10 (85%), Refused —
• Grand Total: Approved 80 (25%), Refused 240

 

[Fiat@fifo]

Start-Up Visa 2026: Who Gets Priority Now? Explained by Dr. Alex Titov​

 

[wxc200]

Approval and Refusal Rates of Permanent Resident Applications Processed under the Start-up Business Immigration Category between January 1, 2024 and May 31, 2025, Broken down by Year, Final Decision and Organization Sub Type (in Cases)

2023
• Angel Investor Network: Approved 200 (80%), Refused 50
• Business Incubator: Approved 725 (89%), Refused 85
• Venture Capital Funds: Approved 20 (78%), Refused 5
• Grand Total: Approved 945 (87%), Refused 145

2024
• Angel Investor Network: Approved 555 (91%), Refused 60 (9%)
• Business Incubator: Approved 1,010 (82%), Refused 225 (18%)
• Venture Capital Funds: Approved 65 (73%), Refused 25 (27%)
• Grand Total: Approved 1,625 (84%), Refused 305 (16%)

2025 (as of May 31)
• Angel Investor Network: Approved 5 (15%), Refused 30 (85%)
• Business Incubator: Approved 15 (25%), Refused 45 (75%)
• Venture Capital Funds: Approved 5 (80%), Refused — (20%)
• Grand Total: Approved 25 (24%), Refused 75 (76%)

⸻

Approval and Refusal Rates of Permanent Resident Applications Processed under the Start-up Business Immigration Category between January 1, 2024 and May 31, 2025, Broken down by Year, Final Decision and Organization Sub Type (in Persons)

2023
• Angel Investor Network: Approved 735 (82%), Refused 160 (18%)
• Business Incubator: Approved 2,360 (90%), Refused 270 (10%)
• Venture Capital Funds: Approved 65 (89%), Refused 10 (11%)
• Grand Total: Approved 3,155 (88%), Refused 440 (12%)

2024
• Angel Investor Network: Approved 2,065 (91%), Refused 195 (9%)
• Business Incubator: Approved 3,265 (82%), Refused 710 (18%)
• Venture Capital Funds: Approved 220 (71%), Refused 90 (29%)
• Grand Total: Approved 5,550 (85%), Refused 995 (15%)

2025 (as of May 31)
• Angel Investor Network: Approved 20 (15%), Refused 115
• Business Incubator: Approved 45 (27%), Refused 125
• Venture Capital Funds: Approved 10 (85%), Refused —
• Grand Total: Approved 80 (25%), Refused 240

The lower approval rate is mainly caused by some specific DO cases, IRCC processing resources are restricted on some earlier cases, no matter Priority or not.

 

[RonaldoNazario]

Start-Up Visa 2026: Who Gets Priority Now? Explained by Dr. Alex Titov​

1.- SUV Work permits already in Canada
2.- SUV Work permits regardless residency.
3.- All the others…..

Not scalable business, not revenue. The business is the last important thing… They do care if you’re in Canada or not

Haha that’s why Canada it is what it is nowadays and why people is leaving the country. Government is a joke

 

[Fiat@fifo]

1.- SUV Work permits already in Canada
2.- SUV Work permits regardless residency.
3.- All the others…..

Not scalable business, not revenue. The business is the last important thing… They do care if you’re in Canada or not

Haha that’s why Canada it is what it is nowadays and why people is leaving the country. Government is a joke

What about applicants holding an open work permit who have visited Canada three times, applied for renewal before its expiry in March 2025, and have not heard anything from IRCC since then—would they be considered in the second or third category?

 

[RonaldoNazario]

What about applicants holding an open work permit who have visited Canada three times, applied for renewal before its expiry in March 2025, and have not heard anything from IRCC since then—would they be considered in the second or third category?

As soon as its approved should be in the second priority