Self Employed Program

This program is for foreign nationals who can create their own employment, by contributing athletically, culturally, or artistically to Canada’s job market. People with sufficient funds and relevant work experience can apply for the Self-employed Program. There is no minimum net worth and/or investment requirement for this program. However, self-employed applicants need to demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to settle in Canada along with their dependents and finance the work for which their selection is based.

Program Requirements

Experience	Minimum two years of experience in last 5 years, either as self-employed or participating at a world class level in art, culture, recreation, or sport activities
Education	No minimum education requirements
Age	Ideally between 18 to 50 years
Language	No language requirements
Points under selection criteria	Must score a minimum of 35 points out of a 100
Medical & Security	Applicants and accompanying family members must undergo medical exams, and provide police certificates
Financial	Must show sufficient funds to demonstrate that you can support yourself and your family to settle in Canada

Eligible technical occupations in art, culture, recreation, and sport

NOC	Occupation
5211	Library and public archive technicians
5212	Technical occupations related to museums and art galleries
5221	Photographers
5222	Film and video camera operators
5223	Graphic arts technicians
5224	Broadcast technicians
5225	Audio and video recording technicians
5226	Other technical and co-ordinating occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting, and the performing arts
5227	Support occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting, photography, and the performing arts
5231	Announcers and other broadcasters
5232	Other performers (e.g., circus performers, magicians, models, puppeteers, and other performers)
5241	Graphic designers and illustrators
5242	Interior designers and interior decorators
5243	Theatre, fashion, exhibit, and other creative designers
5244	Artisans and craftspersons
5245	Patternmakers – textile, leather, and fur products
5251	Athletes
5252	Coaches
5253	Sports officials and referees
5254	Program leaders and instructors in recreation, sport, and fitness

Selection Criteria

Candidates are assessed against the points assessment under various factors (education, experience, age, language & adaptability). The pass mark is 35 points out of 100.

Education (maximum 25 points)

Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) is required for a foreign education to claim points under this factor.

Master’s Degree or Ph.D. and at least 17 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study	25
Two or more university degrees at the bachelor’s level and at least 15 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study	22
Three-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship and at least 15 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study	22
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
Two-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship and at least 14 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study	20
One-year university degree at the bachelor’s level and at least 13 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study	15
One-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship and at least 13 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study	15
One-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship and at least 12 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study	12
High School (Higher Secondary)	5

Experience (maximum 35 points)

Relevant experience must have been obtained in the period that begins five years before an applicant sign his/her application and ends when a decision is made on the application.

2 Years	20
3 Years	25
4 Years	30
5 Years or More	35

Age (maximum 10 points)

Applicant will be awarded points for this factor at the time when the visa office receives the application.

Age	Points	Age	Points
17 Years	2	50 Years	8
18 Years	4	51 Years	6
19 Years	6	52 Years	4
20 Years	8	53 Years	2
21-49 Years	10	54+ Years	0

Language (maximum 24 points)

Applicant will be awarded points for this factor at the time when the visa office receives the application.

IELTS (General Training)
CELPIP (General)
TEF Canada
TCF Canada

Proficiency Level	Description
High	You can communicate effectively in most social and work situations
Moderate	You can communicate comfortably in familiar social and work situations
Basic	You can communicate in predictable contexts and on familiar topics, but with some difficulty
No	You do not meet the above criteria for basic proficiency

Adaptability (maximum 6 points)

Spouse or common-law partner’s level of education Secondary school (high school) diploma or less: 0 points A one-year diploma, trade certificate, apprenticeship, or university degree and at least 12 years of full-time or full-time equivalent studies: 3 points A two or three-year diploma, trade certificate, apprenticeship, or university degree and at least 14 years of full-time or full-time equivalent studies: 4 points A master’s degree or PhD and at least 17 years of full-time or full-time equivalent studies: 5 points	3-5
Previous work in Canada Applicant or the accompanying spouse or common-law partner has completed a minimum of one year of full-time work in Canada on a valid work permit.	5
Previous study in Canada Applicant or the accompanying spouse or common-law partner has completed a program of full-time study of at least two years’ duration at a post-secondary institution in Canada. Applicant must have done this after 17 years of age and with a valid study permit.	5
Relatives in Canada Applicant or the accompanying spouse or common-law partner has 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

How GSP Immigration Can Help ?

Generally self-employed people are not directly employed with an employer and therefore, it becomes a big challenge (in terms of documentation) to demonstrate that they meet the minimum experience requirements of the self-employed program. We help self-employed people in gathering the documentation as per their profile.
The self-employed program seems to be quite easy, but preparing a good application is a big challenge. The onus is on the applicant to prove that they meet the program criteria and will be able to create their own employment in Canada. We prepare the application based on our client’s profile and comprehensive research to prove that how they will settle themselves in Canadian job market?