Canada Federal Self-Employed Program
The program covers foreign nationals experienced in athletics and cultural activities and can make a significant contribution to athletics and the rich culture of Canada. Such individuals are eligible for a permanent Self-Employed visa to the country.
We’re here to help you know about the requirements and who can apply for the Self-Employed Program. For any help on the Self-Employed visa application, contact our specialized lawyers at +1 844 290 6312.
Page Contents
- What Is Federal Self-Employed?
- Who Qualifies To Immigrate To Canada Under The Self-Employed Program?
- What Are The Self-Employed Visa Application Requirements?
- How Is A Self-Employed Person Awarded The Points?
- What Are The Eligible Occupations For The Federal Self-Employed Visa Application?
- How can IAS help?
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Federal Self-Employed?
The Federal Self-Employed Program is an initiative that allows an eligible candidate to become a permanent resident in Canada as self-employed. You must have at least two years of experience in your to qualify. Additionally, you need to gain at least 35 points upon assessment on whether you can make a significant contribution to the country’s economy.
The immigration office evaluates your experience, education, language ability, adaptability, and age, during the eligibility assessment for the Self-Employed visa. If your visa goes through, you can permanently immigrate to Canada.
Who Qualifies To Immigrate To Canada Under The Self-Employed Program?
To immigrate to Canada under the Self-Employed Program, you must meet the following eligibility checkpoints:
- At least two years of experience in the relevant industry.
- Meet the self-employed person’s definition.
- Purpose to participate in cultural activities or athletics as self-employed.
- Have at least 35 points according to the Canada Immigration point system.
The relevant experience means that you have worked for yourself for at least two years in the five years preceding our visa application.
Art industry self-employed applicants must have the following experience at a minimum:
- 2 periods of a full year of engagement in self-employed cultural activities.
- 2 periods, one year each, of a world-class level of cultural activities participation.
On the other hand, you can have a one-year experience in each case.
Athletics self-employed candidates must have the following relevant experience at a minimum:
- 2 periods, one year each, of participation as a self-employed athlete.
- 2 periods of a full-year engagement in world-class level athletics.
Contact us for more information if you’re an interested candidate or employer.
What Are The Self-Employed Visa Application Requirements?
There are specific Self-Employed visa application requirements you need to meet for the Canada Immigration point system to verify your eligibility. Qualified self-employed persons must get a 100 score, distributed among various selection criteria. The requirement sub-divisions for the visa include a maximum of the following points:
- Experience: 35 points
- Education: 25 points
- Language: 24 points
- Age: 10 points
- Adaptability: 6 points
How Is A Self-Employed Person Awarded The Points?
Interested candidates can get any points up to the maximum level provided. The point distribution per category is as follows:
Experience
The more experience you have, the more points you get. Below is how you earn the experience points awarded under the five years of relevant experience before application.
- 2 years: 20 points
- 3 years: 25 points
- 4 years: 30 points
- 5 years: 35 points
Education
If you aren’t a Canadian citizen, you need to undergo an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) to obtain points under this eligibility factor. The maximum number of points you can achieve is 25. You can get 5, 12, 15, 20, 22, or 25 points, where the higher the education level you complete, the more points.
Language Ability
English, French, or both languages’ proficiency is the other selection criteria contributing to your overall points. If you can communicate effectively, the maximum number of points you can get is 24. The classification includes basic, moderate, and high proficiency levels.
Age
Your age at the time your visa application lands in the visa office also adds to your eligibility with up to 10 age points. Here’s the
- 54 years & Above: 0 points
- 17 & 53 years: 2 points
- 18 & 52 years: 4 points 10 points
- 19 & 51 years: 6 points
- 20 & 50 years: 8 points
- 21 – 49 years: 10 points
Adaptability
How well you can adapt also earns you some points. You can get these points by completing university degrees and apprenticeships. Their distribution is as follows:
- Spouse or common-law partner’s level of education: 3-5 points
- Previous work in Canada: 5 points
- Previous study in Canada: 5 points
- Relatives in Canada: 5 points
What Are The Eligible Occupations For The Federal Self-Employed Visa Application?
Here are the eligible occupations for the self-employed in Canada. The Immigration Department issues NOC as follows:
Qualified Self-Employed Professional Occupations In Art & Culture
| NOC | OCCUPATION | NOC | OCCUPATION |
| 5111 | Librarians | 5131 | Directors/Producers/Choreographers |
| 5112 | Conservators | 5132 | Arrangers/Composers/Conductors |
| 5113 | Archivists | 5133 | Singers & Musicians |
| 5121 | Writers & Authors | 5134 | Dancers |
| 5122 | Editors | 5135 | Comedians & Actors |
| 5123 | Journalists | 5136 | Painters, sculptors, and other visual artists technical |
| 5125 | Interpreters/Terminologists/Translators |
Qualified Self-Employed Art, Culture, Recreation And Sport Technical Occupations
| NOC | OCCUPATION |
| 5211 | Library and public archive technicians |
| 5212 | Technical occupations related to museums and art galleries |
| 5221 | Photographers |
| 5222 | Film and video camera operators |
| 5223 | Graphic arts technicians |
| 5224 | Broadcast technicians |
| 5225 | Audio and video recording technicians |
| 5226 | Other technical and co-ordinating occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting, and the performing arts |
| 5227 | Support occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting, photography, and the performing arts |
| 5231 | Announcers and other broadcasters |
| 5232 | Other performers (e.g., circus performers, magicians, models, puppeteers, and other performers) |
| 5241 | Graphic designers and illustrators |
| 5242 | Interior designers and interior decorators |
| 5243 | Theatre, fashion, exhibit, and other creative designers |
| 5244 | Artisans and craftsperson’s |
| 5245 | Patternmakers – textile, leather, and fur products |
| 5251 | Athletes |
| 5252 | Coaches |
| 5253 | Sports officials and referees |
| 5254 | Program leaders and instructors in recreation, sport, and fitness |
How Can IAS Help?
Our professional lawyers are well-informed about Canada’s immigration system and can help you navigate your way to obtaining a Self-Employed visa. They can examine your eligibility and break down for you the needed requirements. If you qualify, they’ll help in the application process and guide you on how to prove your eligibility.
Upon cancellation of your visa, our able lawyers will point out the cause and provide alternative ways of immigrating to Canada if you’re still interested. They’ll let you know which other visas you qualify for and assist in the application.
Call us at +1 844 290 6312 and find out how our lawyers can help in your case.
Legal Disclaimer
The information provided is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. While we make every effort to ensure accuracy, the law may change, and the information may not reflect the most current legal developments. No warranty is given regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information, and we do not accept liability in such cases. We recommend consulting with a qualified lawyer at Immigration Advice Service before making any decisions based on the content provided.
Last modified on September 27th, 2025 at 5:27 am
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Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, there isn’t a net worth requirement for the self-employed program. However, you have to prove to the visa officer that you’re stable enough financially to stay in Canada and fund your work without any assistance. Even so, the finance you need is a little bit less than an entrepreneur.
There is no amount of money you can legally carry in Canada. Hence, you can have as much as you need to sustain yourself and support your self-employed job. Nonetheless, you must declare any funds and monetary instruments you possess exceeding $10,000.
