List of designated organizations: Immigrate with a start-up visa
We’re not currently accepting new applications
The Start-Up Visa Program was paused on June 30, 2026. We’ll continue to process applications we accepted before this date.
If you’re eligible, you can still apply for an open work permit so you can work while we process your application.
You need support from at least 1 of the organizations below to apply for a start-up visa.
Check the organization’s website to see how you can get their support.
Priority applications
We’re now prioritizing applications backed by
- venture capital funds
- angel investor groups
- business incubators with committed capital of $75,000
- organizations in Canada’s Tech Network labelled Priority processing
Business incubators
You must be accepted into one of these programs:
- Alacrity Foundation
- Alberta Food Centre
- Alberta IoT Association
- Altitude Accelerator
- Bhive
- Biomedical Commercialization Canada Inc. (operating as Manitoba Innovates, previously as Manitoba Technology Accelerator)
- Ability to issue commitment certificates suspended from December 19, 2025 to September 19, 2026.
- Brilliant Catalyst
- DMZ Ventures
- Empowered Startups Ltd.
- Extreme Innovations
- Foresight Cleantech Accelerator Centre
- Genesis Priority processing
- Global Startups Accelerator (formerly LatAm Startups)
- Highline BETA Inc.
- Innovate Calgary
- Innovate Eastman Inc.
- Innovation Cluster - Peterborough and the Kawarthas
- Innovation Factory Priority processing
- Interactive Niagara Media Cluster o/a Innovate Niagara Priority processing
- Intrinsic Innovations
- ISM Arts & Culture Ltd
- Ignite o/a Planet Hatch
- Launch Academy - Vancouver
- LaunchPad PEI Inc.
- Millworks Centre for Entrepreneurship
- NEXT Canada
- North Forge Technology Exchange Priority processing
- Pacific Technology Ventures
- Platform Calgary Priority processing
- Pycap
- Red Leaf Capital Corp
- Roseview Global Incubator
- Spark Commercialization and Innovation Centre
- Spring Activator
- The DMZ Priority processing
- Think8 Global Institute
- TiE Toronto
- Toronto Business Development Centre (TBDC)
- Treefrog
- TSRV Canada Inc. (operating as Techstars Canada)
- University of Toronto Entrepreneurship Hatchery
- ventureLAB Innovation Centre Priority processing
- VIATEC Priority processing
- Waterloo Accelerator Centre Priority processing
- York Entrepreneurship Development Institute
- YSpace (York University)
Venture capital funds
Priority processing
You must get at least one of these groups to agree to invest a minimum of $200,000:
- 7 Gate Ventures
- Alt Ventures
- Amplitude Ventures Inc.
- Apex Innovative Investments Ventures
- Arete Pacific Tech Ventures (VCC) Corp
- BCF Ventures
- BDC Venture Capital
- Extreme Venture Partners LLP
- Golden Venture Partners Fund, LP
- INP Capital
- iNovia Capital Inc.
- Intrinsic Venture Capital
- Invest Nova Scotia
- PRIVEQ Capital Funds
- Red Leaf Capital Corp
- Relay Ventures
- Tangentia Ventures
- Vanedge Capital Limited Partnership
- WhiteHaven Venture
- Westcap Management Ltd.
- Yaletown Venture Partners Inc.
- York Entrepreneurship Development Institute (YEDI) VC Fund
Angel investor groups
Priority processing
You must get one or more investors connected to these groups to agree to invest a minimum of $75,000: