Self-Employed Persons Program

The Self-employed Persons Program allows people to immigrate to Canada permanently as a self-employed person. If you’re interested in this program, you must:

have relevant experience in cultural activities or athletics and

be willing and able to make a significant contribution to the cultural or athletic life of Canada

Eligibility

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:
1. 2 one-year periods being self-employed in cultural activities, or
2. 2 one-year periods participating at a world-class level in cultural activities, or
3. a combination of a one-year period described in (a), and a one-year period described in (b)
for athletics:
1. 2 one-year periods being self-employed in athletics, or
2. 2 one-year periods participating at a world class level in athletics, or
3. a combination of a one-year period described in (a) above, and a one-year period described in (b) above

Selection criteria

We assess you on selection criteria that include your:

experience
education
age
language abilities
adaptability

Medical, security checks and other requirements

You and your family members must have a medical exam and get police certificates You must also show that you have enough money to support yourself and your family after you get to Canada.