MIGRS

Canada startup visa processing time?

My team and I are in the final stages of preparing our application for the Canada Startup Visa program. We're eager to launch our business in Canada and are trying to plan our timeline accordingly. Could anyone share their recent experiences or provide an estimate of the current processing times for the Canada Startup Visa, from submission to final decision?

1 answer

Canada's Startup Visa processing time has improved but remains lengthy:

Current Processing Times (2025/2026):

  • Initial work permit: 2–4 months
  • Permanent residence application: 12–18 months
  • Total timeline: 14–22 months

Process Breakdown:

  1. Get a Letter of Support from a designated organization (1–3 months)
    • Angel investor groups
    • Venture capital funds
    • Business incubators
  2. Submit PR application with Letter of Support
  3. Biometrics and medical exam
  4. Background checks
  5. COPR (Confirmation of PR) issuance

Ways to Speed Up:

  • 🏃 Apply for an open work permit simultaneously — you can live and work in Canada while PR processes
  • 📄 Have all documents ready before getting your Letter of Support
  • 🤝 Choose incubators with faster turnaround (some process in 4–6 weeks)

Success Rate:

The acceptance rate is approximately 75–80% once you have a Letter of Support from a designated organization.

Track your Startup Visa journey with MIGRS.

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