Self-employed applicants are primarily differentiated from skilled worker applicants in that they come to Quebec to create their own job by practicing a profession or engaging in commercial activities.
To qualify under the Quebec Self-Employed Program, the applicant must meet the following conditions:
- have two years of self-employed experience, in the profession or trade they intend to practice in Quebec;
- possess a personal net worth of $100,000 CAD, legally acquired, alone or with an accompanying spouse or common-law partner;
- register a start-up deposit of at least $50,000 if the self-employed candidate is based in the metropolitan area of Montreal, and $25,000 if the candidate is located outside of Montreal.
Applicants must also meet applicable occupational entry or licensing requirements.
Like skilled workers, the self-employed applicant is assessed under various selection factors and must obtain a minimum number of points based on their education, work experience, age, language proficiency, stays and family in Quebec, financial sufficiency, and, if applicable, spouse’s age, education and language ability.
All applicants must demonstrate an intention to live and work in Quebec.
Once approved, the application proceeds to Federal security and medical verifications followed by visa issuance with mandatory terms and conditions, within an overall processing delay which can vary between 12-44 months.
Annual quotas are imposed each year by the immigration authorities. Fifty applications have been accepted during the current intake period November 1st, 2020 to September 30th, 2021. The quota has been reached for non-francophone candidates.
Candidates who demonstrate an intermediate-advanced knowledge of French language (by presenting French test results of level B2 in speaking and listening) can apply at any time and are not subject to any quota.
