I recently got accepted under the Canada Startup Visa Program. While doing my research, I learned that I also need to apply for a Work Permit along with my Permanent Residency.
This was a little confusing for me personally and even after numerous searches. I couldn’t figure out the need and process to apply for a Work Permit. The thing with Canada Startup Visa program is that there is very little information about the actual process of applying. All the info related to Canada SUV is by immigration lawyers, and that mostly revolves around selling the program to potential applicants.
Even when I was applying, I spoke with a few immigration lawyers but was mostly disappointed with the details I received. I ended up reading everything I could find about the SUV program on the government website. Sometimes I felt like, I was reading things again and again, but I think that helped me verify the information I had. Here is the official link to everything you want to know about the Canada Startup Visa Program. Or you can also read my article on Canada Startup Visa
I think the lack of information comes from the fact that very few people have actually used this program to move to Canada. Most of the world applies to Express Entry, there is ample information about the program, it’s cheaper. You can get a job or drive an Uber when you land in Canada. These are all the things you can not do with SUV program.
The SUV program is great for entrepreneurs like me. For someone whose priority is getting a job in Canada, this might not be a good fit. Your Work Permit is tied to your company, you can not work for someone else, and you can not drive an Uber.
Why get a Work Permit
Now let’s talk about why you need to apply for a Work Permit. The PR processing time for Canada Startup Visa currently stands at 35 months from date of application. Check Processing times.
Let’s face it, you are launching a Startup in Canada, but you can not really work on it unless you are in Canada. Waiting 35 months to start working on your company is just absurd. You obviously can not put your life on hold for 3 years. So the work around that IRCC came up with is that you apply for a Work Permit for your own company. Work permit processing time is much quicker, mine came in 5 months. Which allows me to move to Canada with my family and start work on my Startup while we wait for our Permanent Residency.
I applied for my Canada Work Permit on 1st Dec 2022 and received my passport submission letter in April 2023. Since I was travelling, I wasn’t able to submit my passport in April and submitted it a few days ago. Tickets are booked for 2nd week of July, and now it’s more about wrapping things here at home and figuring out all the challenges we will face when we move.
I’ll try to keep writing about my experience of moving and the problems and their solutions that I will figure out during this process.
How long was your PR processing time for Canadian startup visa?
PR processing time is upto 32 months. So i’m moving to Canada on a Work permit and PR will probably come some time later.