Self-employed Persons Program
Are you self-employed, an athlete, or you’re working in the cultural sphere and you’re looking to immigrate to Canada and receive a status of a Permanent Resident? If ye, the Self-employed Persons Program might be a good fit for you.
Not every self-employed person may be eligible for the Self-employed Persons Program. The name of the program might be a little deceptive - the program is designed for people who have taken part in cultural activities or athletics at a world-class level or who have been self-employed in cultural activities or the athletics sphere.
The Self-employed Persons Program offers a pathway to Permanent Residence to people who have relevant experience in cultural activities or athletics and are willing and able to make a significant contribution to the cultural or athletic life of Canada.
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.
Eligibility for Self-employed Persons Program
Meet the definition of self-employed person
A self-employed person for the purposes of Self Employed Persons Program is an immigrant admitted to Canada because they have relevant experience in working for himself or herself. The person must intend and be able to become self-employed in Canada in the arts or athletics.
Relevant experience
Your experience is relevant if you have taken part in cultural activities or athletics at a world-class level or if you have been self-employed person in cultural activities or athletics.
Get a minimum of 35 points after based on five selection criteria and point system
To qualify for the Self Employed Persons Program, you must score at least 35 points our of 100 points. Points are awarded for your experience, education, age, language abilities, and adaptability.
Points for education
| Selection Criteria | Maximum points |
|---|---|
| Education | 25 |
| Experience | 35 |
| Age | 10 |
| English or French language | 24 |
| Adaptability | 6 |
| TOTAL | 100 |
| Education | Maximum 25 points |
|---|---|
| You have a Master’s Degree or Ph.D. and at least 17 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study. | 25 points |
| You have two or more university degrees at the bachelor’s level and at least 15 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study. | 22 points |
| You have a three-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship and at least 15 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study. | 22 points |
| You have a university degree of two years or more at the bachelor’s level and at least 14 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study. | 20 points |
| You have a two-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship and at least 14 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study. | 20 points |
| You have a one-year university degree at the bachelor’s level and at least 13 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study. | 15 points |
| You have a one-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship and at least 13 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study. | 15 points |
| You have a one-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship and at least 12 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study. | 12 points |
| You completed high school. | 5 points |
Points for relevant experience
| Two years of relevant experience | 20 |
|---|---|
| Three years of relevant experience | 25 |
| Four years of relevant experience | 30 |
| Five years of relevant experience | 35 |
You can get a maximum of 35 points for your past relevant experience.
Experience must be obtained in the periodthat begins five years before you sign your application and ends when a decision is made on your application.
Points for your age
| 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 |
Your age locks in on the date when IRCC receives your Self-employed Persons Program application.
Points for your English or French language abilities
| Proficiency Level | Ability | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing | |
| HIGH: You can communicate effectively in most social and work situations. | Speaking: High | Listening: High | Reading: High | Writing: High |
| MODERATE: You can communicate comfortably in familiar social and work situations. | Speaking: Moderate | Listening: Moderate | Reading: Moderate | Writing: Moderate |
| BASIC: You can communicate in predictable contexts and on familiar topics, but with some difficulty. | Speaking: Basic | Listening: Basic | Reading: Basic | Writing: Basic |
| NO: You do not meet the above criteria for basic proficiency. | Does not meet Basic Level | Does not meet Basic Level | Does not meet Basic Level | Does not meet Basic Level |
You must be able to communicate in either English or French to be eligible for the Self-employed Persons Program and you can score up to 24 points for your basic, moderate or high proficiency in English and French.
If you wish to claim points for language abilities, you must take one of the approved language tests:
For the English language, take either CELPIP-G or IELTS General Training
For the French language, take either TEF or TCF
Points for your English or French language abilities
| Adaptability | Maximum 6 points |
|---|---|
| Spouse or common-law partner’s level of education - Secondary school (high school) diploma or less: 0 points - A one-year diploma, trade certificate, apprenticeship, or university degree and at least 12 years of full-time or full-time equivalent studies: 3 points - A two or three-year diploma, trade certificate, apprenticeship, or university degree and at least 14 years of full-time or full-time equivalent studies: 4 points - A master’s degree or PhD and at least 17 years of full-time or full-time equivalent studies: 5 points |
3–5 |
| Previous work in Canada You or your accompanying spouse or common-law partner have completed a minimum of one year of full-time work in Canada on a valid work permit. |
5 |
| Previous study in Canada You or your accompanying spouse or common-law partner have completed a program of full-time study of at least two years’ duration at a post-secondary institution in Canada. You must have done this after you were 17 years old and with a valid study permit. There’s no need to have obtained a degree or diploma for these two years of study to earn these points. |
5 |
| Relatives in Canada You or your accompanying spouse or common-law partner, have a relative (parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, child of a parent, sibling, child of a grandparent, aunt or uncle, or grandchild of a parent, niece or nephew) who is residing in Canada and is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. |
5 |