Current status of business routes
| Route | Status on October 18, 2026 | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Start-up Visa | Paused | Commitment certificates stopped after December 31, 2025. Applicants with a valid 2025 commitment had to apply by June 30, 2026. Files received before then are processed. |
| Federal Self-Employed Persons | Paused | No applications accepted since April 30, 2024. The pause was extended until further notice on December 19, 2025. |
| New federal entrepreneur pilot | Announced, not launched | IRCC said on December 19, 2025 that a new targeted pilot for immigrant entrepreneurs would follow, with details in 2026. No rules have been published. |
| Quebec business programs | Quebec selection under Quebec rules | Investor, entrepreneur and self-employed worker programs, each with its own intake, French, net-worth and business requirements. |
| Provincial and territorial entrepreneur streams | Varies by province | Most use an EOI and invitation, a performance agreement, a work-permit period running the business, and then nomination. |
| Business visitor | Temporary entry, not immigration | Short international business activities without entering the Canadian labour market. It does not lead to permanent residence. |
To compare provincial minimums for net worth, investment and language, use the entrepreneur streams comparison.
Federal programs: paused
Start-up Visa
Paused since June 30, 2026 and closed to all other applications. New optional SUV open work permits have not been accepted since December 19, 2025; existing holders in Canada may be able to extend. A commitment or support letter obtained now does not create a right to apply.
Self-Employed Persons
The federal program for people with cultural or athletic experience is paused, with no reopening date. It is separate from Quebec's self-employed worker program.
Details and dates: federal business programs.
Business owner work permits: C11 and C60
C11: temporary purpose only
For a self-employed person or entrepreneur who seeks only temporary residence to run their own business in Canada. The work must bring significant economic, social or cultural benefit to Canadians. IRCC's instructions generally expect at least 51% ownership, a stay normally of no more than 18 months (longer only with a definite exit plan), separate funds for the business and for support, an offer of employment through the Employer Portal, proof that the employer compliance fee ($230) was paid before you apply, and a business plan. Buying a company alone does not give work authorization or PR. Applicants seeking PR are directed to other codes.
C60: provincial and Quebec business candidates
For entrepreneurs supported by a province or territory under its business program, and for Quebec self-employed applicants approved for a CSQ, who need to run the business before nomination or permanent residence. The province issues a support letter. IRCC's instructions note the business period usually lasts 2 years (up to 3 years for Quebec), and during that time the person is a potential nominee, not a nominee.
Provincial entrepreneur streams at a glance
| Province or territory | Status |
|---|---|
| British Columbia: Base, Regional, Strategic Projects | Open (registration and invitation) |
| Alberta: Rural Entrepreneur, Graduate Entrepreneur, Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur, Farm | Open (EOI); 60 nominations for 2026 |
| Manitoba: Entrepreneur Pathway, Farm Investor Pathway | No draws; EOIs reviewed individually |
| Ontario: former Entrepreneur Stream | Closed |
| Saskatchewan: Entrepreneur, Graduate Entrepreneur, Farm | Permanently closed March 27, 2025 |
| Nova Scotia: Entrepreneur (including graduate entrepreneurs) | Open (EOI, by invitation) |
| New Brunswick: Business Immigration Stream | Open (EOI, by invitation) |
| Newfoundland and Labrador: International Entrepreneur, International Graduate Entrepreneur | Open (EOI) |
| Prince Edward Island: Business Work Permit Stream | Listed; no business invitations in 2026 so far |
| Northwest Territories: Business Stream | Open (first come, first served) |
| Yukon: Business Nominee Program | Application route listed (candidate pool) |
| Nunavut | No PNP |
Requirements, fees and process for each province: provincial entrepreneur programs.
Choose the route that matches your real role
Investor
Capital, the lawful source and build-up of net worth, management background and an approved investment structure are central. Quebec, not the federal government, currently runs Canada's investor selection program.
Entrepreneur
You start, buy or actively manage a qualifying business and create economic benefit under a performance agreement. Passive ownership is usually not enough.
Self-employed
You create your own employment and must meet the exact Quebec or provincial stream. The paused federal cultural and athletic program should not be presented as open.
Innovative start-up
Never pay a third party for a "guaranteed" designation or support letter. A former Start-up Visa commitment only mattered if it met IRCC's timing and filing rules.
Quebec selects business applicants first
- Choose the categoryInvestor, entrepreneur or self-employed worker. Each has different experience, asset, French, deposit, business and location rules.
- Apply to QuebecSubmit through Quebec's process and obtain a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) before applying to IRCC for permanent residence. Quebec says investor, entrepreneur (business start-up) and self-employed applications can be submitted at any time.
- Document your assetsShow every significant asset and liability, how your net worth was lawfully built, your management experience, ownership and the business project. Gifts and transfers need a complete paper trail.
- Investor programConditions include a net worth of at least $2,000,000, at least two years of management experience in the last five, a five-year investment of $1,000,000 (guaranteed by the Government of Québec and returned without interest) plus a $200,000 financial contribution, and spoken French at level 7. Quebec's review fee for the principal applicant is $18,241 from January 1, 2026.
- Entrepreneur programThe business start-up stream requires a net worth of at least $600,000, start-up and operating expenses of at least $300,000 in the Montréal metropolitan area or $150,000 elsewhere, a personal contribution of at least 25% of the business's capital, at least two years of business management experience in the last five years, and spoken French at level 7. Quebec's fee from January 1, 2026 is $1,272 for the principal applicant and $201 for each accompanying family member. For the takeover and innovative-business streams, read Quebec's conditions pages.
- Self-employed depositSelf-employed workers need a net worth of at least $100,000 and a start-up deposit of $25,000 outside the Montréal metropolitan community or $50,000 within it, plus spoken French at level 7, two years of experience in your profession in the five years before applying, and the other program conditions. Quebec's fee from January 1, 2026 is $1,272 for the principal applicant and $201 for each accompanying family member.
- Federal screening still appliesQuebec selection does not waive federal medical, criminal, security, identity or misrepresentation checks. For applications received on or after April 30, 2026, the IRCC fee for a business-class principal applicant is $1,895 plus the $600 right of permanent residence fee. A spouse or partner pays $990 plus $600, and each dependent child pays $270.
Full guide: Quebec business immigration.
Business files depend on evidence
Ownership and control
Corporate registries, shareholder records, licences, contracts, tax filings and bank signing authority should prove ownership and management, not just a job title.
Net worth
List assets and liabilities consistently across countries and currencies. Valuations must be supportable and ownership must match civil and corporate records.
Source and build-up of funds
Trace employment income, dividends, retained earnings, sale proceeds, inheritances and gifts from origin to the current account. Large unexplained transfers create credibility and misrepresentation risks.
Business performance
Financial statements, tax returns, payroll, invoices, supplier and customer contracts and organization charts prove scale and active management.
The business plan should cover the market, competition, licences, location, staffing, financing, operating costs, sales assumptions and milestones, and be realistic for the chosen community.
Business visitors: narrow and temporary
- A business visitor plans to stay less than 6 months, does not enter the Canadian labour market, and keeps their main place of business and source of income and profits outside Canada.
- Allowed activities include buying Canadian goods or services for a foreign business, taking orders, attending meetings, conferences and trade fairs, after-sales service under a warranty or sales agreement, receiving training from a Canadian parent company or supplier, and training staff of a Canadian branch of a foreign company.
- Hands-on work, running day-to-day Canadian operations or serving Canadian clients from inside Canada may need a work permit even without a Canadian salary.
- Carry your passport, visa or eTA, letters from your company and the Canadian host, relevant contracts, 24-hour contact details for your host and proof you can pay for your stay. A visa or eTA does not guarantee entry.
More: business visitors.
Avoid guaranteed-program and guaranteed-investment claims
- No consultant, incubator, fund, province or employer can guarantee a visa, nomination or permanent residence.
- Check the stream and its intake on the government site before paying an agent, buying a business, transferring an investment or signing a lease.
- Get independent legal, tax, accounting and commercial advice. Immigration eligibility does not prove an investment is sound or recoverable.
- Disclose refusals, ownership, related parties, criminal or regulatory history and the true source of funds. Misrepresentation can lead to refusal and a five-year inadmissibility under IRPA section 40.
Frequently asked questions
Is there any federal program I can apply to today as an entrepreneur?
No. The Start-up Visa and the federal Self-Employed Persons Program are paused. IRCC has announced a new targeted pilot but has not published its rules. Your options are the provincial and territorial streams that are open, and Quebec's own programs.
Does buying a Canadian business give me a work permit or permanent residence?
No. Buying a company alone does not give work authorization or permanent residence. A business owner work permit (C11 or C60) has its own conditions, and permanent residence goes through a province's or Quebec's selection.
Can a business visitor run a Canadian business during a visit?
No. A business visitor does not enter the Canadian labour market and keeps their main place of business and income outside Canada. Running day-to-day Canadian operations or serving Canadian clients from inside Canada may need a work permit.
Can a consultant or fund guarantee my nomination or visa?
No. Nobody can guarantee a visa, nomination or permanent residence. Check the stream and its intake on the government site before you pay anyone or commit funds.
Official sources
- IRCC: Start-up Visa
- IRCC notice: Update on immigration measures for entrepreneurs (December 19, 2025)
- IRCC: Self-Employed Persons Program
- IRCC: Business owners seeking only temporary residence (C11)
- IRCC: Provincial business candidates and Quebec self-employed (C60)
- IRCC: Quebec investors, entrepreneurs and self-employed persons
- Quebec: Business immigration
- Quebec: Investor program, conditions
- Quebec: Self-employed worker, conditions
- Quebec: Entrepreneur program, business start-up conditions
- IRCC: Provincial nominees
- IRCC: Business visitors
- IRCC: Fee list
- Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, section 40 (misrepresentation)
This page is general information about Canadian immigration law and policy as of the date above. It is not legal advice for your situation. Programs, forms and fees change often; check the official sources before you apply.