Do you want to come to Canada as a self-employed person? Then this page is for you! Find out all you need to know about the Self-Employed Visa programs in Canada and Quebec.
On this page, you will learn:
- All about Canada’s federal and Quebec Self-Employed Visa programs
- The qualification for self-employment Canada visa programs
- How to score points and qualify for the Self-Employed Visa in Canada
- Who you can bring with you on a Self-Employed visa
- Alternatives to the Self-Employed Persons Program
Federal Self-Employed Visa Canada
The federal Self-Employed Visa Canada is aimed at applicants who have relevant self-employment experience and want to become a permanent resident of Canada.
The self-employed person must have the intention and ability to create their own employment and make a significant contribution to cultural, artistic, or athletic life in Canada.
A successful applicant to a self-employed persons program is one who has at least two years of relevant experience in the five years before the date of the application in self-employment in cultural or athletic life; or participation at a world-class level in cultural activities or athletics.
Applications to the federal Self-Employed Visa were recently paused until January 2027 to clear a backlog. Until then, a self-employed person should consider the Quebec Self-Employed Visa Canada (see below), the Canada Start-Up Visa Program or the buy a business and move to Canada immigration program to move to Canada.
Occupations that could qualify for the Self-Employed Visa Canada:
- librarians and archivists
- conservators and curators
- authors and writers
- editors and journalists
- translators, terminologists, and interpreters
- producers, directors, choreographers
- musicians and singers
- actors and comedians
- painters, sculptors, and visual artists
- photographers
- film and video camera operators
- graphic art technicians, designers, and illustrators
- interior designers and decorators
- artisans and craftspeople
- athletes and coaches
- sports officials and referees
Self-Employed Visa Canada Points System
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s Self-Employed Visa Canada operates on a points-based system with points for education, experience, age, language ability and adaptability. The self-employed person must score 35 out of 100 to qualify. They must also pay the permanent residence fee.
Selection criteria | Maximum points |
Education | 25 |
Experience | 35 |
Age | 10 |
Ability in English and/or French | 24 |
Adaptability | 6 |
Total | 100 |
Master’s Degree or PhD and at least 17 years of study | 25 points |
Two or more bachelor’s degrees and at least 15 years of study | 22 points |
Three-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship and at least 15 years of study | 22 points |
Bachelor’s degree of two years or more and at least 14 years of study | 20 points |
Two-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship and at least 14 years of study | 20 points |
One-year bachelor’s degree and at least 13 years study | 15 points |
One-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship and at least 13 years of study | 15 points |
One-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship and at least 12 years of study | 12 points |
You completed high school | 5 points |
Two years | 20 |
Three years | 25 |
Four years | 30 |
Five years | 35 |
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 |
A self-employed person will be awarded up to 24 points by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for basic, moderate, or high proficiency in English and French. You will be given points based on your ability to listen, speak, read, and write using the approved language tests: CELPIP, IELTS or PTE test for English, and TEF Canada or TCF Canada for French.
Spouse or common law partner’s level of education | 3-5 |
Previous work in Canada | 5 |
Previous study in Canada | 5 |
Relatives in Canada | 5 |
Quebec Self-Employed Visa Canada
The Quebec Self-Employed Visa Canada allows self-employed people to become a permanent resident in Quebec. It is a popular alternative to Quebec Skilled Worker immigration.
If you wish to come to Quebec under the self-employed persons program, you must have at least two years of eligible work experience in your profession, out of the five years preceding the date of submission of your application.
This is not a self-employed work permit program; it offers Canada permanent residence.
The profession cannot be in the following sectors:
- Payday loans, cashing cheques or pledge loans;
- Production, distribution, or sale of pornographic or sexually explicit products or services related to the sex industry, such as nude or erotic dancing, escort services or erotic massage;
- Trading, leasing, brokerage, development or planning in the property sector.
Other Requirements For This Self-Employed Persons Program
The applicant must:
- Have a minimum net worth of $100,000 (shared or unshared with their spouse or de facto spouse accompanying them to Quebec), which excludes donations received in the six months prior to the date of submission of the application.
- Hold a secondary school diploma obtained before the date of submission of their application.
- Have language proficiency in spoken French corresponding to a minimum of level 7 as per the Quebec French competency test.
- Make a start-up deposit with a financial institution with an establishment in Quebec. This depends on the area where the applicant wishes to practise their profession:
- $25,000 outside the Montreal metropolitan area
- $50,000 in the Montreal metropolitan area
- Sign a financial self-sufficiency contract, in which they commit for three months as of the date of obtaining PR to meeting their essential needs, those of their accompanying family members, and those of dependent children who are Canadian, if applicable.
- Obtain an attestation of learning about democratic and Quebec values.
Self-Employed Visa Canada FAQ
How do you qualify for a self-employed visa in Canada?
On top of meeting the relevant work experience requirement, all potential applicants need to score a minimum of 35 points out of a maximum possible 100 after IRCC grades them on the basis of the five selection criteria of education (25 points), experience (35 points), age (10 points), ability in English and/or French (24 points), and adaptability (6 points).
They must also meet medical and security conditions, along with demonstrating a financial net worth that sufficiently enables them to be self-employed in Canada, make a significant contribution to specified economic activities in Canada, and meet the initial settlement requirements for the applicant and accompanying dependants.
What is the self-employed scheme in Canada?
The Self-Employed Persons Program allows people to immigrate to Canada permanently as a self-employed person and make a significant contribution to the cultural or athletic life of the country. It is relevant for those individuals who possess at least two years of experience in the five years before the date of the application in self-employment in cultural activities or athletics, or participation at a world-class level in cultural activities or athletics.
What is the federal self-employed program in Canada?
The federal Self-Employed Program is an immigration program for self-employed people run by IRCC. Those planning to live in Quebec as a business immigrant need to first apply to the Government of Quebec for a Selection Certificate.
How long does it take to get a self-employed visa in Canada?
The processing time for the federal self-employed persons program, as of May 14, 2024, is 51 months. This number is updated weekly and is subject to change. New applications are currently paused to reduce that processing time.
Can self-employed apply for PNP?
Applicants can decide to apply under a provincial self-employed stream of the PNP for the province they specifically wish to settle in. Provinces have their own selection criteria and qualification requirements, which applicants need to check in advance.
