Immigrate as a self-employed person

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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.

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