Innovate Niagara — Start-up Visa
- Closing date : October 10, 2026
Overview
The Innovate Niagara's Start-Up Visa Program provides a gateway for tech industry start-ups to establish themselves in Canada, with support including mentorship, training, and the issuance of a Letter of Support, which is essential for the visa application. The program requires a minimum of $150,000 in revenue over the past two years, and the total minimum cost for two founders is $60,000 CAD.
At a glance
Funding available
- Increase performance through digital transformation
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Develop a new product or service
- Varies by project
- Closing date : October 10, 2026
Eligible candidates
- Information and cultural industries
- Niagara Falls
- Ontario
- For-profit business
- All revenue ranges
- All organization sizes
- Startups
Next Steps
Activities funded
The Start-Up Visa Program facilitated by Innovate Niagara is tailored to support innovative tech start-ups seeking to establish themselves in Canada. This program is geared towards companies that aim to scale their business while leveraging Canadian market opportunities.
- Participation in weekly educational webinars on the Start-Up Visa ecosystem.
- Development of a business for technology-based products or services.
- Engagement in mentorship and training programs provided by Innovate Niagara.
- Creation of progress reports and monthly updates to document business development.
- Application for permanent residency and work permit as part of business integration in Canada.
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
This program is intended for foreign entrepreneurs who wish to bring their innovative start-up businesses to Canada, specifically to the Niagara region. The eligible applicants are individuals or teams who have a tech-focused business in the growth stage, possessing intellectual property for their product, and have generated at least $150,000 CAD in revenue over the past two years. Additionally, they must demonstrate proficiency in English or French and have sufficient funds to support themselves and any dependents.
Eligible geographic areas
This grant is targeted at supporting innovative companies specifically within Ontario's Niagara region. Innovate Niagara offers dedicated resources to businesses establishing themselves in this geographic area.
- Companies located in the Niagara region of Ontario, Canada.
Additional information
Here are additional relevant details for the Start-Up Visa Program at Innovate Niagara:
- The total minimum cost for two founders is CAD $60,000, with an additional CAD $5,000 charged for each additional founder, up to a maximum of five founders.
- Immigration consulting fees with Adapt Immigration Inc. are not included in the minimum cost and will be extra.
- Applicants will receive pre-arrival online training covering Canadian business practices and settling in Niagara before their arrival.
- After arriving on a temporary work visa, participants will have access to desk space at Innovate Niagara, market intelligence, coaching, and concierge services for 12 months.
- The program offers multiple support stages including pre-training, cohort field trips, and post-landing business integration services.
- Key deadlines for 2024 include application deadlines by September 30th and October 15th for Cohorts 1 and 2, respectively, and acceptance notifications by November 15th.