Canada Start-Up Visa Document Checklist: Everything You Need to File Your PR Application

Submitting a complete, accurate PR application is the first line of defense against unnecessary delays and refusals. An incomplete package gets returned; a package with errors or missing documents can trigger a procedural fairness letter at worst or months of back-and-forth at best.

This checklist covers every document category required for the Canada Start-Up Visa permanent residence application as filed through the Permanent Residence Portal in 2026.

Core Application Forms

IMM 0008 — Generic Application Form for Canada This is the primary application form for all economic immigration classes, including the Start-Up Business Class. It collects personal information, immigration history, family composition, and employment history. Every adult applicant (principal and accompanying family members) must complete their own IMM 0008.

IMM 5669 — Schedule A: Background/Declaration Required for every applicant over the age of 18. This form covers criminal history, military service, political associations, and prior visa or immigration refusals. It must be filled out completely and accurately — any omission or misrepresentation here is grounds for a misrepresentation finding.

IMM 5406 — Additional Family Information Required for all applicants regardless of whether family members are accompanying.

IMM 5562 — Supplementary Information: Start-up Business Class This is the SUV-specific form. It identifies your role in the qualifying business, confirms your ownership stake, and provides details about your designated organization and the business itself.

The Letter of Support and Business Documentation

Letter of Support from the Designated Organization This is the document issued directly to you by the DO confirming their support for your venture. It must be included with your PR application. The DO simultaneously files a Commitment Certificate directly with IRCC — this is what triggers IRCC's peer review process.

Corporate Ownership Documents You must demonstrate that you hold at least 10% of the voting rights in the qualifying business and that collectively (you plus the designated organization) the group holds more than 50% of voting rights.

Documents typically required:

• Certificate of Incorporation (federal or provincial)
• Articles of Incorporation
• Shareholder Registry or Register of Members
• Director Register
• Shareholder Agreement (if applicable)

Business Plan IRCC does not require a standardized business plan format, but your application should include a clear document that describes the business concept, the innovation being developed, the target market, your commercialization plan, and projected employment creation in Canada.

How to Incorporate Your Company for the Start-Up Visa

You can incorporate either federally (Canada Business Corporations Act) or provincially. Either is acceptable for the SUV.

Federal incorporation costs approximately $200 online through the Corporations Canada website, plus any lawyer fees if you use legal assistance. Provincial incorporation costs vary by province — Ontario charges $300 for online incorporation; British Columbia charges $350.

The key requirement is that the corporate structure must reflect the ownership percentages at the time the Commitment Certificate is issued. Each essential applicant must hold at least 10% of voting shares. The designated organization may also hold shares as part of the commitment arrangement — this needs to be documented precisely.

One common mistake: incorporating in a rush to meet the DO's timeline and then discovering the share structure doesn't comply with the 10%/50% rule. Have the share structure reviewed before incorporation papers are finalized.

Language Test Results

Every applicant must demonstrate Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level 5 proficiency in either English or French, across all four abilities: reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

Accepted tests for English:

• IELTS General Training (minimum band scores: reading 3.5, writing 4.0, listening 4.5, speaking 4.0, mapping approximately to CLB 5)
• CELPIP-General (minimum Level 5 in each skill)

Accepted tests for French:

• TEF Canada
• TCF Canada

Test results must be less than 2 years old at the time of application. Given that PR processing can take 3+ years, founders who test early may need to retest before their application reaches the final decision stage. Build this into your timeline planning.

Police Certificates

A police certificate is required from every country where you have lived for 6 or more continuous months since the age of 18.

Requirements vary by country, but you generally need:

• A clearance certificate from the national police authority
• A translation into English or French by a certified translator if the original is in another language

Countries with specific requirements:

• India: Clearance from the local police station covering your home address, plus the Central Bureau of Investigation for some applicants
• Iran: Certificate from the national police authority; can require additional steps given processing complexity
• USA: FBI Identity History Summary Check
• UK: ACRO Criminal Records Office (ACRO) check

Police certificates are time-limited. In most countries, they must be issued within 12 months of your application submission. If processing takes longer than expected, you may be asked for updated certificates.

Medical Examinations

Every applicant — including children — must complete a medical examination conducted by a Designated Medical Practitioner (DMP) authorized by IRCC. You cannot choose any doctor; it must be from IRCC's official DMP list.

The medical exam typically includes:

• Physical examination
• Chest X-ray (for applicants 11 and older)
• Blood tests (for applicants 15 and older)
• Urinalysis

Results are transmitted electronically by the DMP directly to IRCC. You receive an eMedical number to include in your application package.

Medical results are valid for 12 months from the exam date. If your PR decision takes longer, you will likely need to complete a new medical exam before landing.

Biometrics

All applicants between 14 and 79 years old must provide biometrics (fingerprints and photo). Biometrics are collected at designated Application Support Centers or Visa Application Centers.

The biometrics fee is $85 CAD per person ($170 for a family), payable when you provide the biometrics. Once collected, biometric data is valid for 10 years.

Proof of Settlement Funds

You must demonstrate that you have liquid, unborrowed funds sufficient to support your family after arrival in Canada. For 2025-2026, a family of four needs CAD $28,362.

Required documentation typically includes:

• Official bank statements for the most recent 4-6 months
• Statements covering all significant accounts
• Explanation letters for any large deposits that might appear to be loans or transfers

Funds held in fixed deposits, locked investments, or property equity typically do not qualify. The requirement is specifically for liquid funds that are immediately accessible.

Photographs

Passport-style photographs following IRCC's technical specifications for each applicant. These are submitted digitally through the Permanent Residence Portal.

Submission Order of Operations

1. Secure your Letter of Support from a designated organization
2. Incorporate your Canadian company and finalize the ownership structure
3. Complete language testing
4. Book and complete medical exams (book early — DMPs often have wait times)
5. Obtain police certificates from all relevant countries
6. Gather proof of settlement funds documentation
7. Complete all forms (IMM 0008, IMM 5669, IMM 5406, IMM 5562)
8. Submit through the Permanent Residence Portal

The 2026 deadline for 2025 certificate holders is June 30, 2026. Applications must be received by IRCC by this date, not just sent.

The Canada Start-Up Visa Guide includes a detailed application timeline planner and document tracking worksheet to help you manage the sequence and ensure nothing is missing before you submit.

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