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Self-employed people

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

  • 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, or
  • experience in farm management, and ?intend and be able to buy and manage a farm in Canada.

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

  • have relevant experience, and intend and be able to be self-employed in Canada,
  • meet the selection criteria for self-employed people, and
  • meet medical, security and other conditions.

Relevant experience

Your experience is relevant if you have:

  • taken part in cultural activities or athletics at a world-class level,
  • been self-employed in cultural activities or athletics, or
  • experience in managing a farm.

Consult definitions of terms used for self-employed applicants for more information.

Selection criteria

We will assess you on selection criteria that include your:

  • experience,
  • education,
  • age,
  • language abilities, and
  • 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 get to 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:
    • two one-year periods of experience in self-employment in cultural activities, or
    • two one-year periods of experience in participation at a world class level in cultural activities, or
    • a combination of a one-year period of experience described in A above, and a one-year period of experience described in B above.
  • for athletics:
    • two one-year periods of experience in self-employment in athletics, or
    • two one-year periods of experience in participation at a world class level in athletics, or
    • a combination of a one-year period of experience described in 1 above, and a one-year period of experience described in 2 above, and
  • for buying and managing a farm, two one-year periods of experience managing a farm.

Specified economic activities for a self-employed person, means:

  • cultural activities,
  • athletics, or
  • buying and managing a farm.

Activities for a self-employed person selected by a province are decided by the laws of the province.






Peter Carpenter
is a member of ICCRC


did you know
  • New Legislation was introduced by the Federal Government of Canada. Our site reflects these new changes. This new legislation has changed many of the regulations and qualifications for immigrating to Canada.

  • We hope our web site provides you with the information you need to decide to immigrate to our wonderful, mulitcultural country.

  • If you are ready, then so is Carpenter and Carleton to make your move as easy as possible.