Canada's Self-Employed Persons Immigration Program

Canada's Self-Employed Persons Program allows eligible self-employed foreign nationals with relevant experience in cultural activities or athletics to establish themselves in Canada as permanent residents.

Overview

Candidates for the Self-Employed Persons Program must have the experience, intention and ability to make a "significant contribution" to Canada's cultural life or sports in Canada.

Interested candidates must meet both the eligibility requirements and achieve at minimum a passing mark under the program's selection criteria in order to be considered for immigration as a self- employed person.

There is no regulated minimum net worth requirement for the Self-Employed Persons Program. However, self-employed applicants must demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to settle in Canada along with their dependents and finance the work for which their selection is based.

Eligibility Requirements for the Self-Employed Persons Program

A foreign national must first meet the Government of Canada's definition of a self-employed person in order to be considered eligible for assessment.

A self-employed person is defined as someone with relevant self-employed experience in a cultural or athletic activity.

Relevant experience consists of at least two years of experience either self-employed in or participating at a world-class level in cultural activities or athletics as defined by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Under the Self-Employed Persons Program, eligible occupations within Canada’s artistic, cultural and athletic fields include:

Professional Occupations in Art and Culture
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
Technical and Skilled Occupations in Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport
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
5254
Program Leaders and Instructors in Recreation, Sport and Fitness

Self-Employed Persons Program: Selection Criteria

Applications from interested candidates are assessed against the points assessment for self-employed business immigration to Canada. The pass mark for the self-employed persons program is 35 points out 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

Factor 1: Experience

Relevant experience must have been obtained within the five-year period before an application is signed and ends when a decision is made on an application. Applicants may obtain up to 35 points under the experience factor.

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

Factor 2: 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

Factor 3: 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

Factor 4: 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: Individual can communicate effectively in most social and work situations.
Speaking: High
Listening: High
Reading: High
Writing: High
MODERATE: Individual can communicate comfortably in familiar social and work situations.
Speaking: Moderate
Listening: Moderate
Reading: Moderate
Writing: Moderate
BASIC: Individual can communicate in predictable contexts and on familiar topics, but with some difficulty.
Speaking: Basic
Listening: Basic
Reading: Basic
Writing: Basic
NO: Individual 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

Factor 5: Adaptability

Self-employed individuals may obtain up to six (6) points for adaptability based on the following:

Adaptability
Points

Spouse or common-law partner’s level of education

  • Secondary school (high school) diploma or less: 0 points
  • A one-year diploma, trade certificate, apprenticeship, or university degree and at least 12 years of full-time or full-time equivalent studies: 3 points
  • A two or three-year diploma, trade certificate, apprenticeship, or university degree and at least 14 years of full-time or full-time equivalent studies: 4 points
  • A master’s degree or PhD and at least 17 years of full-time or full- time equivalent studies: 5 points
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


Applicant or the accompanying spouse or common-law partner has completed a program of full-time study of at least two years’ duration at a post-secondary institution in Canada.Applicant must have done this after 17 years of age and with a valid study permit.

Note: There’s no need to have obtained a degree or diploma for these two years of study to earn these points.
5
Relatives in Canada
Applicant or the accompanying spouse or common-law partner has a relative (parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, child of a parent, sibling, child of a grandparent, aunt or uncle, or grandchild of a parent, niece or nephew) who is residing in Canada and is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
5

Individuals interested in immigrating to Quebec should note that the province has a separate selection system for self-employed persons.