Self-employed Class

The Self-Employed Program seeks to bring people who will become self-employed in Canada. They must have:

  • relevant experience in cultural activities or athletics, and
  • intend and be able to make a significant contribution to the cultural or athletic life of Canada

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

Relevant experience

Your experience is relevant if you have:

  • taken part in cultural activities or athletics at a world-class level or
  • been self-employed in cultural activities or athletics

Selection criteria

The IRCC will assess you on selection criteria that include your:

  • experience
  • education
  • age
  • language abilities
  • adaptability

Medical, security and other requirements

You and your family members must have a medical exam and get police certificates.

You must also show that you have enough money to support yourself and your family after you make landing in Canada.

Definitions

Self-employed person means a foreign national who:

  • has relevant experience
  • intends and is able to be self-employed in Canada and
  • can contribute to Canada’s economy in one of the required areas.

Relevant experience for a self-employed person means at least two years of experience. It must be during the period starting five years before the day you apply and ending on the day we make a decision on your application.

The experience must be:

for cultural activities:

  1. two one-year periods being self-employed in cultural activities, or
  2. two one-year periods participating at a world-class level in cultural activities, or
  3. a combination of a one-year period described in A above, and a one-year period described in b above.

for athletics:

  1. two one-year periods being self-employed in athletics, or
  2. two one-year periods participating at a world class level in athletics, or
  3. a combination of a one-year period described in a above, and a one-year period described in b above

For further information, please contact us.