Eligibility Factors
Relevant Experience
Your experience is relevant if you have:
- taken part in cultural activities or athletics at a world-class level,
- been self-employed in cultural activities or athletics, or
- experience in managing a farm.
Consult the list of qualifying activities for self-employed persons, Canadian National Occupational Classification (NOC) Major Group 51, and the definitions of terms used for self-employed applicants listed bellow for more information.
Selection Criteria
You will then be assessed against five selection criteria and a point system. You must obtain a minimum of 35 points if you want to immigrate to Canada as a business immigrant.
| Selection criteria | Maximum points |
|---|---|
| Education | 25 |
| Experience | 35 |
| Age | 10 |
| Ability in English and/or French | 24 |
| Adaptability | 6 |
| TOTAL | 100 |
Your Score
The maximum possible score is 100. The pass mark is currently 35 points. However, the pass mark may change, so make sure you visit this site regularly if you are considering immigrating to Canada as a business immigrant.
Selection is based on the documents that you provide and an assessment of your score under each of the selection criteria. You must also meet the definition of the program you apply for.
As part of the immigration process, an interview may be required. During the interview, a visa officer will ask you to explain any information that is unclear or inconsistent, or any shortcomings or gaps in the documents that you provide. If there is a difference between your assessment of your qualifications and the visa officer’s assessment, the officer’s assessment will prevail.
Medical, Security 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.
Self-employed Persons Definitions
Self-employed person means a foreign national who:
- has relevant experience,
- intends and is able to be self-employed in Canada, and
- can contribute to Canada’s economy in one of the required areas.
Relevant experience for self-employed persons means at least two years of experience.
It must be during the period starting five years before the day you apply and ending on the day we make a decision on your application. The experience must be:
- for cultural activities:
- two one-year periods of experience in self-employment in cultural activities, or
- two one-year periods of experience in participation at a world class level in cultural activities, or
- a combination of a one-year period of experience described in A above, and a one-year period of experience described in B above.
- for athletics:
- two one-year periods of experience in self-employment in athletics, or
- two one-year periods of experience in participation at a world class level in athletics, or
- a combination of a one-year period of experience described in 1 above, and a one-year period of experience described in 2 above, and
- for buying and managing a farm, two one-year periods of experience managing a farm.
Specified economic activities for self-employed persons, means:
- cultural activities,
- athletics, or
- buying and managing a farm.
Activities for a self-employed person selected by a province are decided by the laws of the province.
Quebec
The province of Quebec runs its own business immigration program, which includes the Self-Employed Worker program. If you want to live in Quebec, please visit the Quebec immigration section.
Please Contact Us for more information on this program.