Self-employed Persons Program
In contrast to other business streams in Canadian immigration system where the applicants are required to invest or obtain funds from a designated organization, this program asks the qualified applicants only for their proof of experience in their field along with the supporting claims of being profitably self-employed. Internationally settled and self-employed applicants who are professional athletes / art performers in cultural industries and who are willing to make a significant contribution to the cultural/ athletic life of Canada, who can prove successfully that they can be successful by being self-employed in Canada are eligible for this program. They would also have to meet the selection criteria for the Federal Self-Employed Persons Program.
Program Requirements
The Applicant is required to have a minimum of two years of relevant work experience in their specialized industry. Also, it also should be within the duration of five years of preceding their immigration application. Professional athletes and art performers in the cultural industry must either provide proof of:
- Self-employment for two years in their industry, or
- Contribution within their field for continuous 2 years at a world-class level, or
- A blend of one year for each of the above example.
For those who want to apply for this program, they must intend to settle in any province or territory in Canada with the exclusion of Quebec, which has its own self-employed immigration program. Self-employed persons who intend to live in Quebec should apply directly under the Quebec Self-Employed Program.
Professional Occupations in Art and Culture
| Librarians |
| Conservators and Curators |
| Archivists |
| Authors and Writers |
| Editors |
| Journalists |
| Professional Occupations in Public Relations and Communications |
| Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters |
| Producers, Directors, Choreographers and Related Occupations |
| Conductors, Composers and Arrangers |
| Musicians and Singers |
| Dancers |
| Actors and Comedians |
| Painters, Sculptors and Other Visual Artists |
Technical and Skilled Occupations in Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport
| Library and Archive Technicians and Assistants |
| Technical Occupations Related to Museums and Art Galleries |
| Photographers |
| Film and Video Camera Operators |
| Graphic Arts Technicians |
| Broadcast Technicians |
| Audio and Video Recording Technicians |
| Other Technical and Co-ordinating Occupations in Motion Pictures, Broadcasting and the Performing Arts |
| Support Occupations in Motion Pictures, Broadcasting and the Performing Arts |
| Announcers and Other Broadcasters |
| Other Performers |
| Graphic Designers and Illustrators |
| Interior Designers |
| Theatre, Fashion, Exhibit and Other Creative Designers |
| Artisans and Craftspersons |
| Patternmakers – Textile, Leather and Fur Products |
| Athletes |
| Coaches |
| Sports Officials and Referees |
| Program Leaders and Instructors in Recreation, Sport and Fitness |