Self-Employed persons

The Self-Employed Persons Program seeks to attract applicants who have the intention and ability to become self-employed in Canada. Self-employed persons are required to have either (a) relevant experience that will enable them to make a significant contribution to the cultural or (b) athletic life of Canada. To find out if you are eligible to apply as a self-employed, click here to complete your eligibility questionnaire.

To be eligible as a self-employed person, you must:

• have relevant experience, the intention and the ability to become self-employed in Canada.
• meet the selection criteria for self-employed persons (right now 35 points for age, education, experience, language abilities, adaptability), and
• meet medical, security and other requirements.

Relevant experience is defined as:

• participation in cultural activities or athletics at a world-class level.
• self-employment in cultural activities or athletics.

Relevant experience in respect of:

1. a self-employed person, means a minimum of two years of experience, during the period beginning five years before the date of application for a permanent resident visa and ending on the day a decision is made on the application. The experience must consist of:
   1. in respect of cultural activities:
      1. two one-year periods of experience in self-employment in cultural activities or
      2. two one-year periods of experience in participation at a world class level in cultural activities or
      3. a combination of a one-year period of experience described in A above, and a one-year period of experience described in B above.
   2. in respect of athletics:
      1. two one-year periods of experience in self-employment in athletics or
      2. two one-year periods of experience in participation at a world class level in athletics or
      3. a combination of a one-year period of experience described in 1 above; and a one-year period of experience described in 2 above.