Canada Extends Start-Up Visa Processing Time to Over 10 Years

Canada’s Start-Up Visa Program now has an estimated processing time of more than 10 years, according to the latest update from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) published on October 9, 2025.

The new figure shows a major increase from the previous 37-month estimate and highlights a growing backlog driven by rising demand and limited annual processing capacity under the country’s immigration targets.

IRCC states that the projection is based on multiple factors, including:

• The total number of applications currently in inventory
• Staffing levels assigned to this program
• Expected future application volumes

The estimate also includes the time required for biometric collection and final decision-making.

The government’s Immigration Levels Plan continues to cap annual intake across all categories, meaning the number of Start-Up Visa applicants who can be processed each year remains limited.

IRCC notes that processing times are updated monthly and may continue to rise depending on future application volumes and operational constraints.

For now, entrepreneurs applying through the Start-Up Visa Program should expect processing delays extending beyond a decade, unless the government expands capacity or implements further procedural reforms.