Start a Business in Canada From Approximately US$166,000 Through the Start-up Visa: Apply Directly for Permanent Residence and Access Many of the Same Benefits as Citizens

May 6, 2025

IMM Group’s SUV package, from approximately US$166,000, helps investors bring a start-up idea to life and start a business in Canada. The Canada Start-up Visa program offers the whole family a pathway to permanent residence, with access to healthcare, education, and other benefits.

Canada is known for its prosperous economy and one of the highest standards of living in the world. Its social welfare, healthcare, and education systems are highly regarded and largely free for residents. Canada also welcomes newcomers through open immigration policies, which has made it a leading destination for families looking to relocate.

The Start-up Visa (SUV) is one of the Canada immigration pathways that attracts strong interest from investors. The program allows eligible investors to apply directly for Canadian permanent residence (PR) for the whole family, without a temporary residence stage. The main applicant, spouse or partner, and children under 22 can be included in the same application. Access to Canada through this route widened in 2023–2025, when several favorable policy changes were introduced.

As the name suggests, the program is designed for people with promising business ideas who want to start a business in Canada. IMM Group’s SUV package (from approximately US$166,000) supports investors in developing their idea and establishing a company in Canada.

Key advantages of the Canada SUV program

• Direct Canadian permanent residence. Investors can remain in their home country while their PR application is processed (about 3 years at the time of writing). Those who wish to move to Canada sooner to settle in and enroll their children in school can apply for a work permit within a few months.
• No requirements for age, education, business experience, industry, or net worth. Documenting the source of funds is simpler than in other Canadian immigration programs.
• Permanent residence is not conditional on the business results of the start-up in Canada.

What investors need to qualify for PR under the Canada Start-up Visa

1. Support from a designated organization

Investors must secure the support of an organization designated by the Government of Canada. This support is confirmed in a letter of support and may include a funding commitment. To obtain this letter, investors need an innovative business idea with strong growth potential. There are currently 3 types of organizations designated by the Government of Canada to assess, support, and invest in start-ups under the SUV program:

• Venture capital funds
• Angel investor groups
• Business incubators

Under the Government of Canada’s definition, an innovative business is one that is “scalable” to global markets. Start-ups in any industry can apply to the SUV program. However, the business must be distinctive and use advanced or environmentally friendly technology. By contrast, conventional ideas such as retail, consulting, accounting, restaurants, or cafés are not a good fit.

Investors who choose IMM Group’s SUV package receive support in developing their business idea. Those who do not yet have a specific idea can be connected with suitable projects (up to 5 applicants per project).

2. Language proficiency

A minimum IELTS General Training score of 5.0 is mandatory for the Canada Start-up Visa program. Throughout the start-up process, from due diligence, interviews, and coordination to building the venture with the designated organization and support team, investors need good English. Investors who choose a business incubator must also complete the 40-hour Global Start-up Accelerator (GSA) training program in English. IELTS results are submitted with the permanent residence application and the work permit application.

3. Professional experience

Although it is not a regulatory requirement, experience is a major competitive advantage for an SUV application. A lack of business experience and/or expertise related to the start-up idea makes an application less attractive and less convincing to designated organizations and to the Government of Canada.

Investors should ideally have 2–3 years of business and management experience in the field they plan to pursue in Canada, or professional experience in a function essential to a company’s growth, such as accounting, programming, IT, or marketing. This knowledge and experience give investors the skills and perspective to take an active, ongoing role in managing the business in Canada.

4. Sufficient funds to cover living costs

In addition to the investment of approximately US$166,000 in the start-up, investors must have enough money to cover living costs in Canada for the first year. The amount depends on family size. For example, a family of 4 relocating together must show C$27,297 in settlement funds. These funds can be documented with bank or savings account statements.

Canada PR benefits for the whole family

With permanent residence, investors and their families are free to live in any Canadian province or territory. The whole family has access to healthcare, social benefits, and education on largely the same terms as Canadian citizens (the main exception being the right to vote).

Children attend public schools free of charge through the end of high school. The government also pays a monthly benefit to help permanent residents with the cost of raising children under 18. At the university level, tuition is about two-thirds lower than for international students.

For healthcare, every family member receives a provincial health card. Permanent residents do not pay for medically necessary hospital care or surgery. Doctor visits for outpatient care are also free of charge, and supplementary insurance can reimburse prescription costs.

After at least 3 years, permanent residents may be eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship. The Canadian passport, ranked 7th in the world at the time of writing, offers the freedom to travel visa-free to more than 186 destinations.

Why choose IMM Group for the Canada Start-up Visa program?

IMM Group, founded in January 2005, is a Vietnam-based pioneer in advisory services for residency and citizenship by investment in developed countries, including the United States, Australia, Canada, and Europe. With more than 21 years of experience, IMM Group has built a strong track record of helping investors complete the Canadian PR process through the Start-up Visa (SUV) program.

IMM Group currently offers a Canada SUV advisory package starting from approximately US$166,000, which includes:

• Developing and executing the start-up idea.
• Working with designated organizations in Canada.
• Supporting the growth of the start-up in Canada.

IMM Group’s experienced team in Canada works with investors throughout the process to meet all Canada SUV program requirements, helping to strengthen the application and support a smoother path toward Canadian permanent residence.

With a broad partner network and in-depth knowledge of immigration regulations, IMM Group helps clients improve their chances of obtaining a Letter of Support from reputable designated organizations. We track the latest immigration policy changes to help ensure that each client’s application meets current criteria.

Clients receive detailed, step-by-step guidance, from developing the business idea to preparing the immigration application, helping to streamline the process and strengthen their prospects of settling successfully in Canada.

Guided by our motto, “Serving with Authentic Values,” IMM Group is committed to high-quality, transparent, and dedicated advisory services, supporting investors as they pursue new opportunities in Canada.

If you are interested in Canadian business immigration through the Start-up Visa (SUV) program, contact IMM Group or leave your details below. Our experienced team will provide detailed advice and assess your application’s prospects. We are committed to protecting your personal data and will use the information you provide only to advise on your family’s application.

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IMM Group · International investment migration advisory since 2005 — IMM Group advises only on entrepreneur and investor programs and does not accept overseas labor placement or unskilled worker cases (EB-3 and similar).