Express Entry, Work Permits, and Investor Residency — Entity and Banking in Sequence

The Start-up Visa (SUV) is a permanent-residency path for founders of an innovative business. You need a Letter of Support from an IRCC-designated organization: a venture capital fund (from CAD 200,000 invested), an angel investor group (from CAD 75,000), or a business incubator. The company is incorporated in Canada, the applicant holds 10%+ of voting shares and meets the language (CLB 5) and settlement-funds requirements. IRCC's page says the program is paused to new applications and closed to all applications except those from holders of a valid 2025 commitment certificate, who had to apply by 30 June 2026. That deadline has passed, so no new Start-up Visa application can be filed at the moment; check canada.ca for any reopening.

Express Entry is Canada's main skilled-worker selection system (FSWP, FSTP, CEC). Business owners aren't its direct target, but you can qualify through the FSWP with managerial experience at NOC TEER 0 or 1. Provincial Nominee Programs tied to Express Entry — the Ontario OINP Entrepreneur Stream, for one — go straight for self-employed and investor applicants.

Timelines vary by stream: Start-up Visa: paused to new applications (the 30 June 2026 deadline for holders of a valid 2025 commitment certificate has passed); Intra-Company Transfer (work permit) 2–8 weeks; LMIA-based work permit 3–6 months; PNP entrepreneur streams 18–36 months. The Quebec Immigrant Investor Program (QIIP) reopened on 1 January 2024 under revised rules (French-language requirement, Québec residency) and stays open to applications, subject to intake windows and quotas. The fastest compliant route for your background, source of funds, and Canadian plans, we map.

For the Start-up Visa, the company must be incorporated in Canada before IRCC grants permanent residence. For an Intra-Company Transfer, the Canadian entity must already exist and hold a qualifying relationship with the foreign employer. In PNP streams, the entrepreneur usually sets up the Canadian company after nomination. Incorporation and immigration timelines, we line up together — so the sequence never slips.

The Global Talent Stream (GTS) is a two-week track within the TFWP for highly skilled tech workers. Category A covers unique talent referred by a designated partner; Category B covers occupations on the GTOL: software developers, AI specialists, data scientists. The Canadian employer commits to a Labour Market Benefits Plan. GTS permits are processed in about two weeks.