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If you're from a visa-free country like the USA or parts of Europe, your stay in Canada is limited to just 6 months — and your children won't qualify for free elementary or high school education. Even if you apply for an extension, the current strict immigration policies make it increasingly difficult for temporary visitors to stay long-term. Canada's evolving immigration landscape demands a more permanent pathway.
So, what is the long-term solution to the changing Canadian immigration landscape ?
In short, obtaining permanent residency in Canada, which allows you to stay as long as you like without any restrictions of going back and forth.
You can either obtain your PR status to Canada on arrival, before even entering the country, or later while you're already operating your business here. In this article, we'll explore the only PR programs in Canada that offer certainty and a clear path to residency. How certain are they? Stay with us as we provide an in-depth, side-by-side comparison of the Startup Visa Program and the Provincial Entrepreneur Program—the last two viable options for professionals, investors, managers, and entrepreneurs seeking Canadian PR.
At INGWE, we have successfully helped thousands of families since 2018, from over 55 countries navigate the complex landscape of business and investment immigration. Connect with us for a personalized assessment - click here.
Side-by-Side Comparison: Provincial Entrepreneur vs. Start-Up Visa (SUV)
To provide a clear comparison of these programs, we've identified the key factors that matter most to you and our clients. Discover why some applicants choose the Startup Visa Program, while others find the Provincial Entrepreneur Program better suited to their goals and circumstances.
Both pathways represent the only business immigration options available in Canada outside of Quebec. While the Quebec Immigrant Investor Program remains an option, it requires applicants to have proficiency in French and demands a significant investment of approximately CAD $1.2 million, with financing options available. In this article, we’ll focus on non-Quebec business immigration programs tailored for entrepreneurs and investors seeking Permanent Residency (PR) in Canada.
What are these programs?
The Startup Visa program is the only Federal direct PR business immigration program to Canada at the moment. The provincial Entrepreneur program, also known as PNP Entrepreneur, is a work permit to PR program which is managed by each province separately – meaning you first obtain a work permit when you are approved by the province, run your business as per the stipulated agreement and then become nominated for PR when the timeline to run the business has been completed.
1. Geographic location
The first comparison is based on geographic restrictions for these 2 programs. With the Startup Visa program, as it’s a Federal program, you can move and settle anywhere in Canada except the French speaking province of Quebec. For the Provincial Entrepreneur program you are restricted to the specific province & city where you proposed to run your business and were invited by the local provincial immigration office to participate in their program.
At INGWE, we have successfully helped thousands of families since 2018 from over 55 countries navigate the complex landscape of business and investment immigration. Connect with us for a personalized assessment - click here.
2. Time Commitment
When it comes to the time you should be spending inside Canada and the specific province before you obtain Permanent Residency, the requirements are quite straightforward. For the Provincial Entrepreneur program you need to spend 80% of the time in the city/region where your business is located and where the province has invited you to participate (remember you’ll have a work permit to operate in that particular region). According to official information on provincial immigration websites, the processing timeline for the Provincial Entrepreneur Program typically ranges from 6 to 18 months, depending on the province and city you choose to settle in. However, it's important to note that once you receive a provincial nomination for Permanent Residency (PR), you are required to remain within the province during the PR processing period, which can take an additional 15 months on average. In total, the Provincial Entrepreneur Program can take anywhere from 2 to 4 years, depending on the province you apply to. Provinces like Manitoba and New Brunswick offer the fastest processing times, while British Columbia (BC), home to Vancouver, has one of the longest timelines—potentially extending your entire PR process to around 3.5 years.
On the other hand, the Startup Visa Program offers greater flexibility, as it does not require you to stay in Canada while your PR is being processed. Although an optional work permit is available, allowing you and your family to enter and stay in Canada during the process, it is not mandatory. This means you can remain in your home country or travel globally while awaiting your PR approval.
However, it’s recommended to visit Canada at least twice a year, even as a temporary visitor, to handle essential tasks such as opening a business bank account and connecting with key stakeholders. In some cases, having a team member handle these visits on your behalf may also be sufficient.
3. Type of Business
When it comes to the type of business that qualifies for Canada's Startup Visa Program and the Provincial Entrepreneur Program, there are significant differences in eligibility and flexibility.
Under the Provincial Entrepreneur Program, you have the flexibility to establish and operate almost any type of business—as long as it is not based on passive investment or income. For example, ventures such as property rentals or earning dividends are not eligible under this program. However, personal investments in these areas outside of the immigration process are not restricted and can be pursued separately. This means that under the provincial entrepreneur program in Canada you can run an ice cream shop, coffee shop, restaurant, mechanic repair shop, convenient store in a rural community perhaps, manufacturing, IT, services, among many others. The sky is the limit here, however, it’s crucial to ensure that your business aligns with the specific eligibility criteria set by the province you apply to, including minimum investment thresholds, job creation requirements, and net worth qualifications.
You can download our high level overview of the program here.
On the other hand, with the Startup Visa Federal program, the business type has to be innovative and scalable, meaning a regular brick & mortar business, a medical clinic or similar style traditional businesses are not accepted. It should be innovative in any industry such as tech, agriculture, health, manufacturing , Fintech or any other. It could be hardware, software, chemical innovations, patented procedures, or any other groundbreaking concept.
4. Endorsement
Another key difference between the two programs is whether you need an endorsement letter or not. Under the Provincial Entrepreneur Program, if you are applying to a provincial program which is not specifically categorized or labeled as a Rural program (such as the ones in BC or Alberta), then you do not need any 3rd party organization to issue an endorsement before you apply to the province to be invited to participate in the work permit to PR program. However if you do apply to a rural community under a specific Rural Entrepreneur program such as the one in BC (called the BC Regional Pilot Program) or Alberta’s Rural Entrepreneur Stream, then it is mandatory to receive a letter of endorsement from the community board to support your application to apply to the provincial entrepreneur program to come to their community and start or buy a business.
Under the Startup Visa program, you have no choice BUT to receive a letter of endorsement from a designated organization participating in this immigration program. The list of participating endorsing bodies are listed on the IRCC website: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/start-visa/designated-organizations.html
These designated organizations are either business accelerators (also known as incubators), venture capital entities and angel investor groups. Here are two pieces of advice to consider when considering applying for this program:
1) It’s pay to play, meaning as long as you have the funds to fund and support your start up, you will likely be endorsed.
2) The VC and Angel Investors won’t give you money to run your business. It’s all paperwork for the sake of the immigration program. You’ve got to bootstrap OR have external investors or entities with committed capital to run your new startup business in Canada.
Refer to the below image on what information and the structure of the Letter of Support from designated organizations under the SUV program (they are all government templates, and no matter who endorses you, the format is exactly the same):
At INGWE, we have successfully helped thousands of families since 2018 from over 55 countries navigate the complex landscape of business and investment immigration. Connect with us for a personalized assessment - click here.
5. Number of Applicants
Another unique feature of both programs is the number of people who can apply. Under the Startup Visa program, you can apply with 1 to 5 co-founders to immigrate together to Canada and receive your permanent residency. This means that you could have 1 innovative business concept, 1 endorsement, and up to 5 co-founders can apply for their PR together, including their eligible dependent family members. Of course you could be a solo-founder, or two founders. There are no advantages from the point of view of the immigration on whether you are solo or with a group. Each co-founder should own 10% minimum voting right shares to be eligible and meet the rest of the eligibility requirements of the Startup Visa program. For the provincial entrepreneur program, you apply solo and you cannot have a group of investors or entrepreneurs like the Startup Visa program apply with you.
6. Processing
A significant difference between the Canadian Startup Visa Program and the Provincial Entrepreneur Program lies in their processing.
With the Startup Visa Program, you can apply for Permanent Residency (PR) as soon as you receive your endorsement, a process that typically takes 1 to 3 months. This streamlined approach allows for faster progression to PR status.
In contrast, the Provincial Entrepreneur Program involves a more complex and lengthier process. Here's a breakdown:
Overall, the Provincial Entrepreneur Program is slower, requiring several stages of approval and a longer time commitment to meet provincial requirements before you can apply for PR. This makes the Startup Visa Program a faster option for entrepreneurs seeking a quicker pathway to Canadian PR.
7. Timeline
Under priority processing, the Startup Visa Program offers a significantly faster pathway to Permanent Residency (PR), with an estimated processing time of approximately 18 months after receiving the required endorsement.
In contrast, the Provincial Entrepreneur Program involves a lengthier process, with PR approval taking around 12 to 18 months after submitting your PR application. However, considering the various preliminary steps involved, the total timeline for this program can range from 1 to 2 years after initiating the process.
Here’s a breakdown of the Provincial Entrepreneur Program timeline:
In total, the Provincial Entrepreneur Program can take anywhere from 2 to 4 years, depending on the province and processing efficiency, making the Startup Visa Program the faster and more efficient option for entrepreneurs seeking Canadian PR in a shorter timeframe.
It's important to note that in order to receive your Permanent Residency (PR) within the estimated 18-month timeframe under the Startup Visa Program, the designated organization you apply to must be classified as a ‘priority’ organization by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
At INGWE, we have successfully helped thousands of families since 2018 from over 55 countries navigate the complex landscape of business and investment immigration. Connect with us for a personalized assessment - click here.
8. Eligibility
Under the Startup Visa program you need a proof of language exam such as English or French (IELTS or CELPIP) general exam, not the academic version. You’ll also need minimum settlement funds: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/proof-funds-start-business-class.html
For the Startup Visa program you also need a police check or Criminal record report, and a letter of support from the designated organization.
Unlike the Startup Visa program, the provincial Entrepreneur program is a points-based program for each province, meaning you first need to submit your EOI (Expression of Interest) to show your profile and then be assigned a score. You will need proof of language exam upfront except for the province of BC (Base program), and you will need the minimum investment liquid funds ready and net worth minimum requirements which can range from CAD$300,000 to $600,000, depending on which province you apply to. Another key requirement of the provincial entrepreneur program is that you would need at least 3 years of minimum management or business ownership experience, otherwise you won’t qualify or receive enough points. The requirements are much more strict compared to the Startup Visa program.
Any similarities?
There is one thing both these programs do have in common; you can apply as an existing business, brand new business or acquire a business in Canada to qualify for either pathway. Under the Provincial Entrepreneur Program, you have the option of either purchasing or starting a business from scratch. If you have an overseas entity which you want to duplicate in Canada, you can apply as a ‘new’ business but show that you have already run this business successfully and want to replicate your success now in that city/province, as long as it’s not passive investment or income. Under the Startup visa program you could already be running this innovative business for the past few years and just want to move it to Canada, or it could be a brand new concept on paper which you want to invest in and develop inside Canada from the ground up.
Under the Startup Visa program you can acquire another business, which is quite normal as a company that wants to grow faster, but you would still need your innovative business concept to be endorsed by the designated organization BEFORE you start acquiring other companies in your industry inside Canada.
So what is the Conclusion?
Ok – now you’re totally confused! You’re wondering which program you should apply to for your Canadian PR. We’ve broken it down into key points to help you make an informed decision based on your unique situation:
- If you plan to apply and reside in Toronto or in the province of Ontario, there is no current provincial entrepreneur program. So you may only have the Startup Visa option.
- If you are in a rush, the Startup Visa program is much faster.
- If you don’t want to spend time in Canada for 2 years before obtaining your PR, then the Startup Visa program is ideal for you.
- If you want to invest in a business AFTER you have been approved by the government, then the provincial program is a better option.
- If you want to run your coffee shop, restaurant, or brick and mortar or manufacturing plant, then the provincial entrepreneur program is the only alternative.
- If you have no management or business ownership experience of at least 3 years, then you can only apply for the Startup Visa program.
- If you don’t meet the minimum net worth or liquid fund requirements of the provincial entrepreneur program, then you can only apply for the Startup Visa program.
- If you can’t submit your proof of language exam score before you apply, then your only option is the Provincial Entrepreneur program in BC, Base category program, minimum net worth of CAD$600,000 and although the minimum investment is stated as CAD$200,000, if you plan to apply around Vancouver, don’t attempt anything with less than CAD$400,000 investment to have a real chance of being invited by the province to participate in this program.
- If you need to travel back and forth to your home country or other countries outside Canada during the PR processing time and can’t stay inside Canada for 80% or more, then the Startup Visa would be the only viable option for you.
- Education is not mandatory under any of these programs, although it gives you bonus points under provincial program points matrices for your Expression of Interest.
- One of the most important aspects for parents who have children turning 22 in the next few weeks, months or within the next year, is that if you proceed with the provincial Entrepreneur program your child will be considered independent and not be included in your PR application down the line as they turn 22. However under the Startup Visa program, you can potentially receive your Letter of Support quickly and apply to lock in the age of your child BEFORE they turn 22, to keep them in your PR application with the rest of your dependent family members.
There you have it—everything broken down to help you make an informed and confident decision. However, if navigating these options feels overwhelming or simply too much to handle, there's always an easier path. You can opt for a Golden Visa and secure your permanent residency in countries like Portugal, Spain, Panama, Italy, Greece, Dubai, New Zealand, Malta, or Cyprus. These programs offer a hassle-free solution, allowing you to obtain residency within months—no complex requirements, no lengthy processes—just the investment needed to open doors to your new future.
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If you’re thinking about immigrating whether permanently or temporarily - you’re at the right place! Our team speaks over +9 languages, and we help applicants from over 50 different countries during their immigration process. To contact us click here.
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