Self-Employed Immigration Program

Business Immigration To Canada

Self-Employed Immigration Program

The Self-Employed Persons Program allows eligible candidates to immigrate to Canada permanently. This program creates an amazing PR pathway while keeping the eligibility requirements quite realistic.

Immigration candidates should provide evidence of experience, intention and ability to make “a significant contribution” to cultural or sports development in Canada. This self-employed experience should confirm the ability of these candidates to successfully establish themselves in Canada.

Important to note, that by reviewing the eligibility requirements, most candidates underestimate the importance to provide an extensive list of evidence and complexity of this program PR application. It should be treated very seriously and should be professionally prepared.

Eligibility requirements

Have relevant experience in cultural activities or athletics and;
Be willing and able to make a significant contribution to the cultural or athletic life in Canada.
Have 35 points out of 100 to proceed with the PR application (selection criteria that include your experience, education, age, language abilities, adaptability).

The province of Quebec runs its own business immigration program.

Fees start from $2,140. Processing time is 41 months. You may need to give biometrics with your application. This processing time includes the time you need to give your biometrics.

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 IRCC makes 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:

2 one-year periods being self-employed in cultural activities, or
2 one-year periods participating at a world-class level in cultural activities, or
a combination of a one-year period described in a) above, and a one-year period described in b) above.

Relevant experience for athletics:

2 one-year periods being self-employed in athletics, or
2 one-year periods participating at a world-class level in athletics, or
a combination of a one-year period described in a) above, and a one-year period described in b) above.

Cultural activities include jobs generally seen as part of Canada’s artistic and cultural fields. Examples include:

authors and writers,
creative and performing artists,
musicians,
painters,
sculptors and other visual artists,
technical support and other jobs in motion pictures,
creative designers and
craftspeople.

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) provides a full list of a full list of qualifying activities for self-employed persons.

Below is the list of eligible professions:

Professional Occupations in Art and Culture

NOC Code	Occupation Title
5111	Librarians
5112	Conservators and Curators
5113	Archivists
5114	Authors and Writers
5121	Editors
5123	Journalists
5124	Professional Occupations in Public Relations and Communications
5125	Translators, Terminologist 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

Technical and Skilled Occupations in Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

NOC Code	Occupation Title
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 in Occupations in Motion Pictures, Broadcasting and the Performing Arts
5231	Announcers and Other Broadcasters
5232	Other Performers
5241	Graphic Designers and Illustrators
5243	Theatre, Fashion, Exhibit and Other Creative Designers
5244	Artisans and Craftsperson
5245	Patternmakers – Textile, Leather and Fur Products
5241	Athletes
5252	Coaches
5253	Sports Officials and Referees
5254	Program Leaders and Instructors in Recreation, Sport and Fitness

Selection criteria

Applicants must earn a minimum of 35 points out of 100 potential points if they would like to immigrate to Canada as a self-employed person

Criteria	Maximum Points
Ability in English and/or French	24
Adaptability	6
Age	10
Education	25
Experience	35
Total	100