The Canadian Federal Start-up Visa (or “SUV”) is an economic immigrant program that is aimed at entrepreneurs who have the skills and ability to start an innovative business in Canada which has the potential to compete on a global scale and to create jobs for Canadians.

To qualify under the SUV, the entrepreneur must obtain a Letter of Support from a designated organization – either a Canadian business incubator, angel investor group or venture capital funds – who will ensure the acceleration of his/her innovative business idea. He/she must also possess a level 5 (basic intermediate level) in French or in English under the Canadian Language Benchmark (or “CLB”) and demonstrate having enough money to settle in Canada and support his/her family members for the first 12 months. Once determined eligible by the Canadian federal government, the entrepreneur, his/her spouse and their dependent children under the age of 22 will be granted permanent resident status in Canada.

One of the benefits of this program is that it allows the entrepreneur and the accompanying family members to settle anywhere in Canada (except the province of Quebec which selects its own business immigrants). In addition, this program allows the entrepreneur to obtain a Canadian work permit and to start developing his/her start-up on site while his/her application for permanent residence (or “PR”) is being processed. Simultaneously, the spouse may apply for an open work permit and the dependent children for a study permit.

As of March 2021, the SUV processing time is 12 to 16 months (starting from the receipt of a complete file by federal government) – one of the fastest PR programs in Canada.

1. Application Service Package
   
   Kaizen’s comprehensive Canadian SUV application service package includes all of the following services:
   

   (1)	Initial eligibility assessment and consultation with our Canadian immigration counsel;
   (2)	Continuous advice regarding the incubation program and the PR application throughout the entire process, until the issuance of the Confirmation of Permanent Residence (or “CoPR”);
   (3)	Coordination with all stakeholders (Principal Applicant (or “PA”), Access Global, IT Team, Business Plan Provider and Incubator) to support the PA in carrying out the start-up project and applying for the PR;
   (4)	Preparation and review of the pitch deck and business plan in coordination with the relevant parties;
   (5)	Incubation program, including online and/or offline training, where applicable;
   (6)	Preparation of the application forms;
   (7)	Assistance with gathering the supporting documentation;
   (8)	Legal representation for the purpose of the PR application;
   (9)	Submission of the PR application package to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (or the “IRCC”);
   (10)	Submission of the work permit application, where applicable;
   (11)	Liaison with the IRCC regarding the PR (and work permit) application(s);
   (12)	Coordination with all stakeholders to respond to requests for additional documents, peer reviews and procedural fairness letters, where applicable;
   (13)	Preparation of the PA for an interview with an Immigration Officer, upon request;
   (14)	Assistance with the medical examination and criminal check documentation;
   (15)	Handling of the approved CoPR.

   
   Note:
   You may request the full version of this quotation, including our Handling Fees, Payment Terms and Refund Policy, HERE.
   
   

   For reference purposes and subject to change, the Federal Government of Canada application fees as at March 8th, 2021 are as follow: Federal Start-up visa processing fee: CAD 1,575 Spouse or partner processing fee: CAD 825 Dependent child processing fee:  CAD 225 per child Right of permanent residence fee (does not apply to children): CAD 500 per pers.

   
   
2. Payment Terms and Refund Policy
   
   For the full version of this quotation, including the Payment Terms and Refund Policy section, please request it HERE.
   
   
3. Eligibility Criteria
   
   To qualify for the Canadian Start-up Visa program, the Principal Applicant must:
   
   

   (1)	Have a qualifying business*;
   (2)	Obtain a Commitment Certificate and Letter of Support from a designated entity;
   (3)	Demonstrate proficiency in English or French equivalent to level 5 of the CLB in speaking, reading, listening and writing;
   (4)	Possess the necessary funds to settle in Canada with the accompanying family members (for reference purposes, the funds required for a family of four are CAD24,083 as at March 2021);
   (5)	Have satisfactory medical examination results and police certificates (for all family members);
   (6)	Provide active and ongoing management of the business from within Canada at the time of obtaining permanent residence. An essential part of the operations of the business must happen in Canada.

   * A corporation that is incorporated in and carrying on business in Canada is a qualifying business if, at the time the commitment is made, both of the following are true:
   

   (1)	Each applicant holds 10% or more of the voting rights attached to all shares of the corporation outstanding at that time;
   (2)	Applicants and the designated entity jointly hold more than 50% of the total voting rights attached to all shares of the corporation outstanding at that time.

   
   The above-mentioned eligibility criteria may be subject to change by the IRCC without prior notice. Please consult with Kaizen’s immigration counsel before submitting an application.
   
   
4. Documentary Evidence and Information Requirements
   
   The following documents and information are required for the purpose of your Canada Federal Start-up Visa application:
   
   PART A: FORMS
   
   

   (1)	Generic Application Form to Canada (IMM 0008)
   (2)	Additional Dependents/Declaration (IMM 0008DEP) (if applicable)
   (3)	Schedule A: Background/Declaration (IMM5669) (all family members, accompanying or not)
   (4)	Supplementary Information – Your Travels (IMM5562)
   (5)	Schedule 13 – Business Immigration Programs – Start-up Business Class (IMM 0008 – Schedule 13)
   (6)	Additional Family Information (IMM 5406) (all family members, accompanying or not)
   (7)	Use of a Representative (IMM 5476)
   (8)	Document Checklist – Permanent Residence – Start Up Business Class (IMM 5760), attached as the covering page of the application package

   PART B: SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
   
   

   (1)	Passports or travel documents of PA, spouse or partner and dependent children
   (2)	Proof of language Proficiency
   (3)	Letter of Support from a designated entity
   (4)	Identity and civil documents including: (a)   Birth certificates (b)   Legal documents showing name of date of birth changes (if any) (c)   Marriage certificate(s), final divorce or annulment certificate(s) of PA and spouse (d)   Death certificate of former spouse(s) or partner(s) (if any) (e)   National IDs, family/household registry/book (where applicable) (f)   If you have a common-law partner: Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union (IMM 5409 – original) Evidence that you have cohabited for a period of at least 12 continuous months, such as copies of joint bank account statements, leases, utility bills, etc.
   (5)	Dependent children (if any): (a)  Children’s birth certificates (b)  Legal adoption papers issued by recognized national authorities (if applicable) (c)  Proof of full custody for children under the age of 18 (if applicable) (d)  Signed Statutory Declaration from Non-Accompanying Parent/Guardian for Minors Immigrating to Canada (IMM 5604 - original) (one per child, if applicable) (e)  Copy of non-accompanying parent/guardian’s photo ID showing their signature (f)  Proof of a child 19 of age or older who depends substantially on the financial support of the parent since before the age of 19 and is unable to be financially self-supporting due to a physical or mental condition
   (6)	Police certificates and clearances, for each country or territory where you have lived for six months or more since the age of 18 (together with submission or upon request)
   (7)	Two (2) recent photos of yourself and each of your family members (accompanying or not), which must meet the required photo specifications
   (8)	IRCC official receipt with barcode of your online fee payment
   (9)	Proof of readily transferrable funds available for settlement in Canada (i.e.: current bank certification letter, savings account balance, or fixed or time deposit statements)
   (10)	You may be required to disclose all your assets and liabilities belonging to you and your spouse or partner. Supporting documents are not required at the time of submission but might be requested later in the process.

5. Application Steps and Estimated Timeline
   
   The estimated preparation time for a SUV application varies between 17 to 28 weeks, depending on the Incubator involved, the cooperation of the applicant(s), and other factors such as immigration policy changes.
   
   Once a complete PR application package is received by the IRCC, a final decision is rendered by an immigration officer within 12 to 16 months (current processing time pledge by the IRCC, as at March 24, 2021). Consequently, the total processing time is currently 16 to 23 months.
   
   The processing time for a work permit is between 10 to 19 weeks.
   
   For the full version of this quotation, including the detailed Application Steps and Estimated Timeline section, please request it HERE.