Self Employed

Self-employed immigrants must have relevant experience and have the intention and ability to be self-employed in Canada and to make a significant contribution to specified economic activities in Canada. Other business immigrants with more generic business abilities will be required either to meet the entrepreneur or investor definitions, or to qualify as skilled workers or be selected as provincial nominees.

"Relevant experience" in respect of a self-employed person means at least two (2) years of one of the following types of experience in the period beginning five years before the date of application for a permanent resident visa and ending on the day a determination is made in respect of the application, as follows,

• self-employment in cultural activities or in athletics,

• participation at a world-class level in cultural activities or athletics, or

• farm management experience.

"Specified economic activities" in respect of a self-employed person means cultural activities, athletics or the purchase and management of a farm.

Features of the Self - employed Program:

No immigration "terms and conditions" are imposed on this class.

Self-employed immigrants must have the experience, intention and ability to establish a business that will, at a minimum, create an employment opportunity for themselves and that will make a significant contribution to cultural activities or athletics in Canada, or to purchase and manage a farm in Canada.

Selection Criteria

To be selected as a Business Immigrant, you must meet first the definition of the business class in which you are applying under (investor, entrepreneur or self-employed person). If you successfully meet the definition, you are then assessed against five (5) selection factors (age, education, official languages, experience and adaptability). The pass mark for all three (3) classes of business is 35. The maximum possible score for each class is 100.

Entrepreneurs and investors are assessed under five selection factors: (relevant experience, age, education, language abilities, and adaptability).

Self-employed applicants must meet the definition of a Self-employed category as described above. Self-employed immigrants will be evaluated against a similar selection criteria point system applicable to their circumstances.