YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE TO

CANADA’S STARTUP VISA

By

Launch is a designated organization of the Canadian Government’s Startup Visa Program and a
designated referral partner for the Global Talent Stream Program. Launch’s International Maple
Accelerator Program helps tech companies expand their business to North America and supports
their access to Canadian Permanent Residency for founders, co-founders and their families.

www.launchacademy.ca | @launchacademyhq
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
1 PROGRAM OVERVIEW 3

Introduction to Canada’s Startup Visa

2023-2025 Official Multi-Year Plan
Canada’s First Tech Talent Strategy
Latest Changes to Startup Visa

2 ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA 4

Qualifying Business
Language Test Requirements - English/French
How to Obtain a Letter of Support
List of Designated Organizations
Proof of Funds Required

3 APPLICATION PROCESS 9

Application Process
Document Checklist
Application Fee
Timeline

4 MAPLE ACCELERATOR PROGRAM 10

Program Info
Timeline & Stages
Program Fee
Application Process

5 WHY CANADA? 12

The Canadian Advantage For Entrepreneurs

Vancouver’s Startup Ecosystem
Success Stories
Testimonials

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01. PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Startup Visa Program

Canada’s Startup Visa program is a unique immigration program designed to attract

innovative entrepreneurs from around the world who wish to establish their startups in
Canada and contribute to the country’s economy. Through the Startup Visa program,
successful applicants, founders, co-founders and their immediate family members may be
granted permanent residency in Canada.

2023-2025 Immigration Levels Plan

According to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan for
2023-2025. Canada aims to welcome over 450,000 new permanent residents each year until
2025, with a high-range target of accepting up to 19,000 applications under the Federal
Business category which includes the Startup Visa Program and the Self-employed Persons
Programs.

Target of up to With up to

500,000 19,000
Permanent Residencies / Year by 2025 PRs under Federal Business Category by 2025

Tech Talent Strategy

In 2023 the Canadian government introduced the new Tech Talent Strategy comprising six
key measures to attract global talent to create jobs and boost the country's economy.

Enhanced Faster Work-Permits Express Entry

STARTUP VISA PROGRAM GLOBAL SKILLS STRATEGY STEM-SPECIFIC DRAWS

priority applications work-permit processing time specific draws for STEM

3-year open work-permits reduced to just 2 weeks professionals (science, tech,
increased application intake access to international talent engineering & mathematics)

Welcoming USA Introducing Canada’s Special Stream For

H-1B VISA HOLDERS DIGITAL NOMAD STRATEGY HIGH-SKILLED INDIVIDUALS

open work-permit for H-1B digital nomads can stay & skilled tech professionals
visa holders in the US work for up to 6 months can work in Canada even
up to 10,000 applications continue to work in Canada without a job offer

These 6 strategies underpin Canada's ambition to become a global tech leader by attracting
top-tier talent, streamlining immigration processes & creating an innovation-friendly
environment, positioning the country as a premier destination for tech advancements.

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Latest Changes to Startup Visa

Aligned with Canada’s Tech Talent Strategy, some major new updates were announced. The
table below summarizes the key changes to the program.

These changes aim to streamline the Startup Visa Program, reduce wait times, and make it
more appealing for foreign entrepreneurs to develop their businesses in Canada while
awaiting their permanent residence application processing. Additional strategies for program
improvement are anticipated in the near future.

02. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

1. Qualifying Business: A qualifying business means you created a business that meets the
following conditions:

At the time you get a commitment from a designated organization:

each applicant holds 10% or more of the voting rights of the company (up to 5 people can
apply as owners) AND
applicants and the designated organization jointly hold more than 50% of the total voting
rights of the company

At the time you receive your permanent residence:

you provide active and ongoing management of this business from Canada
an essential part of the operations of the business is conducted in Canada
this business is incorporated in Canada

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2. Language Requirements: To be eligible for the Startup Visa program, the entrepreneur
must be proficient in at least one of Canada’s two official languages, English or French. The
entrepreneur must provide evidence of their language proficiency by taking any of the
language tests mentioned below from an authorized language testing agency.

English
CELPIP G-Test – Paragon Testing Enterprises Inc.
IELTS – Cambridge Assessment English, IDP Australia or The British Council

French
TEF Canada – The Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry
TCF Canada – France Education International (FEI)

You must meet the minimum level of the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 in either
English or French in all of these four areas: Speaking, Reading, Listening, and Writing. Your
test results must not be more than two years old at the time of application.

3. Letter of Support: Your business must get a letter of support from one or more of the
designated organizations. The designated organizations are divided into three categories.
Here is a list of all the designated organizations for the Canadian Startup Visa Program:

Venture Capital Funds

To be eligible through a venture capital fund, your company must get at least one of the
designated groups to invest a minimum of $200,000.

7 Gate Ventures
Alt Ventures
Apex Innovative Investments Ventures
Arete Pacific Tech Ventures (VCC) Corp
BCF Ventures
BDC Venture Capital
Celtic House Venture Partners
Extreme Venture Partners LLP
First Fund
Golden Venture Partners Fund, LP
INP Capital
iNovia Capital Inc.
Intrinsic Venture Capital
Lumira Ventures
Invest Nova Scotia
PRIVEQ Capital Funds
Real Ventures
Red Leaf Capital Corp
Relay Ventures
ScaleUp Venture Partners, Inc.
Tangentia Ventures

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 Top Renergy Inc.
Vanedge Capital Limited Partnership
Version One Ventures
WhiteHaven Venture
Westcap Management Ltd.
Yaletown Venture Partners Inc.
York Entrepreneurship Development Institute (YEDI) VC Fund

Angel Investor Groups

To be eligible through an angel investor group, your company must get one or more
designated investors to invest a minimum of $75,000.

Canadian International Angel Investors

Ekagrata Inc.
Golden Triangle Angel Network
Keiretsu Forum Canada
Oak Mason Investments Inc.
TenX Angel Investors Inc.
VANTEC Angel Network Inc.
York Angel Investors Inc

Business Incubator/Accelerator

No investment is required to be eligible through the designated business

incubators/accelerators, however, you must be accepted into their own programs which
might have fees or equity associated with it.

Alacrity Foundation
Alberta Agriculture and Forestry
Alberta IoT Association
Altitude Accelerator
Bhive
Biomedical Commercialization Canada Inc. (operating as Manitoba Technology
Accelerator)
Brilliant Catalyst
Creative Destruction Lab
DMZ Ventures
Empowered Startups Ltd.
Extreme Innovations
Foresight Cleantech Accelerator Centre
Genesis Centre
Highline BETA Inc.
Invest Nova Scotia
Innovate Calgary
Innovation Cluster – Peterborough and the Kawarthas
Innovation Factory
Interactive Niagara Media Cluster o/a Innovate Niagara

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 Intrinsic Innovations
Invest Ottawa
ISM Arts & Culture Ltd
Knowledge Park o/a Planet Hatch
L-SPARK
LatAm Startups
Launch Academy – Vancouver
LaunchPad PEI Inc.
Millworks Centre for Entrepreneurship
NEXT Canada
Niagara Business & Innovation Fund
North Forge East Ltd.
North Forge Technology Exchange
Pacific Technology Ventures
Platform Calgary
Pycap
Real Investment Fund III L.P. o/a FounderFuel
Red Leaf Capital Corp
Roseview Global Incubator
Spark Commercialization and Innovation Centre
Spring Activator
The DMZ at Ryerson University
Think8 Global Institute
TiE Toronto
Toronto Business Development Centre (TBDC)
Treefrog
TSRV Canada Inc. (operating as Techstars Canada)
University of Toronto Entrepreneurship Hatchery
ventureLAB Innovation Centre
VIATEC
Waterloo Accelerator Centre
York Entrepreneurship Development Institute
YSpace (York University)

Each organization has its own programs and requirements. You must contact the designated
organization you are interested in working with and find out information on how to get its
support. The letter of support must be submitted along with the application for the Startup
Visa program.

Launch is western Canada’s premier tech accelerator. Our International Maple Accelerator
Program is designed to work with tech founders going through Canadian Startup Visa.

5000+ 150+ 40+ 100%

Maple Applicants Accepted Companies Countries PR Success Rate

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4. Bring Enough Money To Settle: You must demonstrate that you have enough money to
settle in Canada and support yourself and your dependents. The amount of money
required depends on the size of your family.

The amount is an estimate of what you would require to support yourself and your family
without employment or other income. You will be required to provide proof of funds, such as
bank statements, showing that you have the required amount of money.

It is recommended that you research the cost of living in the region of Canada where you
intend to live.

Note: The table above shows the minimum amount you need to immigrate to Canada as of April
25, 2023. The amount may get updated every year, to find the latest proof of funds requirements
visit the official website here.

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03. APPLICATION PROCESS
The Startup Visa Program in Canada consists of multiple application steps. It's important to
note that the application process detailed below is specific to the Startup Visa Program, and
the Maple Program by Launch has its own separate application process and fee.

Secure a Commitment Certificate or Letter of Support

To apply you need a Commitment Certificate or Letter of Support from
designated organizations listed above in this guide. like business
incubators, angel investor groups, or venture capital funds. Each
organization has its own program to qualify for a letter of support.

Gather documents & complete the application forms

The Startup Visa application forms will require information about you and
your business, such as your personal information, business plan, financial
information, & proof of language proficiency.

Pay the application fees

The application fees include,
processing, right of permanent
residence, biometrics, spousal and
dependent fees. Fee breakdown.
Wait for processing
Processing times depend on the
type and volume of applications.
Check current processing time.
Optional Work Permit: While
you wait for your permanent
residence through the Startup
Visa Program, you might also be
able to apply for an optional
work permit. This would let you
start your business while the
application is in process.

Attend an interview (if required)

If your application is deemed eligible, you may be invited to attend an
interview with a Canadian immigration officer. The purpose of the interview
is to assess your business experience and knowledge, as well as your ability
to establish a successful startup in Canada.

Obtain your startup visa

If your application is approved, you will be issued a startup visa. The visa
will allow you and your family members to enter Canada and work on your
startup.

Please refer to the Official Application Package for further instructions on the
documents required, application forms and the step-by-step application process.

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04. MAPLE ACCELERATOR PROGRAM
The Maple Program was created by Launch to aid international companies currently at Seed,
Series A or higher with their growth and expansion to Canada and North America. Helping
tech companies by providing a landing pad with resources, mentorship, networking, and
business matchmaking to overcome the challenges that occur when moving a business and
family to Canada.

The Maple Program is designed to work with entrepreneurs and founders going through the
Canadian Start-up Visa Program or other business-specific immigration processes such as
Express Entry, BC Provincial Nominee Program, and/or Global Talent Stream.

The Maple Program is a 24-month program broken down into three stages:

Ignition: The Ignition stage is conducted over one month. The objective is to learn about the
program, immigration process, incorporation and corporate structure requirements for a
company intending to establish their business in Canada.

Acceleration: Once your company has committed to moving forward in the Maple Program,
your team will be participating in the Acceleration stage of the program. Conducted over 11
months, the key objectives for companies are to build out their roadmap, incorporate their
Canadian company, and settle on their immigration routes such as the Canadian Startup Visa
Program or other business-specific immigration processes including Express Entry, BC
Provincial Nomination Program, and/or Global Talent Stream. If you select the Canadian
Startup Visa path, you will receive your Letter of Support/Commitment Certificate and apply
for a permanent residency and/or optional work permit.

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In addition to the core programming, you will receive resources including:

Non-Dilutive Sources of Fundraising in Canada

Fundraising in North America
Financial Literacy Course (Brought to you by Smythe)
Family Landing Package
Traction University
Startup & Lifestyle Perks Worth $400,000 (including AWS credits, Azure credits, Stripe
credits, Zendesk, HubSpot GitHub, and more).

Momentum: As your team now awaits to move to Canada while your permanent residency
applications are being processed, your team will be transitioned over to the Momentum
stage where you will receive additional 12-month access to the LaunchPad incubation
program.

By the end of the program, your team will be part of a 250+ community of entrepreneurs
from all over the world. You will have participated in various Launch programming and either
landed or be on your way to land in Canada as a permanent resident.

INFO & APPLICATION

If you are not ready to apply yet, you can sign up for our newsletter to get the latest updates
and info on Startup Visa & Maple program delivered to your inbox.

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05. WHY CANADA?
The Canadian Advantage For Entrepreneurs

According to a report by the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development

(OECD) Canada is the most attractive destination in the world for international startup
founders. Canada offers various advantages for entrepreneurs:

Thriving Economy & Government Support

Close Proximity to the US
Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Tax Incentives
Favorable Immigration Policy
Free Elementary & Secondary Education & World-Class Education System
Universal Public Health
High Quality of Life

Unlike most startup visa programs in the world, Canada does not provide temporary or
conditional status — your permanent residency remains valid no matter the success of
failure of your business. Over the past few years, Canada has consistently ranked amongst
the best places to live in the world scoring high points under Quality of Life, Agility,
Entrepreneurship, and Open for Business categories.

Vancouver’s Emergence as a Global Tech Hub

Centered around scenic mountains, abundant natural beauty and a world-class standard of
living, Vancouver, Canada is much more than a great place to live. Home to some of the
world’s most prominent tech companies and talent from around the world, Vancouver has
emerged as a new global tech hub. Vancouver offers many advantages which make the city
a great choice for today’s savvy tech startups.

Vancouver is a part of the Cascadia

Innovation Corridor (Vancouver,
Seattle & Portland)
Close proximity to the Silicon Valley
Global hub for gaming/AR/VR and
digital media
Access to top-notch tech talent
Rapidly growing tech ecosystem
World’s largest tech companies
maintain a presence in Vancouver

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Launch - Success Stories & Testimonials

Launch is a designated organization of

the Canadian Government’s Startup Visa
Program & the Global Skills Strategy
Program.

Launch helps tech companies identify

the best path for immigration for their
team and their families through Startup
Visa, Express Entry, Provincial
Nomination, or Global Talent Stream.

Since 2012 Launch has helped incubate more than 6000 entrepreneurs of which 300 have
grown their startups to Seed and Series A stage and raised over $2.5 Billion in funding.

Incubated Over

6000
ENTREPRENEURS

From

100+
COUNTRIES

Creating more than

3800
JOBS

Collectively Raising

$2.5B
IN FUNDING

Hands down, Launch is THE tech startup hub of Western Canada,

if not all of Canada. Space, mentorship, entrepreneurship
education, tech education, & accelerators are just some of the
offerings & benefits of being in the space. Happy to be a part of it!
- KHURRAM VIRANI, Co-founder, Lighthouse Labs

Launch is a great place for startups to get their feet on the

ground. They can connect you with hundreds of other
entrepreneurs, funding opportunities & resources to get started.
The team is super friendly, helpful & kind with their assistance.

- Scott Hirsch, Co-founder & CTO, TalentMarketplace

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