Entrepreneur & Business Immigration · 2026 Update
If you were planning to move to Canada through the Start-up Visa, 2026 probably threw you a curveball. The program has closed, Ontario’s entrepreneur stream is gone, and a new federal pilot has been announced without full details yet.
The good news? Entrepreneur immigration to Canada is still possible. The routes have just shifted. In this guide, we walk you through what’s open, what’s closed and which path might fit you, in plain English.
Short answer: with the Start-up Visa closed, most entrepreneurs now come to Canada through one of three routes:
A new federal entrepreneur pilot has also been announced for 2026. Keep an eye on it, but don’t build your plans around it until IRCC publishes the rules.
For years, the Start-up Visa (SUV) was the go-to route for founders. It let you apply for permanent residence with the backing of a designated venture capital fund, angel group or business incubator.
That chapter is over. IRCC stopped accepting new SUV work permit applications in December 2025 and closed permanent residence intake at the end of 2025. Only applicants who already held a valid commitment certificate from 2025 could still submit, and that window ended on June 30, 2026. The main reason was a backlog that had grown to tens of thousands of people, with waits of many years.
IRCC has said it will launch a new, targeted pilot for immigrant entrepreneurs, aimed at high-growth businesses that create jobs and bring in investment. At the time of our last update, full eligibility rules, investment minimums and intake dates had not been published. We’ll update this page as soon as they are. You can also check IRCC’s website directly.
If you were preparing an SUV application, your best alternatives are usually a provincial entrepreneur stream (if you have the net worth and business experience), a C11 work permit (if your business offers a clear benefit to Canada) or an intra-company transfer (if you already run a company abroad). We compare them in detail below.
Programs change quickly, so here’s a simple snapshot of where things stand right now:
| Program | Status | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Start-up Visa | Closed | No new applications since the end of 2025 |
| New federal entrepreneur pilot | Announced | Details not yet published; watch IRCC |
| Self-Employed Persons Program | Paused | Paused since April 2024, no reopening date |
| C11 entrepreneur work permit | Open | Temporary permit; usually up to 18 months |
| Intra-company transfer | Open | For owners of established foreign businesses |
| BC Entrepreneur Immigration (Base & Regional) | Open | Regular invitation rounds in 2026 |
| Alberta Rural Entrepreneur Stream | Open | For businesses in smaller Alberta communities |
| Manitoba Business Investor Stream | Open | Separate options for Winnipeg and rural Manitoba |
| Atlantic provinces (NB, NS, PEI) | Open | Mostly invitation-based, with limited spots |
| Ontario Entrepreneur Stream | Closed | Paused in December 2023 and formally ended in 2024 |
| Saskatchewan entrepreneur streams | Suspended | No reopening date announced |
Status based on official IRCC and provincial information as of October 2026. Always confirm before you apply, because programs can open, pause or change with little notice.
Yes, but it’s not automatic. Here’s something many people don’t realise: registering a company in Canada does not give you the right to work here. You still need the right permit. These are the main routes to a business owner work permit in Canada:
The C11 is an LMIA-exempt work permit for entrepreneurs and self-employed people whose business will bring a “significant benefit” to Canada. That benefit can be economic (jobs, investment, innovation), social or cultural. It’s a temporary permit, not permanent residence, but many owners use it as a bridge to a provincial nomination later.
Already run a profitable business in India or elsewhere? You may be able to open a Canadian branch, subsidiary or affiliate and transfer yourself, or a senior manager, to run it. The foreign company needs to keep operating, and the people transferred must have worked for it in a qualifying role.
Most PNP entrepreneur streams follow a two-stage model. Once the province approves your business plan, it supports your work permit. You then come to Canada, launch or buy the business and meet the conditions in your agreement. After that, the province can nominate you for permanent residence.
IRCC officers have a lot of discretion with C11 applications, and they’ve become stricter since 2025. Here’s what a strong application usually shows:
Our take: the business plan is where most C11 applications win or lose. Generic templates rarely convince an officer. Specific numbers, local research and a believable hiring plan do.
Provincial entrepreneur streams are now the main path to Canada PR through business investment. Each province sets its own rules, but most ask for a minimum net worth, a minimum investment, management experience, a language test and a plan to actively run the business yourself. Here’s how the main open streams compare:
| Stream | Min. net worth | Min. investment | Key extras |
|---|---|---|---|
| BC Entrepreneur Immigration: Base | $600,000 | $200,000 | Create at least 1 full-time job |
| BC Entrepreneur Immigration: Regional | $300,000 | $100,000 | Community referral and exploratory visit; outside Metro Vancouver |
| Alberta Rural Entrepreneur Stream | $300,000 | $100,000 | Community support letter; CLB 4; community under 100,000 people |
| Manitoba Business Investor Stream | $500,000 | $250,000 in Winnipeg; $150,000 outside | Create at least 1 full-time job |
Approximate 2026 minimums from official provincial program guides. Meeting the minimums doesn’t guarantee an invitation, because most streams use points and selection rounds.
The Entrepreneur Immigration Regional Pilot, often called the Regional stream, is BC’s lower-cost option for entrepreneurs who want to set up in a smaller community outside Metro Vancouver. You start with an exploratory visit to the community, get a referral from it, then register with the BC PNP. BC held regular entrepreneur draws throughout 2026, but scores are competitive.
Ontario paused its Entrepreneur Stream in December 2023 and formally closed it in 2024 because of long backlogs. No replacement has been announced. If you had your heart set on Ontario, your realistic alternatives are a C11 work permit for an Ontario business, an intra-company transfer, or a PNP stream in another province. Once you’re a permanent resident, you’re free to live and do business anywhere in Canada.
There’s no single “best” province. It depends on your budget, your business idea and where you’d actually like to live. Here’s how we’d think about it:
Look at the Alberta Rural Entrepreneur Stream or the BC Regional Pilot. Both have lower minimums, but you’ll need to set up in a smaller community.
The BC Base stream or Manitoba’s Winnipeg option may suit you, if you can meet the higher net worth and investment rules.
An intra-company transfer or a C11 work permit can get you here sooner, and you can work towards PR from inside Canada.
Yes, but not by simply investing money. Canada closed its federal investor programs years ago, and today’s programs reward active business owners, not passive investors. To get Canadian PR through business investment, you generally need to:
Some owners also qualify for PR through Express Entry after working in Canada, based on their age, education, language scores and Canadian work experience. This is worth checking with a licensed immigration consultant.
Many of the founders we speak with are planning business immigration to Canada from India. The programs are the same for everyone, but a few practical points come up again and again:
There’s no special “business visa” that lets you live and work in Canada. Indian citizens can apply for a visitor visa to attend meetings, explore markets or do an exploratory visit for a PNP stream, but business visitors can’t work in Canada. To run your business here, you’ll need a work permit or permanent residence.
Provinces ask for verified, lawfully obtained net worth. Start gathering property valuations, bank statements, tax returns and business financials early. Many streams require a third-party verification report.
Investing in a Canadian business means following the Reserve Bank of India’s Overseas Direct Investment (ODI) and Liberalised Remittance Scheme rules. Plan this with your Indian bank and chartered accountant before you commit funds.
Most streams need an approved English test, such as IELTS General Training or CELPIP. Higher scores also earn more points in selection rounds.
Not sure which route fits you? Tell us about your business, budget and plans, and we’ll prepare a free Business Immigration Audit Report. It’s a no-obligation review of the business side of your plans, including:
Every program has its own forms, but the journey usually looks like this:
From start to PR, it often takes two to four years, so it pays to plan carefully from day one.
These are the issues that most often lead to delays, refusals or false starts:
We’re business consultants, not immigration representatives, and we think that’s an advantage. Immigration applications depend on a business that’s well planned and actually works. That’s what we focus on:
Market research, financial projections and hiring plans built for Canadian conditions, not generic templates.
Incorporation, tax accounts, bank accounts and licences. See our business setup in Canada service.
Help finding opportunities, franchise options and day-one marketing so your business performs.
For your immigration application itself, we work alongside your licensed immigration consultant (RCIC) or lawyer.
No. The Start-up Visa closed to new applicants at the end of 2025. Only people with a valid 2025 commitment certificate could still apply, and that window ended on June 30, 2026.
The main alternatives are provincial entrepreneur streams (such as BC, Alberta Rural and Manitoba), the C11 entrepreneur work permit and the intra-company transfer for owners of established foreign businesses.
IRCC has announced a new, targeted pilot for immigrant entrepreneurs. As of our last update, full eligibility rules and intake dates had not been published. Check IRCC’s website for the latest.
Not just by opening one. You need a work permit route such as the C11 entrepreneur permit, an intra-company transfer or a provincial entrepreneur stream. Registering a company alone doesn’t give you the right to work.
You generally need to own at least 51% of the business, show a significant economic, social or cultural benefit to Canada, have a detailed business plan, and prove enough funds. Since 2025, permits are usually limited to 18 months.
Yes, through provincial entrepreneur streams, but only if you actively manage the business. Passive investment doesn’t qualify. You usually get a work permit first, then a nomination for PR once you meet your business commitments.
It depends on your budget and plans. Alberta’s Rural Entrepreneur Stream and the BC Regional Pilot have lower minimums for smaller communities. BC Base and Manitoba suit larger budgets.
No. Ontario paused the stream in December 2023 and formally closed it in 2024. Alternatives include a C11 work permit, an intra-company transfer or a PNP stream in another province.
You need at least $300,000 in net worth, a $100,000 investment, business or senior management experience, CLB 4 English, high school education and a support letter from a participating rural community.
There’s no special business visa for living and working in Canada. Indian citizens can get a visitor visa for meetings and exploratory visits, but they need a work permit or PR to run a business here.
Provincial streams usually ask for a net worth of $300,000 to $600,000 and an investment of $100,000 to $250,000, plus living costs. C11 has no fixed minimum, but you must show a meaningful investment.
From planning to permanent residence, it often takes two to four years, including time to prepare, get invited, run the business on a work permit and get nominated.
It’s a no-obligation review of the business side of your plans: which pathways may fit, how your funds compare with program minimums, gaps in your plan and a realistic budget and timeline.
Tell us about your business and your goals. We’ll send your free Business Immigration Audit Report with honest feedback and clear next steps. No pressure, no jargon.
This guide was written by the team at Crewlink Canada, a business consulting firm in Calgary, Alberta that helps entrepreneurs plan, set up and grow businesses in Canada. We review program information against official government sources and update this page when rules change. Learn more about us.
Official sources: IRCC · WelcomeBC Entrepreneur Immigration · Alberta Rural Entrepreneur Stream · Immigrate Manitoba · College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants
Important: Crewlink Canada is a business consulting firm, not a licensed immigration representative. This page is general information, not immigration or legal advice. For advice on your application, speak with a licensed RCIC or immigration lawyer.
Crewlink Canada is a Canada-based business support company helping entrepreneurs and businesses launch, grow and succeed.
© 2026. Created by codeandclick. All Rights Reserved