Business Visa - Self-Employed 

Immigrating to Canada as a Self-Employed person.

The Self-Employed Person Program allows applicants with relevant experience in culture, athletics or farm management to immigrate to Canada provided that they make a significant contribution to the cultural or athletic life of Canada or purchase and manage a farm in Canada.

In order to qualify as self-employed, you must first meet the regulatory definition for self-employment and then obtain a minimum of 35 points in a selection grid designed to determine whether you will be able to become economically established in Canada.

To determine eligibility under the Self-Employed Persons Program, answer the following questions:

1.  Have you been self-employed in cultural activities or athletics?
   OR

2. Have you participated at a world-class level in cultural activities or athletics?
   OR

Have you had farm management experience?

If so, have you the intention and ability to be self-employed in Canada and to make significant contributions in cultural activities or athletics, or to purchase and manage a farm in Canada?

Can you obtain a minimum of 35 points in the selection grid?

Required Experience

You must have a minimum of two years of experience in one of the relevant activities. These two years of experience must have been gained during the period beginning five years before the date of your application for a permanent resident visa and ending on the day a determination is made on your application.

 - For those involved in cultural activities, your experience must consist of:

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 clause (A) and a one-year period of experience described in clause (B)

 - For Athletics, your experience must consist of:

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 clause (A) and a one-year period of experience described in clause (B).
    

 - For farm managers, in respect of the purchase and management of a farm,
you are required to have:

1. at least two one-year periods of experience in the management of a farm.
   
   Other Requirements

** In addition to demonstrating experience and the ability to financially support yourself, in order to qualify as a self-employed immigrant, you must also:
- Meet medical and security requirements. You and your family members must undergo and pass a medical examination and background checks.
- Meet any other requirements of Canadian federal and provincial immigration regulations.

What is meant by "cultural activities"?

We refer here to occupations generally considered to be part of Canada's artistic and cultural diversity. Examples include, but are not limited to, authors and writers, creative and performing artists, musicians, painters, sculptors and other visual artists, technical support and occupations in motion pictures, creative designers, craftspeople, etc. More examples may be found on the National Occupation Classification Web site.

Unlike the investor and entrepreneur programs, there are no regulated minimum net worth requirements. However, you will have to satisfy a visa officer that you have sufficient capital to settle yourself and your family in Canada and to finance the specified economic activities that your selection was based on .

Over the past five years, approximately 600 self-employed persons (principal applicants) a year have landed in Canada.

For further details of the Self Employment programs and the fees charged for the preparation and completion of an application package please contact info@canada.ca .