About the Program:
The Federal Self-Employed Persons Program allows Artists and Athletes to permanently settle in Canada, who have relevant experience in cultural activities or athletics.
Why This Program:
Unlike other types of economic immigration that require you to invest your own money or obtain funding from private organizations located in Canada, the federal self-employed program requires only proof of experience within the industry that you wish to enter as a self-employed person.
Requirements:
The requirements for this program include:
- Professional athletes and artists must either provide proof of:
- Two years of being self-employed within their industry, or
- Two years of participating at a world-class level within their domain, or
- A combination of one year of each of the above.
- All those applying to the Federal Self-Employed Program must intend to settle in any Canadian province or territory with the exception of Quebec, which has its own self-employed immigration program.
Occupations Eligible for the Program:
The professional occupations in art and culture are eligible for the program. Namely,
- Librarians
- Conservators and Curators
- Archivists
- Authors and Writers
- Editors
- Journalists
- Professional Occupations in Public Relations and Communications
- Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters
- Producers, Directors, Choreographers and Related Occupations
- Conductors, Composers and Arrangers
- Musicians and Singers
- Dancers
- Actors and Comedians
- Painters, Sculptors and Other Visual Artists
The other technical professions with respect to art, culture, recreation and sport eligible for the program include:
- Library and Archive Technicians and Assistants
- Technical Occupations Related to Museums and Art Galleries
- Photographers
- Film and Video Camera Operators
- Graphic Arts Technicians
- Broadcast Technicians
- Audio and Video Recording Technicians
- Other Technical and Co-ordinating Occupations in Motion Pictures, Broadcasting and the Performing Arts
- Support Occupations in Motion Pictures, Broadcasting and the Performing Arts
- Announcers and Other Broadcasters
- Other Performers
- Graphic Designers and Illustrators
- Interior Designers
- Theatre, Fashion, Exhibit and Other Creative Designers
- Artisans and Craftsperson
- Patternmakers – Textile, Leather and Fur Products
- Athletes
- Coaches
- Sports Officials and Referees
- Program Leaders and Instructors in Recreation, Sport and Fitness
Selection Criteria
Once a candidate fits the description of being “self-employed” then he/ she will be assessed on the basis of the following selection criteria of one hundred points allocated as:
- Education – 25 points
- Experience – 35 points
- Age – 10 points
- Ability in French and/ or English – 24 points
- Adaptability – 6 points
Candidate must score a minimum of 35 points out of 100 to be eligible.
Points for education: maximum 25 points
| Education | Maximum 25 points |
|---|---|
| You have a Master’s Degree or Ph.D. and at least 17 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study. | 25 points |
| You have two or more university degrees at the bachelor’s level and at least 15 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study. | 22 points |
| You have a three-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship and at least 15 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study. | 22 points |
| You have a university degree of two years or more at the bachelor’s level and at least 14 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study. | 20 points |
| You have a two-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship and at least 14 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study. | 20 points |
| You have a one-year university degree at the bachelor’s level and at least 13 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study. | 15 points |
| You have a one-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship and at least 13 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study. | 15 points |
| You have a one-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship and at least 12 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study. | 12 points |
| You completed high school. | 5 points |
Points for experience: maximum 35 points
Relevant experience must have been obtained in the period that begins five years before you sign your application and ends when a decision is made on your application.
- Two years of relevant experience - 20 points
- Three years of relevant experience - 25 points
- Four years of relevant experience - 30 points
- Five years of relevant experience - 35 points
Points for age: maximum 10 points
You will be awarded selection points based on your age at the time when the visa office receives your application.
| Age | Points |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Points for language ability: maximum 24 points
Your proficiency in English or French is one of the 5 selection factors. You’ll be awarded up to 24 points for your basic, moderate or high proficiency in English and French. You’ll be given points based on your ability to:
- listen
- speak
- read and
- write
If you have some proficiency in both English and French, decide which language you’re more comfortable using. This is your first official language. The other is your second official language.
You must prove the level of language proficiency you claim on your application if you wish to have your official language proficiency considered in the assessment of your application for permanent residence.
Designated language testing agencies
You can arrange to take a language test from any of the following designated agencies.
English
IELTS has 2 options for the reading and writing tests:
- General Training
- Academic
You must take the General Training option.
CELPIP has two tests:
- CELPIP-General (CELPIP-G)
- CELPIP-Academic (CELPIP-A)
You must take the CELPIP-G test.
You must submit results from the following TEF Canada tests as proof of your French language proficiency:
- compréhension écrite
- compréhension orale
- expression écrite
- expression orale
- TCF Canada : Test de connaissance du français (French only)
You must submit results from these TCF Canada tests as proof of your French language skills:
- compréhension de l’écrit
- compréhension de l’oral
- expression écrite
- expression orale
- TCF Canada : Test de connaissance du français (French only)
You can use language test results for up to two years after the date you take your test, but the test results must be valid when you submit your application.
Points for age: maximum 10 points
You will be awarded selection points based on your age at the time when the visa office receives your application.
| Proficiency Level | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HIGH: You can communicate effectively in most social and work situations. | High | High | High | High |
| MODERATE: You can communicate comfortably in familiar social and work situations. | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| BASIC: You can communicate in predictable contexts and on familiar topics, but with some difficulty. | Basic | Basic | Basic | Basic |
| NO: You do not meet the above criteria for basic proficiency. | Does not meet Basic Level | Does not meet Basic Level | Does not meet Basic Level | Does not meet Basic Level |
Points for adaptability: maximum 6 points
A maximum of 6 points for adaptability can be earned by any combination of the following elements.
| Adaptability | Maximum 6 points |
|---|---|
| Spouse or common-law partner’s level of education
|
3–5 |
| Previous work in Canada You or your accompanying spouse or common-law partner have completed a minimum of one year of full-time work in Canada on a valid work permit. |
5 |
| Previous study in Canada You or your accompanying spouse or common-law partner have completed a program of full-time study of at least two years’ duration at a post-secondary institution in Canada. You must have done this after you were 17 years old and with a valid study permit. There’s no need to have obtained a degree or diploma for these two years of study to earn these points. |
5 |
| Relatives in Canada You or your accompanying spouse or common-law partner, have a relative (parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, child of a parent, sibling, child of a grandparent, aunt or uncle, or grandchild of a parent, niece or nephew) who is residing in Canada and is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. |
5 |