Self-Employed Persons Program Requirements & Current Status
The Self-Employed Persons Program is a federal permanent residence pathway for people with relevant experience in cultural activities or athletics who intend and are able to become self-employed in Canada and make a significant contribution to Canada’s cultural or athletic life. Applicants were assessed on experience, education, age, language ability and adaptability, and a job offer was not required. The program was paused on April 30, 2024, and IRCC extended the pause on December 19, 2025 until further notice. New applications are not being accepted, while applications submitted before the pause continue to be processed.
Former Eligibility Requirements
Before the program was paused, applicants had to:
- have relevant experience in cultural activities or athletics
- intend and be able to become self-employed in Canada
- demonstrate the ability to make a significant contribution to Canada’s cultural or athletic life
- meet the program’s selection criteria
- have enough money to support themselves and their family when they arrive in Canada
- meet medical, security and other admissibility requirements
IRCC did not set a formal definition of “significant contribution,” and officers assessed it based on the applicant’s proposed activities and circumstances. The program also had no regulated minimum net worth requirement, although applicants had to show that they had enough funds to settle in Canada with their dependants and support their intended self-employment.
A job offer was not required.
Relevant experience meant at least two years of qualifying experience during the period beginning five years before the application date and ending when IRCC made a decision.
For cultural activities, applicants generally needed:
- two one-year periods of self-employment in cultural activities
- two one-year periods of participation at a world-class level, or
- one year of self-employment and one year of participation at a world-class level
The same structure applied to athletics.
Applicants with three, four or five years of qualifying experience could receive additional selection points.
Applicants intending to settle in Quebec were not eligible under this federal program and had to follow Quebec’s separate immigration selection process.
How Applicants Were Assessed
Applicants had to meet the definition of a self-employed person and score at least 35 points out of a possible 100. In this program, that meant having qualifying experience in cultural activities or athletics, together with the intention and ability to become self-employed in Canada and make a significant contribution to Canada’s cultural or athletic life.
The selection factors were:
- Experience — maximum 35 points
- Education — maximum 25 points
- Age — maximum 10 points
- English and/or French language ability — maximum 24 points
- Adaptability — maximum 6 points
Experience points were awarded as follows:
- 2 years — 20 points
- 3 years — 25 points
- 4 years — 30 points
- 5 years — 35 points
Adaptability could include factors such as an accompanying spouse or common-law partner’s education, previous qualifying study or work in Canada, or certain qualifying relatives in Canada.
Meeting the 35-point pass mark did not guarantee permanent residence. Applicants still had to meet the definition of a self-employed person and all other eligibility and admissibility requirements.
Self-Employed Persons Program Pause
IRCC stopped accepting new applications under the Self-Employed Persons Program on April 30, 2024.
On December 19, 2025, IRCC extended the pause until further notice as part of broader changes to Canada’s business immigration programs. IRCC originally paused new applications because of a large inventory of applications and processing times that had grown to more than four years. The pause was intended to let IRCC focus on processing existing applications while considering changes to the program.
No official reopening date has been announced.
The program should therefore be described as paused rather than permanently closed or cancelled. Applicants cannot currently submit new applications under the Self-Employed Persons Program.
Applications Already in Process
Complete applications accepted before the program was paused continue to be processed by IRCC.
IRCC reviews whether applicants meet the definition of a self-employed person, satisfy the selection criteria and meet all federal admissibility requirements. During processing, IRCC may request additional documents or an interview if more information is needed.
Applicants and accompanying family members may also need to complete:
- biometrics
- medical examinations
- police certificates
- other admissibility requirements
Permanent residence applicants between 14 and 79 must provide biometrics when instructed by IRCC, even if biometrics were provided for a previous application.
Existing applicants should continue to monitor IRCC correspondence, respond to requests within the required timeframe and report relevant changes affecting their application, contact information or family circumstances.
Processing times can vary depending on application completeness, verification requirements, applicant response times and IRCC’s existing inventory. Applicants with pending files should check IRCC’s current processing-time information rather than rely on older estimates.
