If you’re an entrepreneur who was banking on Canada’s Start-Up Visa (SUV) Program to build your business dreams here, I’ve got bad news and good news.
The bad news? The SUV program officially closed its doors on January 1, 2026. No more applications are being accepted.
The good news? You’re far from out of options. In fact, depending on where you want to settle and what kind of business you’re planning, you might actually find a better pathway than the SUV ever offered.
Let me walk you through what’s actually available right now.
Why Did Canada Kill the Start-Up Visa?
Before we dive into alternatives, you’re probably wondering what happened. The Start-Up Visa was supposed to be Canada’s flagship program for bringing innovative entrepreneurs into the country. It connected foreign founders with Canadian venture capital firms, angel investors, and business incubators.
But like many immigration programs, it had its issues. The government has promised a “new targeted pilot” to replace it, but we’re still waiting. No launch date, no details—just a vague promise that something’s coming.
In the meantime, entrepreneurs can’t just sit around. Businesses don’t wait for government timelines, and neither should you.
Your Three Main Pathways Forward
After the SUV closure, you essentially have three routes to permanent residence as an entrepreneur in Canada:
- Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) with entrepreneur streams
- Quebec’s business immigration programs (if you’re planning to settle there)
- The C-11 work permit as a stepping stone to PR
Let’s break down each one, because they’re very different animals.
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Option 1: Provincial Nominee Programs for Entrepreneurs
This is probably your best bet right now. Nine Canadian provinces and territories have active entrepreneur streams accepting applications in 2026.
Here’s what you need to understand about PNPs: they’re not just “apply and wait” programs. Most require you to actually come to Canada on a work permit, start or buy your business, run it successfully for a period of time, and then you might get nominated for permanent residence.
Think of it as a “prove yourself first” approach. You sign a business performance agreement with the province, hit certain milestones, and if you deliver on your commitments, they nominate you for PR.
The Most Active Programs Right Now
British Columbia is killing it in this space. They held 16 entrepreneur draws in 2025 and have already done one in January 2026. If you’re serious about getting in quickly, BC should be on your radar.
They have three streams:
- Base Stream: For experienced entrepreneurs anywhere in BC. You need a $600,000 net worth and willingness to invest $200,000 in your business.
- Regional Stream: For those willing to settle in smaller BC communities. Lower barriers—$300,000 net worth and $100,000 investment. This is a smart option if you’re flexible about location.
- Strategic Projects Stream: For foreign corporations bringing key management staff to run BC operations.
Alberta: Four Different Ways In
Alberta is seriously aggressive about attracting entrepreneurs. They have four separate streams:
Graduate Entrepreneur Stream: Did you study at an Alberta college or university? You can start or buy a business here with 34% ownership. This is golden for international students already in the province.
Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream: Graduated from a university outside Canada but want to launch a start-up in Alberta? You’ll need to invest $50,000 to $100,000 depending on where you set up shop.
Farm Stream: For serious agricultural entrepreneurs. You need a $500,000 net worth, farm management experience, and willingness to invest $500,000 in a farm operation. Not for hobbyists.
Rural Entrepreneur Stream: Want to set up in rural Alberta? $300,000 net worth and $100,000 investment gets you in the game.
Manitoba: Business and Farm Options
Manitoba’s Business Investor Stream has two pathways:
- Entrepreneur Pathway: For business owners or senior managers with a $500,000 net worth and three years of experience. You can start, buy, or partner in a Manitoba business.
- Farm Investor Pathway: Agricultural entrepreneurs with $500,000 net worth, three years of farm ownership experience, and $300,000 to invest in a rural farm.
They also have an International Student Entrepreneur Pilot specifically for Manitoba graduates. You need to operate your business for six months as a senior manager before getting nominated.
Atlantic Canada: Maritime Opportunities
Nova Scotia offers two streams:
- Entrepreneur Stream: $600,000 net worth, willing to invest $100,000 to $150,000 depending on location.
- International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream: For recent NS graduates who’ve already run a business there for one year.
Newfoundland and Labrador mirrors this approach:
- International Entrepreneur Stream: $600,000 net worth, $200,000 investment.
- International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream: Memorial University or College of the North Atlantic grads who’ve operated a local business for one year.
New Brunswick keeps it simple with one Business Immigration Stream: $500,000 net worth and business ownership or senior management experience.
Prince Edward Island has the Business Impact Category: $600,000 net worth and business ownership/management experience.
Northern Territories: Unique Opportunities
Yukon Business Nominee Program: Three years of entrepreneurial or business management experience, five years of relevant work experience, $500,000 minimum net worth.
Northwest Territories Business Stream: $250,000 to $500,000 net worth (location-dependent) and ability to invest $100,000 to $250,000.
The Reality Check
All these programs sound great on paper, but here’s what they don’t advertise prominently: if your business fails after you get nominated but before you receive permanent residence, your nomination can be revoked.
You’re taking real risk here. You need to be serious about running a successful business, not just using entrepreneurship as an immigration backdoor.
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Option 2: Quebec’s Business Programs
Quebec does immigration differently than the rest of Canada. If you’re planning to settle there (and you should seriously consider it—Montreal is an incredible business hub), you have three distinct pathways:
Investor Pathway
This is for wealthy individuals who don’t necessarily want to run a business themselves. You need two years of management experience and the ability to make a $1.2 million investment through an approved financial intermediary. The investment is risk-free, which is unique.
Entrepreneur Pathway
This covers three scenarios:
- Starting an innovative business or project
- Operating your existing business in Quebec
- Taking over an existing Quebec business
All must be in eligible sectors. Requirements vary based on which route you take.
Self-Employed Worker Pathway
For professionals with $100,000 net worth and two years of experience in their field, seeking to practice their profession independently in Quebec.
The Language Catch: All Quebec programs require NCLC Level 7 French proficiency. That’s roughly equivalent to B2 on the European framework—conversational fluency, not basic survival French.
If you don’t speak French yet, start learning now. Quebec isn’t budging on this requirement, and honestly, you’ll need it to succeed there anyway.
Option 3: The C-11 Work Permit Strategy
This is the “back door” approach that savvy entrepreneurs use. It’s not a PR pathway itself, but it gets you to Canada so you can build PR eligibility.
The C-11 work permit—officially called the “significant benefit permit”—lets you come to Canada to start, buy, or operate a business without needing a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). That’s huge, because LMIAs are expensive and time-consuming.
How It Works
You apply for the work permit by demonstrating your business will provide “significant benefit” to Canada. What counts as significant benefit?
- Creating jobs for Canadians
- Bringing innovation or new technology
- Transferring skills and knowledge
- Growing Canadian exports
- Generating meaningful economic activity in a region
You need to own at least 51% of your business, show it’s ready (or nearly ready) to launch, prove you can support yourself financially, and demonstrate relevant management experience.
The Long Game
Here’s the strategy: you come to Canada on the C-11 permit, launch and operate your business, and then apply for permanent residence through programs you now qualify for—like Express Entry’s Federal Skilled Worker Program or various PNP streams.
Critical warning: Self-employed work experience does NOT count toward Canadian Experience Class requirements. Immigration Canada is very clear about this. So you can’t just run your own business for a year and expect to qualify through CEC.
You might need to combine self-employment with other work, or pursue PR through pathways that accept entrepreneurial experience.
My Honest Assessment: Which Route Should You Take?
If I were an entrepreneur looking at Canada right now, here’s how I’d think about it:
Go PNP if: You’re willing to commit to a specific province, you have the net worth and investment capital required, and you’re ready to genuinely build and operate a business for 1-2 years before getting PR. British Columbia and Alberta are your best bets for active programs.
Go Quebec if: You speak French (or are willing to learn), you’re attracted to Montreal’s business ecosystem, or you’re a high-net-worth investor who wants a more passive route.
Go C-11 if: You want to get to Canada quickly, test your business concept in the real market before committing to PR, or you don’t quite meet PNP requirements yet. This is the most flexible option, but also the least direct path to permanent residence.
What NOT to Do
Don’t wait for the “new targeted pilot” to replace the Start-Up Visa. We have no idea when it’s launching or what the requirements will be. You could waste a year or more waiting.
Don’t lie about your business intentions. Immigration fraud will get you banned from Canada. If you’re not genuinely committed to building a business, these programs aren’t for you.
Don’t underestimate the language requirements. Whether it’s English for most PNPs or French for Quebec, you need functional business-level fluency.
The Bottom Line
The Start-Up Visa closure doesn’t mean Canada’s closed to entrepreneurs. If anything, provincial programs give you more options and potentially faster processing than the SUV ever did.
But you need to be realistic: Canada wants entrepreneurs who will actually build businesses and contribute to the economy, not immigration applicants who happen to check the “business owner” box.
If you’re serious about entrepreneurship, if you have capital to invest, and if you’re willing to prove yourself before getting permanent residence, the doors are still wide open.
You just need to choose the right one.
