Self Employed Program
The Self-employed Persons Program allows people to immigrate to Canada permanently as self-employed persons.
Key Features
Investment
There is no minimum required amount. It depends on the project’s requirements
Net Worth
Should have enough funds to invest in the new project in Canada and to support your family.
Outcome
This program offer the permanent residency
Self Employed Program
The Self-employed Persons Program allows people to immigrate to Canada permanently as self-employed persons. It is dedicated to the foreign nationals with relevant experience in cultural activities or athletics to establish themselves in Canada as permanent residents.
Eligibility Requirements
To immigrate as a self-employed person, you must:
- have relevant experience
- be willing and able to be self-employed in Canada
- meet the program’s selection criteria and
- meet medical, security and other conditions
Relevant experience
Your experience is relevant if you have:
- taken part in cultural activities or athletics at a world-class level or
- been a self-employed person in cultural activities or athletics
Definitions
Relevant experience for a self-employed person means at least two years of experience.
It must be during the period starting 5 years before the day you apply and ending on the day we make a decision on your application.
You can get more points if you have 3, 4, or 5 years of experience.
At a minimum, your experience must be:
for cultural activities:
a) 2 one-year periods being self-employed in cultural activities, or
b) 2 one-year periods participating at a world-class level in cultural activities, or
c) a combination of a one-year period described in (a), and a one-year period described in (b)
for athletics:
a) 2 one-year periods being self-employed in athletics, or
b) 2 one-year periods participating at a world-class level in athletics, or
c) a combination of a one-year period described in (a) above, and a one-year period described in (b) above
| Eligible Occupation | |
| 5111 | Librarians |
| 5112 | Conservators and Curators |
| 5113 | Archivists |
| 5121 | Authors and Writers |
| 5122 | Editors |
| 5123 | Journalists |
| 5124 | Professional Occupations in Public Relations and Communications |
| 5125 | Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters |
| 5131 | Producers, Directors, Choreographers and Related Occupations |
| 5132 | Conductors, Composers and Arrangers |
| 5133 | Musicians and Singers |
| 5134 | Dancers |
| 5135 | Actors and Comedians |
| 5136 | Painters, Sculptors and Other Visual Artists |
| 5211 | Library and Public Archive Technicians |
| 5212 | Technical Occupations Related to Museums and Art Galleries |
| 5221 | Photographers |
| 5222 | Film and Video Camera Operators |
| 5223 | Graphic Arts Technicians |
| 5224 | Broadcast Technicians |
| 5225 | Audio and Video Recording Technicians |
| 5226 | Other Technical and Co-ordinating Occupations in Motion Pictures, Broadcasting and the Performing Arts |
| 5227 | Support Occupations in Motion Pictures, Broadcasting and the Performing Arts |
| 5231 | Announcers and Other Broadcasters |
| 5232 | Other Performers |
| 5241 | Graphic Designers and Illustrators |
| 5242 | Interior Designers and Interior Decorators |
| 5243 | Theatre, Fashion, Exhibit and Other Creative Designers |
| 5244 | Artisans and Craftspersons |
| 5245 | Patternmakers - Textile, Leather and Fur Products |
| 5251 | Athletes |
| 5252 | Coaches |
| 5253 | Sports Officials and Referees |
Self-Employed Persons Program Evaluation Criteria
Prospective candidates’ applications are evaluated based on the points system established for self-employed business immigration to Canada. The minimum threshold for eligibility in the self-employed persons program is 35 points out of a total of 100.
| Selection Factors | Points |
| Experience | Maximum 35 points |
| Age | Maximum 10 points |
| Education | Maximum 25 points |
| Ability in English or French | Maximum 24 points |
| Adaptability | Maximum 6 points |
| Total | Maximum 100 points |
| Pass Mark |
35 points
|
Experience
Applicants are eligible to earn up to 35 points based on their relevant work experience, which should have been acquired during the five-year period prior to the application submission date and up until a decision is reached on the application.
| Years of experience | Points |
| Two years of relevant experience | 20 |
| Three years of relevant experience | 25 |
| Four years of relevant experience | 30 |
| Five years of relevant experience | 35 |
Age
Applicants will be awarded selection points based on their age at the time of application.
| Age | Points |
|
16 or under
|
0
|
|
17
|
2
|
|
18
|
4
|
|
19
|
6
|
|
20
|
8
|
|
21-49
|
10
|
|
50
|
8
|
|
51
|
6
|
|
52
|
4
|
|
53
|
2
|
|
54+
|
0
|
Education
Self-employed applicants can be awarded up to 25 points under the education factor.
| Education | Points |
|
Master’s Degree or Ph.D. and at least 17 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study
|
25
|
|
Two or more university degrees at the bachelor’s level and at least 15 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study
|
22
|
|
Three-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship and at least 15 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study
|
22
|
|
University degree of two years or more at the bachelor’s level and at least 14 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study
|
20
|
|
Two-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship and at least 14 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study
|
20
|
|
One-year university degree at the bachelor’s level and at least 13 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study
|
15
|
|
One-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship and at least 13 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study
|
15
|
|
One-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship and at least 12 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study
|
12
|
|
High school diploma
|
5
|
Language Ability
Self-employed persons may be awarded up to 24 points depending on their proficiency in English or French.
| Proficiency Level | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing |
|
HIGH: Applicant can communicate effectively in most social and work situations.
|
Speaking: High
|
Listening: High
|
Reading: High
|
Writing: High
|
|
MODERATE: Applicant can communicate comfortably in familiar social and work situations.
|
Speaking: Moderate
|
Listening: Moderate
|
Reading: Moderate
|
Writing: Moderate
|
|
BASIC: Applicant can communicate in predictable contexts and on familiar topics, but with some difficulty.
|
Speaking: Basic
|
Listening: Basic
|
Reading: Basic
|
Writing: Basic
|
|
NO: Applicant does not meet the above criteria for basic proficiency.
|
Does not meet Basic Level
|
Does not meet Basic Level
|
Does not meet Basic Level
|
Does not meet Basic Level
|
Adaptability
Self-employed individuals have the opportunity to receive a maximum of six (6) points for adaptability, as outlined below:
|
Adaptability
|
Points
|
|---|---|
|
Spouse or common-law partner’s level of education
|
3-5
|
|
Previous work in Canada Applicant or the accompanying spouse or common-law partner has completed a minimum of one year of full-time work in Canada on a valid work permit. |
5
|
| Previous study in Canada The applicant or their accompanying spouse or common-law partner has successfully finished a full-time educational program lasting a minimum of two years at a Canadian post-secondary institution. The applicant must have done this after reaching the age of 17 and while holding a valid study permit. It’s important to note that obtaining a degree or diploma is not a requirement for earning these points based on two years of study. |
5
|
| Relatives in Canada The applicant, their spouse, or common-law partner has a family member (parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, sibling, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, or cousin) who currently resides in Canada and holds Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status. |
5
|