Canada’s Start-up Visa program, once touted as a direct path to permanent residency for foreign entrepreneurs, now faces wait times of 53 months—more than four years. Launched in 2013 and made permanent in 2018, the SUV was designed to attract innovative founders with backing from VCs, angels, or incubators.
But backlogs now exceed 42,000 applications, worsened by caps on new submissions and reduced federal targets. Critics, including former NACO CEO Yuri Navarro, argue misuse by some incubators and weak applications have undermined the program. Observers warn delays risk discouraging global talent Canada hopes to lure.
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