How to Apply for Canada’s Start-Up Visa from Nigeria

We are accepting international entrepreneurs to join our Start-Up Visa projects in Canada.  Read more.

Nigeria is the fourth most important source of new permanent residents to Canada and the African country’s vibrant start-up ecosystem also makes it a promising source of new entrepreneurs who can immigrate to Canada through the Start-Up Visa (SUV) program.

“The Nigerian startup ecosystem is on the move,” notes VC4A, an organization dedicated to building up Africa’s start-up community. 

“It is a leading hub for entrepreneurship on the continent thanks to several strengths, including a growing number of engaging international investors, a huge population with access to technology, and a growing number of startup support organizations active in the ecosystem.”

Explosive growth in tech companies in Nigeria comes as Canadian companies are poised for major growth in the digitization of their operations in the post-COVID-19 world.

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“By the end of 2025, the Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) forecasts employment in the Canadian digital economy to reach 2.26 million, an addition of 250,000 new jobs,” the ICTC notes in its Onwards and Upwards: Digital Talent Outlook 2025 report.

“The Canadian digital economy is set to build and capitalize on the unprecedented shocks of the COVID crisis and to figure prominently in Canada’s recovery and future resilience.”

That means there is a great deal of opportunity for Nigerian entrepreneurs who want to come to Canada and start up a business under Canada’s Start-Up Visa program – and the number of them choosing to do just that is on the rise.

The latest Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) data reveals the number of new permanent residents arriving in Canada through SUV from Nigeria by September this year had already reached the number for all of last year. That means the SUV intake from Nigeria is poised to end the year up by 33 per cent over the number of new permanent residents under that program in 2022.

Budding entrepreneurs from Nigeria who want to benefit by starting businesses in Canada through the Start-Up Visa program can get Canadian permanent residence if they qualify as immigrant entrepreneurs.

Under the SUV, three types of private-sector investors are considered: angel investors, venture capital funds, and business incubators.

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A designated angel investor group must invest at least $75,000 into the qualifying business. Candidates can also qualify with two or more investments from angel investor groups totaling $75,000.

A designated venture capital fund must confirm that it is investing at least $200,000 into the qualifying business. Candidates can also qualify with two or more commitments from designated venture capital funds totaling $200,000.

A designated business incubator must accept the applicant into its business incubator program.

It is up to the immigrant investor to develop a viable business plan that will meet the due diligence requirements of these government-approved designated entities.

SUV Applicants Must Have A Qualifying Business

That’s usually done with the help of business consultants in Canada’s start-up ecosystem and experienced corporate business immigration lawyers who can ensure a start-up’s business plan meets all industry-required terms and conditions.

Candidates to the SUV program can initially come to Canada on a work permit supported by their designated Canadian investor before qualifying for permanent residence once their business is up and running.

The basic candidate eligibility requirements for the SUV program are:

• a qualifying business;
• a commitment certificate and letter of support from a designated entity;
• sufficient unencumbered, available and transferable settlement funds, and;
• proficiency in English or French at the minimum Canadian Language Benchmark level 5.

Ottawa does not give financial support to new SUV immigrants.

When candidates apply, they need to give proof they have the money to support themselves and their dependents in Canada. This money cannot be borrowed.

The amount needed depends on the size of the candidate’s family.

The SUV also represents an important option for international students, many of whom do not qualify for permanent residence through the skilled worker immigration streams.

While Ottawa has taken steps to gear up the Express Entry system to favour international students, they are by no means guaranteed to qualify for a coveted Invitation to Apply under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

The minimum score needed to qualify has often been over 495, leaving many students unable to qualify even with the support of a job offer from a Canadian employer.

These candidates can either sit in the Express Entry pool and hope the minimum score under the CRS falls or they can make the transition from temporary to permanent residence.

This is where the SUV program becomes an option.

Unlike almost every other federal and provincial-level entrepreneur program which requires a minimum of one or two years of previous experience either owning a business or in top-level management, the SUV does not require previous management experience.

The support of a government-designated entity is enough. That support can be either financial or in the form of accepting the candidate into a business incubator program.

Immigrants who avail themselves of the SUV program consistently report that it is quick, both for the initial work permit and permit residence application.

SUV-Eligible Business Must Owned At Least In Part By Applicant

With a viable start-up business project, an immigrant entrepreneur can expect it to take about four to six months to secure a commitment certificate or letter of support from a designated entity. Once that letter of support is received, the application for permanent residence can be submitted. It will then take approximately 18 months to finalize the application through to the issuance of a permanent residence visa.

For the candidate to qualify for permanent residence:

• The intended business must be incorporated and carrying on business in Canada;
• The candidate must own at least 10 per cent of the voting rights in the corporation, and;
• No other person can hold 50 per cent or more of the voting rights in the corporation.

As many as five candidates can have their permanent residence application supported by the same business investment.

But that can come with a risk. Certain candidates may be designated as essential to the business. If any of the essential candidates withdraw their applications or are refused, all other candidates under the same business investment will see their applications terminated.

Surveys suggest SUV candidates usually go on to succeed in Canada, in terms of growing their business, attracting further investment, networking, or selling their business for a profit.

Through its Toronto based facilities, Immigration.ca works extensively with industry-acclaimed designated entities in the Canadian start-up ecosystem. The firm provides a range of hands-on business advisory services to help intending entrepreneur immigrants and their start-up business concept meet all industry requirements.

To find out if you qualify for the SUV program, click here.