On October 24, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) released an official notice to Designated Organizations (DOs) regarding the current processing status of the Start-up Visa (SUV) program.

IRCC confirmed that the program is not paused or cancelled. However, to optimize resources, applications in priority groups—such as those with a Letter of Support (LOS) from reputable investment organizations or members of the Tech Network—will be processed faster.

KEY MESSAGES FROM IRCC ABOUT THE START-UP VISA (24/10/2025)

IRCC reaffirmed its processing strategy based on the priority framework issued in April 2024. Key points include:

1. Priority applications are processed first

This group includes:

• Applicants with a Letter of Support from a Designated Organization with committed investment funds.

• Applications with LOS issued by organizations in the Canadian Tech Network.

IRCC allocates its processing resources to these priority cases.

2. Remaining applications processed by order of submission

After handling priority files, IRCC continues processing:

• Regular applications,

• In the order they were submitted,

• Depending on the annual immigration targets set in the Immigration Levels Plan.

3. Reason for limiting Letters of Support since April 2024

To control backlogs, IRCC implemented:

• A cap of 10 LOS per year for each Designated Organization,

• Priority processing for applications with LOS or committed investment.

WHY START-UP VISA PROCESSING TIMES HAVE INCREASED

IRCC explained the main reasons behind longer processing times:

1. Application volume exceeds program capacity

Processing times depend on:

• The number of pending applications,

• The annual quota assigned to the program.

When backlogs far exceed the available yearly quota, even increased processing efficiency cannot significantly reduce wait times.

→ This is exactly what has happened to the SUV program in recent years.

2. Impact of reduced immigration targets after April 2024

The immigration policy context in Canada during 2024–2025 saw a reduction in overall immigration targets. This led to:

• A significant decrease in the quota allocated to the Start-up Visa (SUV) program,

• Limited processing capacity for IRCC,

• And longer processing times, even with the prioritized processing framework already in place.

CANADA CONTINUES TO PRIORITIZE ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION

Despite tightening immigration policy for sustainability, IRCC emphasized:

• Attracting global entrepreneurs remains a core economic strategy,

• Reform measures are being evaluated to reduce the backlog,

• The SUV program continues to be an important pathway for innovators contributing to Canada’s economy.

CONCLUSION

• The Start-up Visa program has not been cancelled.

• IRCC is focusing on priority processing while reviewing reforms to align the program with Canada’s innovation and economic goals.

• Although processing times remain long, the SUV program is still a sustainable pathway for global entrepreneurs seeking to build their future in Canada.

For tailored guidance on eligibility, documents, and strategy, contact OMG VISA for expert consultation.