The federal Self-Employed Persons Programme

Canada’s federal Self-Employed Persons Programme allows self-employed foreign nationals to become Canadian permanent residents where they meet the basic conditions and hold relevant experience in cultural or athletic activities.

Overview of the federal Self-Employed Persons Programme

Applicants to the federal Self-Employed Persons Programme must have the experience, intention and ability to make a significant contribution to the cultural or athletic life of Canada.

Interested applicants must both meet the eligibility requirements and achieve at least the pass mark under the programme’s selection criteria to be considered for immigration as a self-employed person.

No minimum net asset requirement is set for the federal Self-Employed Persons Programme. However, self-employed applicants must demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to settle in Canada with their dependants and to finance the work on which their selection is based.

Requirement

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

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

Relevant experience means at least 2 years of self-employment experience or participation at world level in cultural or athletic activities as defined byImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Under the federal Self-Employed Persons Programme, eligible occupations in Canada’s arts, culture and sport sectors include:

Specialism: Arts and culture

Code	Arts and culture specialisms
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

Specialism: Art, culture, recreation and sport

Code	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 coordinating 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 craftspeople
5245	Patternmakers – textile, leather and fur products
5251	Athletes
5252	Coaches
5253	Sports officials and referees
5254	Programme leaders and instructors in recreation, sport and fitness

Selection criteria

Applications from interested candidates are assessed against the points grid for self-employed business immigration to Canada. The pass mark for the self-employed programme is 35 points out of a total of 100 points.

Selection factor	Points
Experience	Maximum 35 points
Age	Maximum 10 points
Education	Maximum 25 points
English or French language ability	Maximum 24 points
Adaptability	Maximum 6 points
Total	Maximum 100 points
Pass mark	35 points

Factor 1: Experience

Relevant experience must be gained during the 5-year period before the application is signed and ending when a decision is made on the application. Applicants can earn up to 35 points under the experience factor.

Years of experience	Points
2 years of relevant experience	20
3 years of relevant experience	25
4 years of relevant experience	30
5 years of relevant experience	35

Factor 2: Age

Applicants are 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
A master’s or doctoral degree and at least 17 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study	25
Two or more university degrees at bachelor’s level and at least 15 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study	22
A three-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship and at least 15 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study	22
A university degree of two years or more at bachelor’s level and at least 14 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study	20
A two-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship and at least 14 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study	20
A one-year university degree at bachelor’s level and at least 13 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study	15
A one-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship and at least 13 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study	15
A one-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship and at least 12 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study	12
Secondary school diploma	5

Factor 4: Language ability

Self-employed persons can be awarded up to 24 points depending on their level of English or French.

Level of proficiency	Speaking	Nghe	Reading	Writing
HIGH: the individual can communicate effectively in most social and work situations.	High	High	High	High
MODERATE: the individual can communicate comfortably in familiar social and work situations.	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate
BASIC: the individual can communicate in predictable settings and on familiar topics, but with some difficulty.	Basic	Basic	Basic	Basic
NONE: the individual does not meet the criteria above for basic proficiency.	Below basic level	Below basic level	Below basic level	Below basic level

Factor 5: Adaptability

Self-employed individuals can earn up to six (6) points for adaptability based on the following factors:

Adaptability	Points
The common-law partner’s level of education
Secondary school diploma or lower: 0 points	0
A one-year diploma, trade certificate, apprenticeship or university degree and at least 12 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study	3
A two- or three-year diploma, trade certificate, apprenticeship or university degree and at least 14 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study	4
A master’s or doctoral degree and at least 17 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study	5
Previous work experience in Canada
The applicant or accompanying common-law partner has completed at least one year of full-time work in Canada on a valid work permit.	5
Previous study in Canada
The applicant or accompanying common-law partner has completed a full-time programme of study of at least two years at a post-secondary institution in Canada. The applicant must have done so after the age of 17 and on a valid study permit. Note: it is not necessary to have obtained a degree or diploma for these two years of study to earn these points.	5
Relatives in Canada
The applicant or accompanying common-law partner has a relative (parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, parent’s child, sibling, grandparent’s child, aunt or uncle, or parent’s grandchild, niece or nephew) residing in Canada who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.	5

Individuals interested in immigrating to Quebec should note that the province has its own selection system forQuebec self-employed persons.

Find out more about the federal Self-Employed Persons Programme on the Government of Canada website athere.