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:
a) Education
Self-employed applicants can receive a maximum of 25 points for their education. The points given for each education level are shown below:
Completed Education | Points Awarded |
Master’s degree, or a Ph.D. plus 17 years or more full-time study | 25 |
Two or more bachelor level university degrees plus 15 years or more of full-time study | 22 |
Three-year diploma, apprenticeship, or trade certificate plus 15 years or more of full-time study | 22 |
University bachelor’s degree for a program lasting two years or more plus 14 years or more of full-time study | 20 |
Two-year diploma, apprenticeship, or trade certificate plus 14 years or more of full-time study | 20 |
University bachelor’s degree for a program lasting one year plus 13 years or more of full-time study | 15 |
One-year diploma, apprenticeship, or trade certificate plus 13 years or more of full-time study | 15 |
One-year diploma, apprenticeship, or trade certificate plus 13 years or more of full-time study | 12 |
High school | 5 |
b) 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:
Years of Relevant Experience | Points Awarded |
Two years | 20 |
Three | 25 |
Four | 30 |
Five | 35 |
c) 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:
Age | Points Awarded |
16 or younger | 0 |
17 | 2 |
18 | 4 |
19 | 6 |
20 | 8 |
21 to 49 | 10 |
50 | 8 |
51 | 6 |
52 | 4 |
53 | 2 |
54 or above | 0 |
d) 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
Language Proficiency | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing |
High | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Moderate | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Basic | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
No proficiency | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
e) Adaptability
Candidates can receive up to 6 points in the adaptability criteria if they fit into the various categories below:
Adaptability Category | Points Awarded |
Common-law partner or spouse with a post-secondary education:
- One-year diploma, apprenticeship, or trade certificate plus 12 years or more of full-time study: 3 points
- Two-year diploma, apprenticeship, or trade certificate plus 14 years or more of full-time study: 4 points
- Master’s degree or Ph.D. plus 17 years or more of full-time study: 5 points
| 3 to 5 |
Applicant or applicant’s partner has one year or more of full-time Canadian work experience while on a work permit. | 5 |
Applicant or applicant’s partner has finished studying at a full-time program lasting two years or more at a Canadian post-secondary institution. This must be completed above the age of 17 and with a valid study permit. A degree or diploma is not completely necessary to earn these points. | 5 |
Applicant or applicant’s partner has relatives residing in Canada. This includes parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren, siblings, aunts or uncles, nieces or nephews. | 5 |