IRCC Start-Up Visa Presentation

The following is excerpted from the IRCC presentation given on Start-Up Visas.

Program Summary:

• Overview: Launched as a five-year pilot in April 2013 to test a new approach to business immigration; became a permanent program in April 2018
• Focus: Targets entrepreneurs with potential to build innovative businesses in Canada that create jobs and compete globally in high-growth sectors
• Scope: Small-volume program emphasizing the quality of business ideas over quantity
• Intended Outcome: Innovative entrepreneurs actively pursue business ventures in Canada, contributing to the innovation needs of the Canadian economy

Context

• Part of an effort to revamp business immigration programs in favour of smaller-scale, higher-value programs that focus on attracting innovative business people
  • Replaces the former Entrepreneur Program (a larger-volume program first launched in the 1970s/80s) that was cancelled in 2014
• Supports the Government of Canada’s commitments to advancing:
  • innovation
  • economic growth
  • global skills attraction

How Start-Up Visa Works

• Built on a model of partnership with the private sector

 

Results to Date: Relevance and Program Performance

• The Government conducted an evaluation of the program in 2016

Relevance:

• Key informants indicated that:
• Without Start-Up Visa, Canada would lose opportunities to attract global talent
• Start-Up Visa helps brand Canada as a country open for business
• They could not identify an alternative approach that would better attract innovative entrepreneurs to Canada than Start-Up Visa

Program Performance:

• The program is meeting its intended outcomes
• Entrepreneurs are pursuing innovative business ventures in Canada (especially compared to previous Entrepreneur Program)
• Start-Up Visa is much more cost effective than previous Entrepreneur Program, where visa officers assessed business proposals
• Pilot cost ≈$644K on average per year (vs. ≈$5.2M under old program)
• Applications are processed faster
• On average, 80% of applications were processed in 5.3 months during the pilot (vs. 69-81 months under old program)

Results to Date: Program Demand

• • Not intended to be a high-volume program, but application intake has risen steadily each year as designated entities become more familiar with the program
  • As of January 1, 2018, we have received:
    • 277 permanent resident applications
    • 65 commitments for entrepreneurs who have not yet submitted a permanent resident application
  • Of these, 170 have been approved, 34 have been refused or withdrawn and the rest are in process
  • Demand is not driven by any particular region — applications have come from a wide range of countries (see Annex A)

Results to Date: Entrepreneur Profile

 

International Impact

• Start-Up Visa has become a model for other countries to follow
• Since its launch in 2013, several countries have implemented similar programs – but none offer up-front permanent residence like Canada

Current Status

• As of April 2018, Start-Up Visa is now a permanent program
• The permanent program is similar to the pilot but includes some new provisions to uphold program integrity and prevent immigration fraud:
  • requirement that an applicant provide active and ongoing management of the business from within Canada
  • requirement that an essential part of the business’ operations be conducted in Canada
  • provision that designated entities may not charge applicants a fee to review their business proposals
  • authority for officers to conduct inspections

• To further enhance the program, Budget 2018 provided funding to ensure that applicants, private-sector partners and immigration officials are able to process applications electronically and more efficiently

Annex A: Selected Applicant Source Countries