Start-Up Visa programme update
Check the current Start-Up Visa intake position and discuss questions about an existing application or business plan.
Check the current position before relying on this route.
IRCC identifies new Start-Up Visa application intake as paused. This page is programme information, not an invitation to submit a new application under an open intake.
If you already have an application, start with its history and the latest correspondence. Questions about any related work authorisation must be assessed under the instructions applicable to you.
Separate programme status from a business proposal.
A startup proposal and the availability of a federal immigration intake are different questions. The first step is to check the current IRCC notice and identify whether any transitional instructions affect an existing file. VSA does not present a paused intake as an open application opportunity.
How VSA can assist
VSA can assess the immigration questions raised by your business goals and explain the evidence to discuss. Commercial transactions, tax planning and regulated legal work may need independent advisers. We identify the professional scope before further work is accepted and do not promise an immigration outcome in exchange for an investment.
What to discuss in your consultation
- Whether the enquiry concerns an existing application or a future plan.
- The application history and relevant current correspondence.
- Other questions needing an individual assessment under current instructions.
Prepare for a useful conversation
Prepare a concise account of any existing application and explain the issue you want to resolve.
A preparation checklist
- Any existing IRCC application or correspondence
- Business and ownership details
- Relevant support documents already obtained
- Dates, commitments and questions requiring review
This is a discussion checklist, not an application checklist. The records required depend on the route and your circumstances.
Start with a short enquiry. The office will explain consultation arrangements, fees and the appropriate document-sharing process before you send private records.
What the next steps can look like
Clarify the goal
We discuss your circumstances, immigration history and any immediate timing issue.
Review the available evidence
We identify the records and questions needed for a useful assessment.
Agree on the work
Any retained services, professional fees and responsibilities are confirmed in writing.
Prepare and keep the record current
Agreed work follows the relevant process; changes in circumstances must be reported promptly.
Before you decide.
Should I pay for a promise of entry through a paused intake?
Do not rely on a sales promise. Verify the official programme status and obtain independent advice about your own circumstances before making a financial commitment.
How do I find the latest official requirements?
Use the government links below. Check the current programme page and its notices before relying on a summary, a past invitation round or another person’s experience.
What does the consultation cost?
Contact the office to confirm the fee, duration and format before booking. Further representation is a separate decision with a written scope and fee agreement.
Government guidance & latest updates
Open the official website for current instructions, forms and notices. These external sources may change after this guide is reviewed. Government decisions and programme availability are outside VSA’s control.
IRCC: Start-Up Visa current status ↗www.canada.ca · Opens the official external websiteIRCC notices: current programme changes ↗www.canada.ca · Opens the official external websiteGuide reviewed 12 November 2026. General information only. Eligibility, availability and requirements must be checked against current official instructions and your circumstances. Linked government websites do not endorse VSA.
Visit the official-updates hub