“Coming out of the pandemic, the clear message we are sending with the startup visa program is that Canada is open for business,” says Marco Mendicino, Canada’s minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship.

Canada’s startup visa program began as a five-year pilot program in 2013, and was made permanent in 2018. Since its launch, foreign entrepreneurs representing some 200 startups have become permanent residents in Canada.

Mendicino also said that by bringing in international students, at least some of whom will become tech founders, as well as business owners, Canada will bolster its economic growth and employment. “We believe immigration is a competitive edge for Canada, and that’s how we are going to stay competitive on the global scale,” says Mendicino.