After the Start-up Visa: Options for Indian Entrepreneurs in Canada and Australia

Canada's Start-up Visa is closed to new applications, and Australia's Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP) has been closed since 31 July 2024. What remains for Indian entrepreneurs is narrower: provincial entrepreneur streams and temporary work permits in Canada, and an invitation-only National Innovation visa (subclass 858) in Australia. None of these is a like-for-like replacement. This article sets out what the official pages said on 6 November 2026 and what is still unclear.

What Happened to Canada's Start-up Visa

The Start-up Visa gave entrepreneurs with a commitment from a designated organization a route to permanent residence. IRCC's program page now lists it as paused and says the program is closed to all other applications. The dates below come from IRCC's program page and notice.

IRCC's notice says a new, targeted pilot for entrepreneurs is planned, with more information to be communicated in 2026. It also says it will prioritise permanent residence applications from people in Canada on a Start-up Visa work permit, as Levels Plan targets allow. The 5 November 2026 release says provinces and territories will be able to identify workers who already applied under select federal programs, and it describes a 2027 cohort of up to 100,000 workers in Canada. The supplementary levels plan shows Federal Business admissions of 1,500 in 2027, with a footnote that the category includes Start-up Visa and Self-Employed admissions. See our Start-up Visa page, Self-Employed Persons page and Federal Business overview.

What Remains Open in Canada

For permanent residence, the remaining entrepreneur route is provincial nomination. Two temporary work permits sit beside it.

Provincial streams reward capital and business experience, and they take time. In British Columbia, you sign a Performance Agreement, apply for a work permit and submit a final report 18 to 20 months after arrival before the province nominates you. Our guides to Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan and the PNP guide give more detail.

Temporary Work Permits for Business Owners

C11 business owner permit. This category is for people who want only temporary residence while running a business. Officers look for a significant benefit to Canada, a concrete business plan rather than a market analysis, control of at least 51% of the business, and business funds kept separate from family support funds. IRCC sets no fixed investment or job numbers, the work period would normally not exceed 18 months, and no LMIA is needed. See our work permit types and LMIA guide.

Intra-company transferee (ICT). If you already run a business abroad, an ICT permit can move a qualifying employee to a parent, subsidiary, branch or affiliate in Canada after at least one full-time year with the foreign enterprise in the previous three. The start-up category (C61) requires an existing multinational with revenue-generating operations in at least two countries, a business plan and evidence of premises, and lasts a maximum of one year. IRCC says an enterprise cannot become a multinational by using the ICT category. Executives and managers (C62) can reach 7 years in total and specialized knowledge workers (C63) 5 years.

What Replaced the BIIP in Australia

Home Affairs says the BIIP closed on 31 July 2024. Applications made before that date are still processed, and people who withdrew an application on or after that date may be entitled to a refund of the visa charge. The Business Talent (132) visa closed on 1 July 2021. Our business visas page covers the closed visas.

The National Innovation visa (subclass 858) replaces the Global Talent visa, which closed in December 2024. It is permanent and by invitation only. You submit an expression of interest (EOI) that stays active for two years, and if invited you have 60 days to lodge. A nominator with a national reputation in your field completes Form 1000. You must show a record of achievement that places you among the best in your area of expertise, with recent prominence. Home Affairs lists a track record of supporting successful innovative ventures, links with innovation hubs and international patents among examples of evidence. A business plan or pitch-deck appears only as an example for applicants under 18 or aged 55 and over.

Invitations follow four priorities: global experts (Priority 1), agency-nominated candidates (Priority 2), Tier One sectors such as critical technologies, renewables and health (Priority 3), and Tier Two sectors such as agri-food, fintech and resources (Priority 4). For July to September 2026, Home Affairs reports 1,969 EOIs and 292 invitations, of which 216 were Priority 3 and 45 were Priority 4. The 2026-27 Talent and Innovation planning level is 3,500 places, down from 5,300 in 2025-26 and including 20 for the BIIP. Our National Innovation visa page has the full detail.

Canada and Australia Side by Side

What Is Not Yet Clear

• Whether and when Canada's entrepreneur pilot will launch, and who it will cover.
• The cut-off for 2025 commitment certificate holders. The program page gives 30 June 2026, while the notice gives 31 December 2025 as the date new applications stop.
• How the 2027 workers cohort and provincial identification apply to people who applied under the closed programs.
• Whether British Columbia and Ontario are taking entrepreneur files, and what Manitoba, the Atlantic provinces and Quebec offer now.
• Whether Australia will add a dedicated entrepreneur category. The pages we read set priorities by sector and nominator.

Steps to Take Now

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Canada Start-up Visa closed?

Yes. IRCC stopped accepting new Start-up Visa applications at 11:59 p.m. on 31 December 2025, and its program page lists the status as paused. The page set 30 June 2026 as the last date for holders of a valid 2025 commitment certificate.

Will Canada launch a new entrepreneur program?

IRCC has said a new, targeted pilot for entrepreneurs is planned, with information to follow in 2026. We found no launch date or rules on 6 November 2026, and IRCC's 5 November 2026 release does not mention a pilot.

Can an entrepreneur still get permanent residence in Canada?

Through a provincial nominee stream, if the province is taking files. Alberta's Rural Entrepreneur Stream was accepting expressions of interest, and Saskatchewan has closed its entrepreneur pathway.

Does the C11 business owner work permit lead to permanent residence?

Not by itself. IRCC says foreign nationals cannot reside permanently in Canada simply because they are business owners. IRCC directs people who intend to become permanent residents to other categories, such as C60 for provincial business candidates.

Is the Australian 188 visa closed?

Yes. Home Affairs says the Business Innovation and Investment Program closed on 31 July 2024. Applications lodged before that date are still processed.

Can an entrepreneur get the National Innovation visa?

Possibly, if you can show achievements that place you among the best in your area and have a nominator. Home Affairs lists a track record of supporting successful innovative ventures as one example of evidence. It is invitation only, so a strong profile does not mean an invitation.

How much does the National Innovation visa cost?

The visa charge is AUD 6,235 for the main applicant, AUD 3,120 for each additional applicant aged 18 or over and AUD 1,560 for each under 18. A second instalment of AUD 4,890 applies to an applicant aged 18 or over who lacks functional English.