The Canada Start Up Visa offers permanent residence to entrepreneurs backed by a designated organisation. As of 2026 the route is paused for new entrants, so Lebanese applicants should read the current position carefully.
Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.
There is no nationality exclusion for Lebanon on this route. The barrier is timing rather than nationality. New commitment certificates from designated organisations are not being accepted, so new applicants generally cannot start a fresh case right now.
Lebanese nationals who already secured a valid 2025 commitment certificate fell under a deadline to apply by 30 June 2026. Confirm your exact position with the official authority.
The route requires support from a designated organisation. A venture capital fund commits a minimum investment, an angel investor group commits a smaller minimum, or a business incubator accepts the founder into its programme. Applicants and the designated organisation together must hold more than half of the voting rights in the business.
Because the programme is paused for new commitment certificates, there is no reliable open intake for new applicants at present. IRCC has signalled that a new entrepreneur pilot will be communicated during 2026. Confirm the current status with the official authority before planning.
The figures below describe the requirements as they stood before the pause, for context. They do not represent an open route today. Confirm the current position with the official authority.
| Item | Requirement before the pause | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Venture capital fund commitment | Minimum C$200,000 | From a designated fund |
| Angel investor group commitment | Minimum C$75,000 | From a designated group |
| Business incubator | Acceptance into a programme | No set minimum investment |
| Language | Canadian Language Benchmark 5 | Listening, reading, writing and speaking |
| Settlement funds | From C$15,263 | Single applicant, more for dependants |
Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) publishes the binding detail. Verify before you act.
The route is paused for new entrants. New commitment certificates stopped being accepted after 31 December 2025. There is no nationality bar for Lebanon, but new cases generally cannot start right now. Confirm with the official authority.
Holders of a valid 2025 commitment certificate were required to apply by 30 June 2026. Confirm your exact position and deadline with the official authority.
IRCC signalled that a new entrepreneur pilot would be communicated during 2026. Confirm the current status with the official authority before planning.
Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.
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