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Startup visa document checklist Canada

Startup visa document checklist Canada

Start-up visa files are document-heavy — and as of 30 June 2026 IRCC has paused the Start-up Visa Program. IRCC has said it is not accepting new applications and will continue to process applications already accepted. Ontario RCICs should confirm that status before opening a new SUV retainer. For files still in flight, phased collection beats a "send everything now" email that paralyzes founders.

Direct answer

For applications still being processed, IRCC's published supporting-document list typically includes a letter of support, language test results, proof of funds, passport, civil-status and children's documents, police certificates, photos, fee receipt, Document Checklist IMM 5760, and Schedule 13. The commitment certificate is sent by the designated organization to IRCC, not usually collected from the client as a substitute for the letter of support.

Core supporting documents

CategoryWhat to collect (verify current IMM 5760)
Designated-org supportLetter of support with the application. Commitment certificate + term sheet go from the organization to IRCC
LanguageIRCC-approved test meeting CLB 5 in all four abilities
Settlement fundsProof the family can support itself; IRCC says this money cannot be borrowed; amounts follow IRCC's published family-size table (updated periodically — do not freeze last year's numbers in your template)
Identity (per applicant)Travel document or passport, birth/civil-status documents, photos per IRCC specs
Police certificatesAs the current checklist requires — often multiple countries of residence; start early for multi-country founders
IRCC formsIMM 5760 on top of the package, Schedule 13, IMM 5476 if you represent

A qualifying business and a group of up to five owners are eligibility themes on IRCC's "who can apply" page — they are not a reason to merge five passports onto one checklist line.

Multi-founder intake workflow

  1. Primary file for shared business-stage records (if your retainer includes the designated-organization phase).
  2. Separate guest links per co-founder for personal documents.
  3. Track missing items per founder on the dashboard.
  4. QC language-test validity dates and police-certificate coverage against current IRCC instructions.
  5. Export a combined PDF for the firm record before portal submission — Hivi-X does not replace the PR portal.

See proof of funds collection for Express Entry for bank-letter QC habits that often transfer; SUV fund amounts and "cannot borrow" rules are program-specific.

Deploy startup visa checklists in Hivi-X

Build a template with business-stage and personal sections. Guest links per founder. Co-agent QC when a firm handles the file. Export PDF for CICC records. Hivi-X does not certify eligibility, contact designated organizations, or replace IRCC.

Medical exams, if IRCC later instructs them, belong on their own line — do not invent a default SUV medical package.

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General information only. Not immigration advice. Hivi-X is document-collection software — not a licensed immigration consultant. Not affiliated with or endorsed by CICC or IRCC. The Start-up Visa Program status and document list change — verify against current IRCC instructions and IMM 5760 before you collect or submit.

Answers are general operational information only — not legal, tax, regulatory, clinical, privacy, immigration, or professional advice. Requirements vary by matter, client, and regulator.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Start-up Visa Program still open?
As of IRCC's published status in 2026, the program is paused: new applications are not accepted; applications IRCC already accepted continue to be processed. Verify the current IRCC Start-up Visa page before you take a new retainer.
What is the key startup visa document?
The applicant includes a letter of support from a designated organization. That organization also sends a commitment certificate (and typically a term sheet) directly to IRCC. Do not treat those two documents as the same upload.
Does the business plan go to IRCC?
IRCC's published supporting-document list for the online PR application emphasizes the letter of support, language, funds, identity, police certificates, and photos. A business plan is typically part of convincing a designated organization — collect it if your retainer covers that stage, but do not assume it is an IRCC upload unless current IMM 5760 says so.
What language tests are required?
IRCC requires Canadian Language Benchmark 5 in listening, reading, writing, and speaking in English or French, from an IRCC-approved test. Confirm the current approved-test list; do not rely on an outdated IELTS-only instruction.
Can co-founders upload via separate guest links?
IRCC allows an individual or a group of up to five owners. Each applicant still needs their own personal documents. Guest links per founder are an operational pattern — Hivi-X does not file to IRCC for you.

Collect complete immigration client files without the chase

Hivi-X helps Ontario RCICs collect passports, police certificates, employer letters, and IRCC forms with reusable checklists, the my-id.ca client portal, self-hosted AI summaries, and exportable PDF packages for your client file archive — alongside your immigration CRM.

Startup Visa Document Checklist Canada | hivi-x Docs