The Canadian Self-Employed Persons Program is aimed at those who have relevant experience in cultural activities, athletics or farm management. Applicants must also have the intention and ability to establish a business that will, at a minimum, create employment for themselves. Applicants must also make a significant
contribution to cultural activities or athletics or purchase and manage a farm in Canada.
Applicants must demonstrate that the proposed business will generate sufficient revenues to support the applicant and his or her dependents. Farmers, writers, artisans, sports personalities, coaches, actors, artists, etc. are examples of applicants who may qualify.
Relevant experience means a minimum of two years of experience as a self-employed or participation at a world class level cultural activities or athletics, over the course of five years prior to the submission of the candidate’s application.
Assessment in the Self-Employed Persons Program is based upon:
The selection points do not play an important role in this method of immigration. You only need 35 points out of 100 points to be accepted. Almost all refusals are based on the three criteria -experience, ability and intent, and contribution.
With regards to occupations, only those in the Unit Group 5 (Occupations in art, culture, recreation and sport) under the National Occupation Classification (NOC) qualify for this program. You can look up the eligible occupations in the NOC list, and use the search bar to find all NOC occupations starting with the 51 or 52.
Examples of eligible occupations would be: