🇨🇦 Official explanation letter from IRCC regarding the processing time for the Start-Up Visa program.
On October 24, 2025, IRCC sent an official letter to Designated Organizations in the Start-Up Visa (SUV) program, clarifying recent circulating information, particularly the alleged processing time of over 10 years.
This is the official email from IRCC, so you can view the original at the end of this post.
KeyApply would like to explain that IRCC's response is entirely consistent with what KeyApply has analyzed over the past period, specifically in the three articles below:
For those wondering why SUV processing time is as long as 10 years, check this out!
🧭 “10 years” is just a forecast model, not the actual processing time, and “it can and very likely will change.”
IRCC is not asserting that the actual processing time will be 10 years; this figure is only a provisional technical estimate shown in the new forecasting model. This means that if the current backlog of applications remains unchanged and immigration quotas are not increased in the coming years, the theoretical processing time will be that long.
The display of "over 10 years" does not mean the application will be pending for 10 years. This is simply a forecast model to let applicants know how many applications are currently in inventory and which types the system is prioritizing.
IRCC clarified that they understand the concerns of organizations and SUV applicants and are considering measures to continue attracting startup talent, meaning they are still looking for ways to improve the situation, not abandoning the program.
IRCC confirmed in the letter:
“The forecast of 420 months for new applicants is currently accurate but based on factors that could, and likely will, change.”
"The current forecast of 420 months for new filings is accurate based on the available data, but it is calculated based on factors that are likely to change in the future."
As IRCC stated, these factors “can and very likely will change.”
In other words, this figure is merely a technical calculation, based on current inventory data and targets.
When the government adjusts the quota or when the number of applications decreases, the estimates will automatically change.
IRCC emphasized that this announcement aims to increase data transparency, so that applicants can know the number of pending cases and their position in the queue, and not the "10-year waiting list" that some rumors have circulated.
🧱 IRCC has not taken any action to cancel the files of the Incubators en masse.
In the letter, IRCC clearly stated:
“Applications that are not supported by a commitment that meets one of these conditions will be processed following those that are prioritized, on a first-in, first-out basis, as annual admissions space allows.”
“Applications that do not include a commitment to meet one of the priority conditions mentioned above will be considered after the priority applications have been processed, on a first-in, first-out basis, and within the annual acceptance quota allowed by IRCC.”
This means:
- The records remain intact in the system.
- Applications that do not fall under the priority categories (those with investment capital or supported by Canada's Tech Network) will be processed later and will not be rejected.
- The limit of 10 designated startups/organizations is solely intended to control the volume of new applications after a backlog in previous years and does not affect applications already submitted.
⚙️ IRCC remains committed to maintaining and improving its SUV program.
IRCC wrote:
“We are committed to attracting top entrepreneurial talent while making the immigration system more sustainable.”
"We are committed to continuing to attract outstanding entrepreneurs, while ensuring that the immigration system functions in a stable and sustainable manner."
This shows that Canada continues to maintain its long-term SUV program, aiming to attract genuine entrepreneurs, projects with potential, real capital, and clear business plans.
Conclude
The official response from IRCC completely aligns with the assessments previously published by KeyApply:
- SUVs remain a long-term strategic program for Canada. The Canadian government continues to affirm its commitment to the Start-Up Visa program.
- IRCC is considering policy measures to ensure Canada continues to attract entrepreneurial talent, not to scale back the program.
- IRCC has never announced the cancellation of any SUV registration.
- The "10-year processing time" figure is only a provisional technical estimate.
- Applications are still being processed according to a clear order and priority criteria.
KeyApply recommends the following to investors:
- Maintain regular contact with a reputable consulting firm.
- Ensure the project is feasible, has verifiable investment capital, and a transparent business plan.
- Do not panic or believe unfounded rumors circulating online.
In an era where information spreads rapidly and is sometimes inaccurate, the ability to analyze and correctly understand the nature of a problem is what distinguishes a professional consultant from an unprofessional one.
For complex immigration programs like the Start-Up Visa, consultation is not just an administrative service, but a strategic decision-making process that requires:
- High-level logical thinking is necessary to correctly read, understand, and interpret IRCC's original policy.
- The ability to connect information and critically analyze data, rather than being driven by emotions or rumors.
- Professional ethics are paramount, as every piece of advice can directly impact a client's immigration journey and future.
- Therefore, KeyApply always adheres to the principle: "Don't spread rumors - Only analyze official facts."
With their systems thinking skills and deep understanding of policy structures, the KeyApply team not only guides clients through successful application submissions but also steers them in the right direction within the increasingly complex and competitive environment of the Canadian Start-Up Visa ecosystem.
The original letter from IRCC
Update from IRCC
Good afternoon,
We are writing to you in your capacity as a designated organization in the Start-up Visa (SUV) program. You may have noticed that IRCC has changed the way it reports processing times for applicants in the SUV program. (Processing times can be found here: Check current IRCC processing times - Canada.ca) This change has led several organizations to contact us with questions and concerns, which we hope to address with this message.
The Department is improving how it reports processing times to provide forward-looking estimates with more up-to-date information so clients can have a more transparent and predictable experience. (This contrasts with the previous approach, which provided a historical processing time that was based on the time it took the Department to process 80% of complete applications in the preceding 6 months). Applicants will be able to get a better estimate of how long it should take to process their application, the number of people in the inventory, and approximately how many other applicants are ahead of them.
While this new approach may be more useful for clients, it does provide a much longer estimated processing time for applications in the SUV program than the previous approach, as clients applying today or who have applied in the last few years will be told by the processing time tool on IRCC's website to expect a decision in more than 10 years. In addition, there have been references to SUV processing times of 420 months in the media, which were included in briefing material provided to Minister Diabetes following the spring election. The forecast of 420 months for new applicants is currently accurate but based on factors that could, and likely will, change, including the size of the application backlog and the annual admissions targets set by the Government.
Why have processing times grown?
While there are additional factors, current processing time estimates are based primarily on the number of applications in the current SUV inventory and how many IRCC expects to process to stay within the approved targets in the annual Immigration Levels Plan. If there are more people applying than available annual levels spaces, processing times can increase. If there are more applications in the inventory than available levels space, any processing efficiency measures or increased productivity will not improve or decrease processing times.
We have seen this situation play out in the SUV program in recent years, which is why IRCC introduced caps of 10 start-ups per designated organization, and criteria for prioritizing some applications over others. However, since these measures were introduced in April 2024, the Government reduced immigration targets. This reduction in available spaces affects the SUV program, as it did other IRCC lines of business, and accordingly processing times have increased.
IRCC's Client Support Center agents have access to the same processing time information as shown on the website. Contacting IRCC will not speed up the processing of an application. Applications in the SUV program will be processed according to the criteria established in April 2024, which prioritizes the processing of applications with committed capital or that are supported by organizations that are members of Canada's Tech Network. Applications that are not supported by a commitment that meets one of these conditions will be processed following those that are prioritized, on a first-in, first-out basis, as annual admissions (levels) space allows.
We understand that the estimated processing times will be a cause for concern for SUV applicants and our designated organization partners. As outlined in the Prime Minister's mandate letter, we are committed to attracting top talent while making the immigration system more sustainable and are assessing options to ensure that Canada continues to welcome top entrepreneurial talent.
Regards,
The Business Immigration Team
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Immigration Event Calendar and Live Stream
