On December 19, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced significant changes to federal entrepreneur immigration programs, effectively closing the Start-Up Visa (SUV) Program to new applicants while paving the way for a redesigned pilot in 2026. This move addresses long-standing backlogs (some applications waiting 10+ years) and aligns with the 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan’s emphasis on sustainable, high-impact economic immigration. At Worldbridge, we’re guiding affected entrepreneurs toward provincial alternatives and preparing for the upcoming pilot. Here’s what the announcement means and next steps for business immigrants. Timeline of the Closure Existing applications continue processing under current rules, with no disruptions for submitted cases. Reasons Behind the Changes The SUV, launched to attract innovative start-ups supported by designated venture...