Canada Start-Up Visa vs E-2 Treaty Investor Visa
A factual side-by-side comparison of two residency programmes. All figures are drawn from the canonical program pages — follow either link in the table header for sources and the full profile.
Key Differences at a Glance
- ›E-2 Treaty Investor Visa is faster: 3 months vs 14 months for Canada Start-Up Visa.
- ›Canada Start-Up Visa leads to citizenship (~3 yrs); E-2 Treaty Investor Visa does not.
- ›E-2 Treaty Investor Visa requires a 100,000 USD investment; Canada Start-Up Visa does not.
Canada Start-Up Visa Canada · entrepreneur | E-2 Treaty Investor Visa United States · investment | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Canada | United States |
| Category | Entrepreneur | Investment |
| Application Fee | $1,575 | $315 |
| Minimum Income | — | — |
| Minimum Investment | — | $100,000 |
| Processing Time | 14 months | 3 months |
| Family Included | Spouse/common-law partner and dependent children are included and receive permanent residency simultaneously | Spouse and unmarried children under 21 included; spouse may apply for work authorization |
| Path to PR | Yes — 0 years | No |
| Path to Citizenship | Yes — 3 years | No |
| Physical Presence | Must be physically present in Canada; PR holders must reside 730 days in 5 years to maintain status | Must maintain active direction and development of the enterprise; extended absences may jeopardize status |
| Dual Citizenship | Allowed | Allowed |
| Tax Impact | Permanent residents are subject to Canadian worldwide income tax from landing date | E-2 holders who meet the Substantial Presence Test become US tax residents subject to worldwide income reporting |
| Tax Residency Trigger | 183 days/yr | 183 days/yr |
| Worldwide Taxation | Yes | Yes |
| Renewal Cost | — | — |
About Canada Start-Up Visa
Canada's Start-Up Visa grants permanent residence directly to innovative entrepreneurs whose business secures a letter of support from a designated Canadian venture capital fund, angel investor group, or incubator. There is no set investment, but applicants need a qualifying ownership stake (10%+ individually, over 50% collectively across founders), CLB 5 language ability (roughly A2) in English or French across all four skills, and settlement funds. Up to five co-founders can apply on one business, and spouse plus dependent children receive PR simultaneously. The business must be incorporated in and actively managed from Canada; abandoning it, or franchise/non-innovative models, is disallowed. Budget about USD 13,000-30,000 in the first year; processing has slowed sharply, with IRCC targeting 2-3 years. PR holders must reside 730 days per 5 years and become taxable on worldwide income from landing. Citizenship is reachable after 3 years, with an A2 language test, civic test, oath, and dual nationality allowed.
Full Canada Start-Up Visa profile →About E-2 Treaty Investor Visa
The US E-2 Treaty Investor Visa is a non-immigrant investment route for nationals of roughly 80 countries holding a qualifying commerce treaty with the US—notably excluding Indian and Chinese nationals (a Grenada CBI is a common workaround). The defining requirement is a substantial investment, typically $100,000+ and proportional to total business cost, in a real, active, for-profit enterprise the investor owns at least 50% of and actively directs; passive real estate or portfolio holdings do not qualify. There is no formal minimum. Application costs about $315, with realistic first-year outlays of $20,000–45,000 excluding the business investment. Processing is around three months, but consulate waits range 8–40 weeks. Spouse and unmarried children under 21 are included, and the spouse may work. It is renewable indefinitely but does NOT lead to a green card or citizenship. Extended absences can jeopardize status, and children lose status at 21. Holders who meet the Substantial Presence Test become US tax residents on worldwide income, with FATCA reporting.
Full E-2 Treaty Investor Visa profile →Gotchas to Watch For
Canada Start-Up Visa
- ⚠2024 IRCC announced 2-3 year processing target; inventory caps prioritise certain applications
- ⚠Business must be actively operated in Canada post-PR; inactive companies risk review
- ⚠Multiple founders (up to 5) can share one Letter of Support — but all must be essential
- ⚠Designated organizations have varying reputations; due diligence critical
E-2 Treaty Investor Visa
- ⚠E-2 does NOT lead to green card — indefinite renewable but non-immigrant status
- ⚠Not available to Indian or Chinese nationals (no treaty). Grenada CBI is a workaround for E-2 access.
- ⚠"Marginality" rule: business must be more than sole income source for investor family
- ⚠E-2 spouse can work (2022 automatic extension); children lose status at 21
- ⚠US tax residency kicks in via substantial presence — worldwide income + FATCA
Neutral reference — we don't recommend one programme over another. Programmes change: always verify each detail against the official source linked on the individual program pages.