Self-Employed Program

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (Immigration Canada) Self-Employed Program is designed for those who have experience in cultural activities or in athletics at a world class level, or those who have experiencing in managing a farm, and who intend to come to Canada to be self-employed, and who will contribute to the Canadian economy through culture, athletics or farming.

To qualify under the Self-Employed Program, a foreign national must demonstrate that they:

  • Meet the definition of a self-employed person. They must have at least two (2) years of relevant experience in the last five (5) years:
    • For cultural activities, this is demonstrated by having two one year periods of being self-employed in cultural activities and/or participating in cultural activities at a world class level;
    • For athletics, this is demonstrated by having two one year periods of being self-employed in athletics and/or participating at in athletics at a world class level;
    • For managing and buying a farm, two one-year periods managing a farm.
  • Have a minimum of 35 points based on the Self-Employed Program selection grid.

The Self-Employed Program is a point based system. In order for a foreign national to qualify, they must score at minimum 35 points on a matrix which awards points for:

  • Age
  • Education 
  • Relevant experience
  • Language abilities in English and/or French
  • Previous work experience in Canada
  • Previous studies in Canada
  • The language abilities in English or French of their spouse or common-law partner
  • Relatives in Canada, which includes close family members such as parents, grand-parents, brothers, sisters, aunts or uncles (but not cousins), whom are 18 years or older

Unlike most of Immigration Canada’s other permanent residence programs, the Self-Employed Program has no minimum requirement in regards to language abilities in English and/or French.

Immigration Canada will assess the foreign national to determine if they qualify under the Self-Employed Program, as well as completing the required medical and criminal inadmissibility assessments. If the application for permanent residence is successful, Immigration Canada will issue a document called a Confirmation of Permanent Residence. With this document, the foreign national may then complete the landing process in order to obtain permanent resident status.