Question regarding Canada Startup Visa process.

Navaiii

Good day, everyone! I hope everything is going well for you.

I have a gaming startup that is nearing the completion of the demo, and I am considering applying for a Canada startup visa. But I have a few questions about the startup visa application process:

According to the website, I need to obtain a letter of support from one of the designated organizations, but I'm curious: Do I need to apply for these designated organizations separately and then apply for the startup visa after receiving the investment, or do I need to apply only for the startup visa and these designated organizations will decide whether or not to invest?
And my second question is, how long does it take to obtain a startup visa? Is it the processing time of 30-31 months that I read on the website?

Thanks before for answering.

Martin

Hi Navaiii,
Yes, first, you'll need to apply to the designated organizations to get the Letter of Support (LOS). Then after you have the letter of support, you can submit your Start-up Visa application to immigration.

List of designated organizations for Start-up Visa

You can find the organizations from the link above and see what they would need from you to apply.

Currently, the start-up Visa processing time is about 32 months. But that doesn't mean that would be the time you will have to wait. I think this is mostly just the backlog, and they are moving faster with applications these days.

Linden

Also it's worth mentioning that not all designated organizations will be investing in your business.

Angel Investors and Venture Capitals will be investing in your business.
Incubators will mostly provide support and help you develop your idea but won't be providing any investment in your business. Most incubators charge a fee for this service, but some of them do this for free. It all depends on how innovative and developed your idea is.

Navaiii

Linden thanks. How much is the chance of a game studio to get startup visa in your opinion?

hotpoutine

Does anyone know which incubators are free?

papio

hotpoutine I know DMZ is free. A group of friends got their LOS from DMZ and didn't have to pay anything.

Happyness

hotpoutine CDL (creative destruction lab) is also free. But they only accept the best applications.
My friends got their LOS from here.

Navaiii

Thank you so much everyone for answering. I appreciate all the help 🙂

Linden

I would say it depends on your Start-up and how much you have developed the idea. If you have something to show, meaning that it's more than just an idea then your chances I would say are good.

You mentioned you want to start a game studio. Could you give some more details? So your business will be designing innovative games?

Navaiii

Linden Thanks for the answer. Yeah, we have something to show, I mean it is not just the idea.
Yes, I want to start a ga,e studio, and we are currently developing story-based games, which have unique scenarios but are not that innovative in tech or some fields. But other than that we are also working on some VR/hardware controller which is really innovative in point of every aspect.

Linden

Navaiii A thing to keep in mind is that for the Start-up Visa program both designated organizations and the officers would want to see something new or innovative in the business.
So in your case you could be a game developing studio that does something differently or uses a new technology or game design process. The hardware controller you are working on could also help with this.
I would suggest you pick one innovative aspect for your business and focus on that for the Start-up visa program.
Once you have this new/innovative aspect with your business idea and have spent some time developing it (so it's more than just an idea), you chances for getting the Letter of Support and the PR are high.

Navaiii

Linden thanks for the explanation

Linden

Navaiii Let us know if you apply for an incubation program and how it goes. Good luck!