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Canada Start Up Visa for Turkish Nationals

This page explains the current position of the Canada Start Up Visa for Turkish nationals, including the pause on new applications, and where to confirm the rules.

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Reference
Official authorityImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
ProgrammeCanada Start Up Visa
For nationalityTurkish
Information current as ofJune 2026
Official source →

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.

Reviewed by the Passports for Kings editorial team. Last reviewed 5 June 2026.
This route is reported closed, paused or not currently available: Intake of new applications was paused on 19 December 2025. Applicants who already held a valid 2025 commitment certificate were given until 30 June 2026 to apply. New applications are not being accepted at this time.. We publish this page so the position is clear. Do not rely on older figures.

Eligibility for Turkish nationals

The Start Up Visa was open to applicants of any nationality, including Turkish nationals, when it was accepting new files. It never had a nationality test. The relevant gate today is the intake pause described below, not where you hold your passport.

Because new intake is paused, Turkish nationals cannot start a fresh application at this time. Confirm the live position with the official authority before making any plan, as immigration policy can be reopened or revised.

Routes

When open, the programme required support from a Canadian organisation designated by the authority. A designated venture capital fund had to commit at least CAD 200,000, a designated angel investor group at least CAD 75,000, and a designated business incubator could accept an applicant without a cash investment.

Applicants and the designated organisation together needed to hold more than half of the voting rights in the business, and each applicant needed a language result of Canadian Language Benchmark five across reading, writing, speaking and listening. These rules describe the programme as it operated, not a route you can enter now.

Timeline

With intake paused, there is no current processing path for new applicants. Those who held a valid 2025 commitment certificate were directed to apply by 30 June 2026. Confirm any deadline and the live status with the official authority.

Costs

When open, applicants also needed proof of settlement funds that scaled with family size, on top of any investment secured through a designated organisation. Treat all figures as historical context and confirm the current position with the official authority.

ItemIndicative amountNotes
Designated venture capital commitmentCAD 200,000Applied when open, from a designated fund
Designated angel investor commitmentCAD 75,000Applied when open, from a designated group
New applicationsPausedIntake paused on 19 December 2025, verify with the authority

Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) publishes the binding detail. Verify before you act.

Common questions

Can a Turkish national apply for the Canada Start Up Visa now?

No. New intake was paused on 19 December 2025, so a fresh application cannot be started at this time. Confirm the live position with the official authority.

Did the programme ever exclude Turkish nationals?

No. The Start Up Visa had no nationality test. The current barrier is the intake pause, not nationality.

Could it reopen?

Immigration policy can change, so a future reopening or revision is possible. Verify the current status with the official authority rather than relying on older guidance.

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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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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