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Luxembourg and Italy, along with France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Sweden, and other countries, are facing severe travel setbacks this year as Canada freezes visa applications across 37 European nations. This unprecedented move has created significant challenges for entrepreneurs and individuals looking to establish themselves in Canada. The suspension of visa pathways, particularly the Start-Up Visa (SUV) program, has left many business founders from these countries in limbo, unable to access Canada’s once-popular immigration routes. The freeze is largely attributed to regulatory shifts and program changes, creating uncertainty for those seeking permanent residency or business expansion in Canada. As a result, these countries are now rethinking their strategies for North American expansion and exploring alternative routes to bypass the sudden disruption in Canadian immigration policy.

Luxembourg: A Waiting Game for Fintech Entrepreneurs

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As a global financial and fintech hub, Luxembourg is uniquely affected by the SUV freeze, particularly for its fintech startups, which have historically used Canada’s regulatory sandbox to test North American markets. The suspension of the SUV has led Luxembourg-based fintech founders to shift their focus to C-11 Significant Benefit Work Permits, though this is a temporary solution at best. While Luxembourg’s startups are often highly capitalized, the current lack of clear alternatives in the form of permanent residency creates a “waiting room” effect for some of Europe’s most promising fintech innovators. Canada’s Entrepreneur Pilot (expected to launch in 2026) may eventually offer more substantial benefits, but until then, many fintech entrepreneurs are stuck in limbo, unable to fully capitalize on Canada’s market due to the lack of immediate access to permanent residency. The complex regulations and the anticipated long wait times for a new program have created uncertainty in Luxembourg’s fintech space, with entrepreneurs looking elsewhere for more immediate opportunities.

Italy: Navigating Quebec’s Unique Entrepreneur Programs

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Italy, a country known for its innovative manufacturing and lifestyle-driven startups, now faces significant hurdles due to the SUV freeze. While Italian entrepreneurs once viewed Canada as a prime destination for expansion, the new restrictions on the SUV mean that many Italian innovators are being directed to Quebec’s entrepreneur programs. However, Quebec’s programs operate under different quotas and language requirements, creating additional barriers for Italian founders. The Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) is now the primary means for Italians to secure long-term residency, but its specific requirements, including fluency in French and an ability to navigate Quebec’s distinct system, present challenges for those who are unfamiliar with the region’s unique processes. The language and selection certificate requirements are now the primary barriers, replacing the flexibility once offered by the SUV. For Italian startups focused on manufacturing, tech, and design, the adjustment to Quebec’s more restrictive requirements is a significant shift, one that requires rethinking their Canadian expansion strategy.

France: Navigating the Shift Post-SUV Freeze

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With the suspension of Canada’s Start-Up Visa (SUV), France faces a significant challenge as many of its thriving entrepreneurs, particularly those in the La French Tech ecosystem, must pivot to alternative routes for North American expansion. The SUV had long been a favored option for French founders looking to establish a permanent base in Canada. Now, these founders are being redirected to the CETA (Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement) professional categories, which provides a legal pathway for business professionals, but lacks the permanent residency (PR) certainty the SUV once offered. Innovative startups from Paris-based hubs like Station F are now exploring Intra-Company Transfers (ICT) as their primary route, which permits temporary relocation but doesn’t guarantee the same level of long-term stability or family settlement. This shift complicates plans for those who intended to bring their entire teams and families. While the CETA offers some flexibility, it is primarily designed for temporary work assignments, which creates uncertainty for French entrepreneurs who once viewed Canada as their final destination for permanent establishment.

Germany: Shifting Focus from Canada to U.S. and EU Alternatives

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Germany’s entrepreneurs, especially those in DeepTech and MedTech sectors, are feeling the effects of Canada’s suspension of the Start-Up Visa (SUV), as the program had long been a straightforward route for accessing permanent residency in Canada. The Mittelstand (Germany’s small and medium enterprises) is highly focused on innovation, and many startups had relied on Canada as a strategic gateway for North American expansion. With the SUV freeze, German VCs are now redirecting their capital to U.S. International Entrepreneur Parole or keeping investments within the EU. This shift has significant economic ramifications, particularly for entrepreneurs who had hoped to use Canadian subsidiaries to launch their businesses in North America. Instead, startups from Berlin and Munich are now exploring Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) in places like Ontario and British Columbia, which require higher personal net worth requirements ($600,000+) compared to the former SUV program, which had no such minimum. These new hurdles make it more difficult for many aspiring founders, particularly those from deep-tech sectors, to scale quickly and access the North American market.

United Kingdom: Double Challenges in a Post-Brexit World

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UK-based entrepreneurs are particularly vulnerable to the SUV freeze, as they face both post-Brexit mobility challenges and the loss of a streamlined route to Canada for long-term stays. Before the freeze, many UK founders viewed the London-to-Toronto tech corridor as a natural extension of their businesses, using the SUV to gain easy access to Canada’s startup ecosystem. Now, UK entrepreneurs are pivoting to pathways through the UK-Canada Comprehensive Trade Agreement, but they also face challenges navigating the post-Brexit world of mobility. Many are now exploring global talent streams that prioritize high-salary tech roles, although these pathways often do not suit the needs of founders looking to establish permanent operations in Canada. This “double hurdle”—combining Brexit-induced restrictions and the loss of the SUV—means UK entrepreneurs are struggling to find clear, efficient routes into Canada. This disruption has significant economic consequences, particularly for startups in sectors like fintech, AI, and software development that had relied on Canada’s welcoming immigration policies.

Spain: Reconsidering Options Amid Visa Uncertainty

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Spain’s growing startup scene, especially in Madrid and Barcelona, has relied heavily on the SUV as a way to bypass the high investment thresholds required by other G7 nations. The SUV freeze has disrupted this flow, with Spanish founders now considering Spain’s own “Digital Nomad Visa” as a potential alternative. This visa allows entrepreneurs to stay in Spain while servicing North American clients, but it is less suited for those looking to relocate to Canada. Spanish startups, many of which focus on software, e-commerce, and design, are facing a significant dilemma, with many lamenting the missed opportunity to apply for the SUV before its December 2025 deadline. For those who missed the application window, there’s uncertainty about whether the 2026 pilot program will offer an alternative path that does not require the significant liquid assets that are common in provincial nomination programs. The uncertainty has led to growing “relocation regret” among Spanish founders, many of whom are now reconsidering their long-term plans for expansion into Canada.

Sweden: Navigating the Shift Post-SUV Freeze

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Sweden, renowned for its innovative green-tech and sustainability startups in the vibrant Stockholm tech hub, has been a prominent user of the Start-Up Visa (SUV) to establish a foothold in North America. The SUV program was a popular route for Swedish entrepreneurs looking to scale their businesses into the Canadian market, particularly in areas like clean energy, eco-friendly technology, and sustainable solutions. With the SUV’s suspension, many Swedish founders are now facing a state of uncertainty, as their high-capital research and development (R&D) projects require a predictable path for scaling in North America. These entrepreneurs, known for their focus on innovation and long-term growth, are now pivoting to the C-11 Significant Benefit Work Permit. This permit allows them to establish operations in Canada immediately, as long as they can demonstrate that their business will bring a specific economic or social benefit to a Canadian region. While this alternative offers a way forward, it creates a more complex process for Swedish entrepreneurs who had previously relied on the SUV’s more flexible permanent residency pathways. The challenge now lies in proving the tangible benefits of their ventures to specific Canadian regions, which can delay scaling efforts and complicate long-term plans.

Canada’s Travel Visa Freeze and Its Impact

Canada’s recent decision to freeze start-up visa applications across 37 European countries, including Luxembourg, Italy, France, the UK, Germany, Spain, and Sweden, has caused significant disruptions for travelers and entrepreneurs. The suspension of key immigration pathways, such as the Start-Up Visa program, has left many unable to proceed with their plans for business expansion or relocation. The freeze is seen as a response to evolving regulatory changes, creating uncertainty for those seeking permanent residency or business opportunities in Canada. As a result, individuals and businesses are now forced to reconsider their North American expansion strategies, exploring alternative routes in response to this unprecedented disruption in Canada’s immigration system.

Luxembourg and Italy, along with France, the UK, Germany, Spain, Sweden, and others, face severe travel setbacks as Canada freezes visa applications across 37 European countries this year, causing disruptions for entrepreneurs and travelers.

Conclusion

Luxembourg, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Sweden, and other European nations are facing severe travel setbacks as Canada freezes visa applications across 37 countries this year. This unprecedented move has disrupted the plans of entrepreneurs and travelers who relied on Canadian immigration pathways, particularly the Start-Up Visa program. As a result, these countries are forced to reconsider their strategies for North American expansion and explore alternative options to navigate the current uncertainty. With no immediate resolution in sight, the travel and immigration landscape remains in flux, and individuals and businesses must adapt to these new challenges.