image-12-1024x562 Canada Self-Employed Persons Program: Eligibility and Application Process

Status: paused until January 2027

We stopped accepting applications for this program on April 30, 2024.
Learn more about this pause.

The Self-employed Persons Program allows people to immigrate to Canada permanently as a self-employed person.

If you’re interested in this program, you must:

  • have relevant experience in cultural activities or athletics and
  • be willing and able to make a significant contribution to the cultural or athletic life of Canada

Want to live in Quebec?

If you plan to live in Quebec as a business immigrant, you must first apply to the Government of Québec for a Selection Certificate.

Fees

From: $2,385

Processing time ?

Check application processing times

You may need to give biometrics with your application. This processing time includes the time you need to give your biometrics.

Status: paused until January 2027

We stopped accepting applications for this program on April 30, 2024.
Learn more about this pause.

To immigrate as a self-employed person, you must:

Relevant experience

Your experience is relevant if you have:

  • taken part in cultural activities or athletics at a world-class level or
  • been a self-employed person in cultural activities or athletics

Definitions

Relevant experience for a self-employed person means at least two years of experience.

It must be during the period starting 5 years before the day you apply and ending on the day we make a decision on your application.

You can get more points if you have 3, 4, or 5 years of experience.

At a minimum, your experience must be:

  • for cultural activities:
    1. 2 one-year periods being self-employed in cultural activities, or
    2. 2 one-year periods participating at a world-class level in cultural activities, or
    3. a combination of a one-year period described in (a), and a one-year period described in (b)
  • for athletics:
    1. 2 one-year periods being self-employed in athletics, or
    2. 2 one-year periods participating at a world class level in athletics, or
    3. a combination of a one-year period described in (a) above, and a one-year period described in (b) above

Selection criteria

We assess you on selection criteria that include your:

  • experience
  • education
  • age
  • language abilities
  • adaptability

Medical, security checks and other requirements

You and your family members must have a medical exam and get police certificates.

You must also show that you have enough money to support yourself and your family after you get to Canada.

How to apply online

Sign in or create a Permanent residence online application portal account(opens in a new tab) .

The instruction guide, (IMM 4500), will help you fill out the forms properly.

You must fill out these digital forms online

You’ll fill out these digital forms online (for yourself, and any family members 18 or older)

  • Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008)
  • Schedule A – Background/Declaration (IMM 5669)
  • Additional Family Information (IMM 5406)
  • Supplementary Information – Your travels (IMM 5562)

You must also fill out these PDF forms

Complete and sign these PDF forms, if they apply to you

If you aren’t truthful in your application for permanent residence we may:

  • refuse your application
  • find you inadmissible
  • bar you for up to 5 years from applying for permanent resident status

Using an immigration representative

If you’re a representative, find out how you can create an account and submit applications on behalf of your clients.

If you want to appoint someone to do business with us on your behalf, you must

  • submit a Use of a Representative [IMM 5476] (opens in a new tab) form
  • sign it digitally or by hand and get your immigration representative to do so also
  • upload it with your application

An immigration representative (an immigration consultant or lawyer) can

  • give you advice and help you with your application for a fee
  • help you prepare the forms and documents you need to upload
  • answer questions about the forms
  • communicate with us on your behalf through their own account

They can’t

  • open a portal account on your behalf
  • electronically sign the application for you
  • sign into the portal using your username and password

After you read the declaration, you must be the one who types your name and clicks the “submit” button. This is the legal requirement for your application to be considered “signed,” according to Canada’s immigration law.

If you want to allow us to release information from your application to someone other than yourself who will not act as your representative you must

Technical issues

If you’re having technical issues applying, contact us using the web form

  • under type of application/enquiry, choose technical difficulties from the drop-down menu
  • in the text box, specify the program you’re applying under
  • upload screenshots from your account that show us
    • the page where you’re having problems
    • the error message(s) you get

If you need to upload a number of images, find out how to combine them into 1 document.

Get your fingerprints and photo taken

If you’re between 14 and 79 years old, you may need to give your fingerprints and photo (biometrics).

Find out if you need to give your biometrics.

  • You must pay the biometric fee when you submit your application. Otherwise you may experience delays.
  • Get this done as soon as you get the letter from us that tells you to give biometrics.
  • You have 30 days to do this from the date on the letter.

Pay your application fees

In most cases, your fees will include:

You have to pay your fees using our online fee tool (opens in a new tab).

Biometrics fee

In most cases, you must pay a biometrics fee when you submit your application. Otherwise, you may experience delays. The biometrics fee covers the cost of collecting fingerprints and a digital photo.

After you pay the biometrics fee with a complete application, we’ll send you a letter confirming that you need to give your biometrics and where you can go. You must show this letter when you give your biometrics.

You must give your biometrics in person. Make sure to book an appointment if this service is offered. Find a collection point close to you.

Third-party fees

Depending on your situation, you may need to pay third parties for:

Our instruction guide can help you understand which fees apply to you.

Photo specifications

You need one photo for each person on your application.

Follow the instructions in the online application to scan and upload both sides of your photo.

Submit your online application

Before you submit your application, make sure you:

  • answer all questions
  • electronically sign your application (type your full name exactly as shown on your passport)
  • include your processing fee receipt
  • upload all the supporting documents

If your application is incomplete, we’ll reject it. You’ll have to fix any errors and then re-submit it.

How we assess your application

After you apply, we’ll verify that you have:

  • filled out your application forms correctly and signed them
  • paid your processing fee and biometrics fee and
  • included all required documents

If you forget something, your application won’t be processed and will be sent back to you.

We’ll contact you when we receive your complete application.

Get your fingerprints and photo taken

Your fingerprints and photo (biometrics)

Book your biometrics collection appointment as soon as you can to avoid processing delays. Find out how to give biometrics.

If you’re between 14 and 79 years old, you need to give your fingerprints and photo (biometrics) for every application for permanent residence you submit to us. Even if you gave your biometrics in the past and they’re still valid.

  • You must pay the biometrics fee when you submit your application. Otherwise you may experience delays.
  • Get this done as soon as you get the letter from us that tells you to give biometrics.
  • You have 30 days to do this from the date on the letter.

Find out who needs to give, how to give, and where to give your biometrics.

Processing time

Check application processing times

You may need to give biometrics with your application. This processing time includes the time you need to give your biometrics.

Processing times

Avoid delays by telling us about any changes to your personal information.

Use this Web form if you need to report important changes about your application, such as:

  • changes in address, telephone number, email or other contact information
  • births or deaths in your family
  • marriages or divorces
  • adoptions
  • changes to your job or job offer
  • a new educational credential
  • updated language test results

Your application will be delayed if:

  • there are criminal or security problems
  • we need to do more background checks
  • your family situation isn’t clear—reasons could include a divorce or an adoption that isn’t yet complete or child custody issues that haven’t been resolved or
  • the visa office has to contact other visa offices in Canada or abroad to verify the information you gave us.

Medical exams

You must have a medical exam before you come to Canada. Your family members must also have one, even if they aren’t coming with you.

We won’t accept your application if your health:

  • is a danger to Canada’s public health or safety or
  • would cause too much demand on health or social services in Canada

We’ll send you a letter to tell you how to get the medical exam after we send your application to the visa office.

Police certificates

If you have a criminal record, you may not be allowed to enter Canada. People who pose a risk to Canada’s security aren’t allowed to come to Canada.

To immigrate to Canada, you and any family members 18 years of age and older must provide police certificates to the visa office if asked to do so.

Decision on your application

We’ll make a decision on your application based on:

  • whether you meet the eligibility criteria for the program
  • whether you have enough money to support yourself and your family when you arrive in Canada
  • the results of your medical exam and
  • the information on your police certificate(s)

The office that processes your application will contact you if you need to send more documents or go to an interview.

If your application is approved, we’ll ask you to send your passport to the visa office so we can issue your permanent resident visa.

Confirmation of Permanent Residence

If we approve your application, we’ll issue you a permanent resident visa. This visa includes your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and your entry visa.

Your COPR will have information about who you are as well as your photograph. Please check to make sure it is correct. It should be the same as the information on your passport. If there’s a mistake on your COPR, contact your visa office.

You must have your COPR and your visa with you when you arrive in Canada.

When you arrive in Canada, you will be greeted by an officer from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).

When you arrive, you must have:

  • a valid passport and/or travel documents.
    • Your passport must be a regular, private passport. You cannot immigrate to Canada with a diplomatic, government service or public affairs passport.
  • a valid permanent resident visa and your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR).
    • The officer will make sure you’re entering Canada before or on the expiry date shown on your visa (this document cannot be extended)
  • proof that you have enough money to support yourself and your family after you arrive in Canada

The officer will ask you a few questions to make sure you still meet the eligibility requirements to immigrate to Canada. These questions will be like the ones you answered when you applied.

You won’t be allowed into Canada if you give false or incomplete information, or if you don’t convince the officer that you meet the conditions to enter Canada.

If you meet the requirements, the officer will allow you to enter Canada as a permanent resident. They will also confirm your Canadian mailing address and have your permanent resident card mailed to you there.

If you change your address within 180 days of arriving in Canada, you must notify us using this online tool.

Disclosure of funds

If you arrive in Canada with more than CAN$10,000, you must tell this to the CBSA officer. If you don’t tell them, you could be fined, and your funds could be seized.

These funds could be in the form of:

  • cash
  • securities that belong to you (stocks, bonds, debentures and treasury bill)
  • bankers’ drafts
  • cheques
  • travellers’ cheques
  • money orders

What you can bring into Canada

Before you travel to Canada, see the CBSA website to find out what you can and cannot bring into the country.