“Can I move to Canada as a self-employed artist?
Yes, it is possible to immigrate to Canada as an artist. But there are some unique requirements you must fulfil for Canada Self-Employed Immigration.
Canada welcomes people from many different occupations. You might have heard that they offer immigration programs specifically for nurses, nannies, and entrepreneurs. However, you might not know that they also offer a special immigration program for self-employed artists called the Self-Employed Persons Program (SEPP). It is also known as Self-Employed Visa Canada.
Canadian Federal Self-Employed Program lets you immigrate to Canada as an artist, provided you meet certain requirements. In this immigration guide, we will go over these requirements and examine a scenario in which someone may be able to achieve Canada PR for artists.
About Self-Employed Immigration Canada
The Self-Employed Immigration Canada is a pathway designed to attract athletes and artists who perform at the international level and have the means to contribute to Canada’s culture and economy through their work.
This program is sometimes referred to as a Canadian artist visa. However, calling it a temporary visa would be incorrect as it offers artists a direct pathway toward getting Canadian permanent residence and settling in the country.
Want to immigrate to Canada as an artist?
We specialize in Self-Employed Immigration to Canada.
Selection Criteria for Self-Employed Immigration Canada
As a Canadian Self Employed Immigration applicant, you will need to score a minimum of 35 out of 100 points under the program’s points system to be eligible to apply. These points are awarded based on:
- Age (up to 10 points)
- Language Proficiency (up to 24 points)
- Education (up to 25 points)
- Experience (up to 35 points)
- Adaptability (up to 6 points)
You should note that you will also need a minimum of 2 years of experience participating in artistic activities at the “world-class level” to be eligible for the program.
3 Success Factors for Self-Employed Immigration Canada
Meeting the selection criteria described above doesn’t guarantee you will be chosen for Canadian Self-employed immigration for artists. This is because immigration officials also examine your ability to sustain yourself and your family as a self-employed individual in Canada. They also look at whether or not you can contribute to Canada’s culture and economy.
The following factors can increase your chances of success when applying for self-employed immigration to Canada as an artist:
1. Meeting the Criteria for “Self-Employed Person”
To be considered a self-employed person, you must have created your own employment. This includes having your own sole proprietorship or an incorporated business. You will need to provide immigration officials with key documents that show your business is registered.
You will also need to include financial statements that show you were earning through this business as a self-employed person. Providing additional documents such as client reference letters and references from industry peers can also help boost your chances in this area.
2. Creating a Business Plan
As mentioned earlier, the Canadian Government set up the Self-Employed Visa Canada to help attract people who can contribute to Canada’s culture and economy. To demonstrate this, they ask applicants to submit a business plan that describes their intended activities in Canada along with their application. This business plan should include key information such as:
- Which services do you plan to provide in Canada?
- Information gathered through industry and market research indicates there is a need for people in your artistic field.
- Who your target market will be?
- What your projected expenses, sales, and profits will be?
The above isn’t an exhaustive list of business plan requirements.
To learn about creating a comprehensive business plan for the artist visa in Canada you can Book a Strategy Meeting with ELAAR’s self-employed immigration experts.
3. Demonstrating Intent to Continue With Artist Activities in Canada
As a self-employed immigration applicant, you must also show that you intend to continue with your artistic activities once you get to Canada. There’s no definitive way to do this, but you can offer proof of your past activities and use it as a basis to show this intent.
So if you’re a professional singer and have taught others to sing in the past, you will find it easier to demonstrate that you will teach people to sing in Canada.
Apply for Self-Employed Visa Canada
Immigrate to Canada as a self-employed artist or athlete.
A Perfect Candidate for Self-Employed Immigration to Canada as an Artist
Devika is a professional singer from India. She has performed at many famous concert venues and music festivals in North America and Europe over the past five years. Her talent has attracted lots of attention internationally, and she is highly sought after for her singing ability.
Devika opened her own music academy in India three years ago and provides singing lessons to women of all ages. The singer recently made the decision to move to Canada and discovered the Self-Employed Persons Program.
Devika scored 45 out of 100 points in the program’s selection criteria. She submitted a comprehensive business plan that discussed her international fame as a singer and the demand for vocal coaches that teach her singing style in Canada.
She also included the business registration information for her music academy as well as financial statements indicating her earnings through this business.
The Indian singer has demonstrated that she is in a prime position to open her own music academy and provide singing lessons for Canadians. Therefore, she stands a good chance of being selected for Self-Employed Immigration to Canada.
Apply for Self-Employed Person’s Program
Immigrate to Canada as a self-employed artist or athlete.
Need help?
As you can see, the Self-Employed Persons Program makes Canadian immigration for self-employed artists possible. However, you must ensure you meet the different requirements to be chosen under this program.
If you need assistance with optimizing your application and creating the perfect business plan for the Self-Employed Visa Canada, you can contact our experts here. Our skilled team of Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants understands this immigration program and can guide you toward successfully immigrating to Canada as an artist.
