Canada's Self-employed Persons Program

Applicants must work in one of the occupations listed below to apply for the Self-Employed Visa Canada. You can learn more about each occupation’s definition and duties by looking up the National Occupation Code (NOC) corresponding to the position on the Government of Canada website.

Prospective Self-Employed Canada program applicants are required to possess the relevant experience to qualify for this program. The program defines “relevant experience” as the experience gained while the candidate was working in the athletics or cultural activities fields at a world-class level. Applicants should also note that they must have gained experience in the last five years.

Applicants with cultural activities experience must meet the requirements listed below:

• Offer two instances of one-year periods where they were self-employed in cultural activities.
• Offer two instances of one-year periods where they participated in cultural activities at a world-class level.
• They possess a combination of the two instances mentioned above, with a minimum of one year of experience in each.
• Applicants with athletics experience must meet the requirements listed below:
• Offer two instances of one-year periods where they were self-employed in athletics.
• Offer two instances of one-year periods where they participated in athletics at a world-class level.
• They possess a combination of the two instances mentioned above, with a minimum of one year of experience in each.

Applicants are also required to possess relevant experience as qualified self-employed persons. They must also intend to work as self-employed professionals in the arts or athletics fields after arriving in Canada.

• Prospective applicants must undergo special medical exams and security clearance when applying for the Self-Employed Person’s program. These ensure the candidate is eligible for entry into Canada.
• Applicants must also demonstrate they possess the funds required to settle in Canada with their families.

Candidates must demonstrate their willingness to become self-employed professionals after becoming Canadian permanent residents. They can show this willingness by creating and submitting a proper business plan with their application.

The business plan must mention:

• The applicant’s previous work experience.
• Information on the applicant’s intended residence in Canada.
• A description of how the applicant plans to start working in a self-employed capacity in their field.

Applicants for the Self-Employed PR Canada program must check their scores under the selection criteria listed below. They must get a minimum score of 35 points to qualify under the program. The selection criteria are broken down into five key areas. These are:

Education

Self-employed applicants can receive a maximum of 25 points for their education. The points given for each education level are shown below:

Experience

Candidates that have attained qualifying work experience in the five years preceding their application can score up to 35 points depending on their experience amount. The points given for various experience levels are shown below:

Age

The Self-Employed Person Canada program also awards up to 10 points based on the applicant’s age. The number of points awarded for different ages is as follows:

Language Ability

Candidates may be eligible to receive up to 24 points for their proficiency in the English or French languages. These points are awarded based on the applicant’s performance in recognized language exams. Each language exam assesses applicants in the following areas:

• Speaking
• Listening
• Reading
• Writing

Adaptability

Candidates can receive up to 6 points in the adaptability criteria if they fit into the various categories below:

Applicants must possess a 51% or greater ownership share in the business.