Maple News reports that immigrant entrepreneurs who received a valid Start-Up Visa commitment certificate from a designated organization in 2025 have until June 30, 2026 to apply for permanent residence under Canada’s Start-Up Visa program. This extended window specifically covers 2025 certificate holders and marks the final opportunity to pursue PR under the SUV before a broader transition unfolds.
IRCC is prioritizing applicants who are already in Canada on SUV-specific work permits for permanent residence, as part of efforts to reduce the temporary resident population by moving eligible individuals to PR status.
Those who did not have a certificate issued by an eligible business incubator, venture capital fund, or angel investor group by December 31, 2025 do not qualify for this final deadline. In late 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada stopped accepting new SUV applications, effectively closing the program to new applicants except for those with a valid 2025 commitment certificate. Separately, the SUV open work permit program was halted on December 19, 2025, with only work permit extensions being accepted thereafter.
IRCC described these measures as part of a transition to a new, targeted pilot program for immigrant entrepreneurs and to address a growing backlog of business applications. At the time of reporting, the waiting time for a newly submitted SUV application remained well over 10 years, with roughly 46,600 applicants awaiting final decisions.
For those with a 2025 commitment certificate, the path remains straightforward: submit your PR application by June 30, ensure you have reviewed the SUV application guide (IMM 5759), confirm eligibility, and gather all required documentation. IRCC has not released details on the replacement entrepreneur program as of now. Maple News will continue monitoring developments and provide updates for eligible applicants.