IRCC announces Key Changes to Canada Start-up Visa & Self-Employed Persons programs

The Self-Employed Persons programs will undergo revisions aimed at reducing backlogs and enhancing processing efficiency. Immigration Minister of Canada, Marc Miller has unveiled significant changes to both the Start-Up Visa and Self-Employed Persons programs.

Starting April 30, 2024, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will roll out new processing policies for the Start-up Visa, while simultaneously pausing the intake of applications for the Self-Employed Persons program.

Start-up Visa Program Update

To boost the Start-up Visa Program, IRCC will incentivize designated venture capital firms, angel investor groups, and business incubators to prioritize the most promising proposals by:

• capping the number of PR applications IRCC will accept for processing each year to those associated with no more than 10 start-ups per designated organization
• providing urgent processing for entrepreneurs whose start-up is supported by Canadian capital or by a business incubator that is a member of Canada’s Tech Network, including applications in the inventory and new applications as they are submitted

Also read- How to Apply for Canada Startup Visa from India

Temporary Pause on Self-Employed Persons Program

Additionally, Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller has announced a complete cessation of application intake for the Self-Employed Persons Program, effective April 30, 2024. This pause aims to concentrate efforts on processing existing applications from the inventory. The Self-Employed Persons Program offers a pathway to permanent residence for individuals with significant experience in art, culture, recreation, or sports, contributing to Canada’s cultural vibrancy.

Processing delays exceeding four years have arisen due to the program's high application volume. During this pause, IRCC will continue to prioritize the clearance of applications from the backlog while exploring avenues to reform the program and uphold its integrity. Speaking about this new update, Minister Miller said,

“Fast processing is critical to the success of entrepreneurs who come to Canada through our federal business programs. These necessary changes will set the Start­up Visa Program and Self-Employed Persons Program on the path to faster processing times while we look ahead to further reforms to make these programs more sustainable and effective over the long term.”

Through limiting application submissions until the conclusion of 2026 and proposing augmented admissions for the federal business category outlined in the 2024–2026 multi-year levels plan, IRCC aims to diminish backlog and decrease waiting periods. This strategy enables IRCC to uphold its commitment to welcoming skilled, innovative, and entrepreneurial individuals essential for fostering Canada’s economic expansion.

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For the most recent updates on Canadian immigration and to initiate your application for Canadian Permanent Residency (PR) Visa this year, connect with a reliable migration expert, you may get in touch with Visas Avenue on Toll-Free No. 78-18-000-777 or you can drop us an e-mail at info@visasavenue.com.

- Rajneesh Kumar