April 29, 2024 – Ottawa – Immigration is essential to the growth of our economy and our communities. Improving processing times is essential to building an immigration system that works better for both newcomers and Canadians. That’s why we’re taking steps to reduce wait times and modernize our programs and services.
Today, the Honorable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced several changes to federal immigration programs for business people to help reduce processing times and the backlog of applications. These changes will come into effect on April 30, 2024.
To improve the Start-up Visa Program, we will encourage designated venture capital firms, angel groups and business incubators to focus on the most promising propositions:
- limiting the number of new permanent residence applications we will accept to process each year to those associated with a maximum of 10 start-ups per designated organization;
- providing priority processing to entrepreneurs whose start-up businesses are backed by Canadian capital or by a business incubator that is a member of the Canada Tech Network, which includes processing pending applications and new applications as they become available. they are presented.
Additionally, Minister Miller announced a complete shutdown, effective April 30, 2024, of receiving applications under the Self-Employed Immigration Program, which will allow focus on processing backlogged applications. The Self-Employed Immigration Program provides a pathway to permanent residency for individuals who have significant experience in the arts, culture, recreation or sport, and who will contribute to cultural life in Canada . Due to the high number of applications submitted for this program, processing times have increased to over four years. During the shutdown, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will continue to process applications in the backlog, while evaluating options for reforming the program and ensuring its integrity.
By limiting the number of new applications by the end of 2026, and at the same time planning an increase in admissions to the federal business stream, which are specified in the table of the 2024-2026 Immigration Levels Plan, IRCC will be able to reduce the application backlog and wait times while continuing to welcome the talented, innovative and entrepreneurially motivated newcomers we need to continue growing Canada’s economy.
