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Many entrepreneurs assume that if they immigrate to Canada under the Start-Up Visa program, they must dedicate themselves solely to their start-up business. That’s simply not the case anymore. One of the most underrated advantages of the Start-Up Visa Canada 2025 program is the freedom it gives applicants to work, earn, and invest outside of their start-up while their Permanent Residency (PR) application is being processed.
Whether you want to keep your current job abroad, take on a part-time role in Canada, or even invest in additional ventures, the program allows for full flexibility—as long as your qualifying start-up continues to make meaningful progress.
In this article, we explain how the program works, clarify common misconceptions, and provide guidance for balancing your start-up commitments with external work opportunities.
The Start-Up Visa program is the only one of its kind in 2025. It is a Federal entrepreneurial and business immigration program that allows applicants to apply directly for Permanent Residency in Canada. To qualify, applicants must have an eligible start-up business that is innovative, scalable, and provides economic benefits to Canada. Regular brick-and-mortar businesses or traditional models typically do not meet the program’s criteria.
A qualifying start-up business must secure an endorsement, also referred to as a Letter of Support, from a designated organization approved by the Canadian government. These designated organizations may be business incubators, venture capital firms, or angel investor groups. With this endorsement, up to five co-founders or shareholders of the start-up business can apply, along with their dependent family members, for Permanent Residency from anywhere in the world. The application also provides an option to obtain a work permit to enter Canada, while your PR is under process.
There are two primary aspects of the Start-Up Visa Program: the eligibility of the applicant and the eligibility of the start-up business.
To meet the business eligibility criteria, the start-up must receive an endorsement from a designated organization. This process generally requires a compelling pitch deck, a well-researched business plan with detailed financial forecasting, and often a Minimum Viable Product (MVP).
To meet the applicant eligibility requirements, individuals must:
- Demonstrate language proficiency in English or French with a minimum score of CLB 5 (Canadian Language Benchmark 5)
- Show proof of settlement funds appropriate to their family size
- Have a clean criminal record
- Be free from chronic medical conditions that could make them inadmissible
Note: Police checks and medical exams typically apply to most dependent family members. However, the language and settlement fund requirements are specific to the principal applicant.
A common misconception about the Start-Up Visa is that applicants must focus exclusively on their qualifying business. However, it is 100% allowed to invest and work on other businesses while applicants are involved and participating in a Start-Up business and have their PRs under process. There is no restriction in Canadian regulations that limit investment or ownership in only one business. Canada has very relaxed regulations in terms of non-residents owning and investing in businesses in Canada, even if they have never visited the country.
When applicants under the Start-Up Visa business immigration program apply with a start-up business for their PR, they are legally allowed to own and invest in as many businesses as they prefer, with no restrictions. The start-up business they are a shareholder of which qualifies them for the Start-Up Visa program is mutually exclusive from their other business interests and activities.
There are two key beneficial advantages offered by the Start-Up Visa program for the main applicants. The first advantage is that they can stay back in their country of residence and continue in their current full-time job, without the requirement to enter Canada with a work permit before the PR decision is issued by the immigration department.
The other main advantage is that applicants have the option to apply for a 3-year open work permit which allows them and their dependent family members to enter Canada, after their PR applications have been submitted under the Start-Up Visa program.
An open work permit allows applicants to be self-employed, work for any other employers full-time or part-time, or a combination of both being self-employed and working for others. There are no work restrictions for open work permit holders except for specific regulated industries such as working with minors or in healthcare, which can also be obtained if the right qualifications and medical and background checks are completed in advance.
During the PR and work permit application processing, it is important to disclose any existing or past employment, and business ownership to the Canadian immigration authorities to avoid any misrepresentation which could disqualify the applicant from the program.
The Canadian government introduced the 3-year open work permit to Start-Up Visa applicants as they understand that most start-ups are bootstrapped and may not have income or profits in the first 3 years of their existence. Hence the open work permit allows main applicants to work part-time or even full-time to support themselves, their families while they work on growing their start-up business in order to become self-sufficient and profitable.
Understanding and integrating into the Canadian economy and labour force is critical for any applicants who want to grow their professional network in the country. As a start-up, applicants will also potentially play the role of future employers, and hence need to understand how the economy operates, finding talent, and networking with potential investors, joint venture partners, and skilled workers.
With an open work permit, applicants under the Start-Up Visa program have full flexibility to explore outside their own businesses, and create meaningful connections and gain valuable experience which can help them grow and operate their own business in the country.
As many applicants do not have work experience or experience running a business in North America, the open work permit for Start-Up Visa applicants allows them to fine-tune their professional skills while working in related industries in Canada. Developing their soft skills and understanding how the industry they are involved in operates in Canada is extremely important both for their professional and personal success while settling in the country.
Here is the big catch: Start-Up Visa applicants are still obliged to continue and grow their start-up businesses even if they are employed full-time either inside Canada or back in their home countries. The fact that the main applicants receive an open work permit to enter Canada and find employment, does not reduce their obligation in actively running and managing their start-up business. Hence even if applicants are working part-time or full time inside or outside Canada, their qualifying start-up business needs ongoing progress to maintain their eligibility for the program while their PRs are under process.
The key to effectively manage start-up commitments and their other work is to coordinate and plan with the rest of the co-founders of the start-up to:
A) Meet regularly to review progress and to overcome any hurdles.
B) Make sure none of the other co-founders are stagnant with their start-up responsibilities.
C) Adding deliverables and work to each co-founder who is accountable in reporting back to the rest of the shareholders by the next scheduled meeting,
Starting and managing a start-up business can be overwhelming and challenging, especially when the start-up does not have customers yet or revenue. It is important to differentiate between a ‘Successful Start-Up’ and a ‘Profitable Start-Up’. As per the Canadian immigration department, under the Start-Up Visa program, being profitable is not a requirement, however the business should be ‘for profit’ in terms of the ultimate goal.
The start-up founders should first have a working product, and dedicate their time to customize and tweak the product to meet market expectations and demand, which can be done by researching, networking and finding partners in the local market in Canada. The reality is that it will take time for the target market to adapt to the new technology or product, especially if competition already exists in the market. Small but tangible achievements and milestones should be the goal of the start-up founders, and these could be as simple as finding 1–2 customers who are willing to be onboarded with ‘freemium’ arrangements or as a pilot project.
Set your targets and expectations based on regular small achievements, rather than taking over the market in one big shot, which may not be likely in the Canadian market.
The Canadian immigration department expects the start-up to stay connected and engaged with the designated organization which endorses them under the Start-Up Visa program. Besides the immigration aspect, many of the incubators and angel investors and VCs have resources available for start-up founders to access such as mentors, networking events, and research resources or discounted B2B services.
It is already challenging enough to try to enter a new market with a new innovative product, hence it’s critical to leverage the existing professional network the start-up already has, which is the designated organization itself, as they help hundreds of start-ups each year and see exactly what works and what doesn’t. Use their guidance and expertise to avoid common pitfalls and mistakes which other start-ups have made and learn from others’ mistakes.
There is also no restriction on working or connecting with other incubators, accelerators or start-up mentor networks beyond the designated organization which endorsed your business for the Start-Up Visa program. The more you network and engage with local industry experts and entrepreneur networks, the more likely it is that your start-up will be successful (both for immigration and business ROI).
The Start-Up Visa Canada 2025 program offers more than a path to residency—it creates room to live, work, learn, and build, all at once. The ability to work outside your business is a major advantage, but it comes with responsibility. While external work can support your finances and help you integrate into the Canadian market, forgetting about your start-up or neglecting its progress can be a double-edged sword. Immigration authorities expect ongoing, active engagement with your start-up—and failing to show this progress can jeopardize your entire application.
With thoughtful planning, clear milestones, and the right support network, founders can strike a healthy balance between earning outside income and building a viable, scalable business. The most successful applicants treat their start-up as the core mission, using other work strategically—not as a distraction, but as a stepping stone to long-term success in Canada. and the right support network, founders can work outside their business while maintaining the momentum and commitment needed for long-term success.
If you're considering this path, know that you're not alone, and you're not expected to pause your career. With the right mindset, structure, and mentorship, you can launch your start-up and build your future in Canada on your terms.
Let our team guide you through all the process: https://ingwe.ca/contact-us
