The Canadian immigration Self-Employed Persons Program (SEPP) is specifically for applicants who intend and have the ability to become self-employed in Canada. There is a separate self-employed program for Quebec.
Required qualifications for SEPP: Candidates must have the experience and ability to:
- Make a major contribution as artisans or as athletes at an international level to the cultural or sporting life in Canada
- Buy a farm in Canada and handling it
Relevant Experience is defined as:
- At least two years of participation in cultural activities or athletics at a world-class level
- At least two years of experience of self-employment in cultural activities of athletics
- At least two years of experience in farm management
Selection factors:
Once applicants have been classified as meeting the concept of ‘self-employed individuals,’ they will then be evaluated on the basis of the selection criteria set out in the table below. If they want to immigrate to Canada as a self-employed citizen, applicants must receive a minimum of 35 points out of 100 potential points.
SELECTION CRITERIA | MAXIMUM POINTS |
Education | 25 |
Experience | 35 |
Age | 10 |
Ability in French and/or English | 24 |
Adaptability | 6 |
Total: |
Other requirements
The applicant and the applicant’s immediate family members must, like most other Canadian immigration systems, undergo medical evaluations and safety risk tests, as well as be able to show that they will have adequate settlement funds to support themselves and their families once they arrive in Canada.
Qualifying for an ITA under the SEPP
When you apply for the program, you’ll need to meet the criteria mentioned above in order to receive points under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). These points are then added to create a score for your online profile which will be created on your application. This cumulative score competes against other scores till there is a draw from the pool of applicants. An Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency in Canada will then be issued to these applicants. Note that when you obtain recommendations, new talents, or skills, your score can be updated in the process.
Quebec self-employed program
The Quebec self-employed program is designed for applicants who wish to immigrate to Quebec by generating their own employment in Quebec.
In order to qualify for the program, the applicant must have:
- Two years of experience in the occupation they wish to pursue which can include but need not be limited to athletics, cultural activities, or farm management.
- Should have a minimum net worth of 10,000 dollars of legally acquired funds of which the spouse’s funds can also be included
- Should have the intention and ability to create their own employment by pursuing an occupation where they have experience.
Under the Self-Employed Persons Program, eligible occupations within Canada’s artistic, cultural and athletic fields include:
Professional Occupations in Art and Culture | |
5111 | Librarians |
5112 | Conservators and Curators |
5113 | Archivists |
5121 | Authors and Writers |
5122 | Editors |
5123 | Journalists |
5124 | Professional Occupations in Public Relations and Communications |
5125 | Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters |
5131 | Producers, Directors, Choreographers and Related Occupations |
5132 | Conductors, Composers and Arrangers |
5133 | Musicians and Singers |
5134 | Dancers |
5135 | Actors and Comedians |
5136 | Painters, Sculptors and Other Visual Artists |
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Technical and Skilled Occupations in Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport | |
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 and the Performing Arts |
5231 | Announcers and Other Broadcasters |
5232 | 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 |