Federal Self-Employed Worker

The Self-Employed Class is a category of Canadian immigration that allows individuals with experience in certain self-employed professions to apply for permanent residency in Canada. This program is designed for individuals who have demonstrated significant experience and skills in world-class sporting, cultural, or artistic activities.

Note that IRCC has stopped accepting applications for this program on April 30, 2024 until January 2027.

Benefits of the Self-Employed Class

• Permanent Residency: Successful applicants and their families gain permanent residency status in Canada, granting them the freedom to live, work, and study anywhere in the country.

• No Investment Requirement: Unlike other entrepreneurial immigration programs, there’s no mandatory investment amount for applicants.

• Contribution to Canadian Culture and Sports: Aimed at enriching Canada’s cultural and athletic landscape, the program attracts individuals who can contribute to these communities.

• Relocation with Family: Eligible applicants can bring their entire family to Canada, providing them with access to superior education and healthcare facilities.

Eligible Jobs & Professions

• The Federal Self-Employed Program in Canada is open to individuals who possess relevant experience and skills in various fields within arts, culture, sports, and recreation. The program targets self-employed professionals who can contribute to Canada’s cultural and athletic communities.

Below are some suitable jobs and professions that may qualify for the Federal Self-Employed Program:

1. Art and Culture Professionals

• Librarians: NOC 51100

• Conservators and Curators: NOC 51101

• Archivists: NOC 51102

• Authors and Writers: NOC 51111

• Editors: NOC 51110

• Journalists: NOC 51113

• Public Relations and Communications Professionals: NOC 11202

• Translators, Terminologists, and Interpreters: NOC 51114

2. Entertainment Sector

• Producers, Directors, Choreographers, and Related Occupations: NOC 51120

• Conductors, Composers, and Arrangers: NOC 51121

• Musicians and Singers: NOC 51122

• Dancers: NOC 53120

• Actors, Comedians & Circus Performers: NOC 53121

• Painters, Sculptors, and Other Visual Artists: NOC 53122

3. Technical and Skilled Occupations

• Library and Public Archive Technicians: NOC 52100

• • • Technical Occupations in Motion Pictures, Broadcasting, and the Performing Arts: NOC 52119
  • • Photographers: NOC 53110
  • Film and Video Camera Operators: NOC 52110
  • Graphic Arts Technicians: NOC 52111
  • Broadcast Technicians: NOC 52112
  • Audio and Video Recording Technicians: NOC 52113
  • Support Occupations in Motion Pictures, Broadcasting, and the Performing Arts: NOC 53111
  • Announcers and Other Broadcasters: NOC 52114
  • Other Performers: NOC 55109
  • Graphic Designers and Illustrators: NOC 52120
  • Interior Designers and Interior Decorators: NOC 52121
  • Theatre, Fashion, Exhibit, and Other Creative Designers: NOC 53123
  • Artisans and Craftspersons: NOC 53124
  • Patternmakers – Textile, Leather, and Fur Products: NOC 53125
  • Athletes: NOC 53200
  • Coaches: NOC 53201
  • Sports Officials and Referees: NOC 53202
  • Program Leaders and Instructors in Recreation, Sport, and Fitness: NOC 54100

Eligibility Criteria for Self-Employed Class

• • • Relevant Experience
    1. A) Self-Employment in Cultural Activities
    • 2 years of self-employment in the last 5 years in cultural projects or participation in world-class cultural activities.
    • Alternatively, candidates can combine self-employment experience with involvement in world-class cultural activities.
    1. B) Self-Employed Athletic
    • 2 years of self-employment in the last 5 years in athletics or participation in world-class athletic activities.
    • Candidates can also combine self-employment with involvement in world-class athletics to meet the eligibility requirements.
    • Intent to Continue Self-Employment: Candidates must demonstrate their intent to continue self-employment in the same field in Canada, contributing to the country’s cultural or athletic communities.
    • Admissibility Requirements: Meeting Canada’s admissibility requirements, including medical examinations and security background checks, is essential.

Financial Requirements for Self-Employed Applicants

Self-employed applicants under the Self-Employed Persons Program must show they can financially support themselves and their families in Canada. This involves

• Providing financial documentation like bank statements or business financial records.

• Showing proof of settlement funds, which varies by family size.

• Submitting police certificates from countries lived in for over six months since age 18.

• Undergoing a medical examination by an approved physician to assess health.

• Meeting these requirements is crucial for a successful application and to establish a prosperous life in Canada.

Self-Employed Person Selection Criteria

The Federal Self-Employed Program in Canada uses a points-based system to assess the eligibility of candidates. Applicants are awarded points based on various factors, and to be considered eligible, they must achieve a minimum score of 35 points. The selection criteria and maximum points for each factor are as follows:

Selection criteria	Maximum points
Education	25
Experience	35
Age	10
Ability in English and/or French	24
Adaptability	6
TOTAL	100
Education: Maximum 25 Points
Education	Maximum
	25 points
Master’s Degree or Ph.D. and at least 17 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study.	25 points
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
Three-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship and at least 15 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study.	22 points
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
Two-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship and at least 14 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study.	20 points
One-year university degree at the bachelor’s level and at least 13 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study.	15 points
One-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship and at least 13 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study.	15 points
One-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship and at least 12 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study.	12 points
Completed high school.	5 points
Experience: Maximum 35 Points
Relevant experience must have been obtained in the period that begins five years before you sign your application and ends when a decision is made.
Two years of relevant experience	20
Three years of relevant experience	25
Four years of relevant experience	30
Five years of relevant experience	35
Age: Maximum 10 Points
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
Language Ability (English or French) Maximum 24 Points
Language Proficiency	Points
First Official Language	Speaking	Listening	Reading	Writing
High proficiency	4	4	4	4
Moderate proficiency	2	2	2	2
Basic proficiency	1	1	1	1
No proficiency	0	0	0	0
Maximum of only two points in total for basic-level proficiency can be obtained.
Second Official Language	Speaking	Listening	Reading	Writing
High proficiency	2	2	2	2
Moderate proficiency	2	2	2	2
Basic proficiency	1	1	1	1
No proficiency	0	0	0	0
Maximum	24
Adaptability: Maximum 6 Points
Adaptability	Maximum 6
	points
Spouse or common-law partner’s level of education	3–5
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
Previous work in Canada	5
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.
Previous study in Canada	5
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 is no need to have obtained a degree or diploma for these two years of study to earn these points.
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

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