Federal Self-employed Persons
The Federal Self-Employed Persons Program is a Canadian immigration program designed for foreign entrepreneurs working in the arts and sports industries.
Are you self-employed and looking to come to Canada? You may be eligible for the Self-Employed Persons Program, if you:
Have at least 2 years of relevant experience in arts or sports
Are willing and able to be self-employed in Canada
Meet the programs selection criteria
Meet medical, security and other conditions
Your experience is relevant if you have:
- Taken part in cultural activities or athletics at a world-class level or
- Been a self-employed person in cultural activities or athletics
For cultural activities:
- 2 years ( not continuous) being self-employed in cultural activities, or
- 2 years ( not continuous) participating at a world-class level in cultural activities, or
- A combination of one year in (a) and (b)
For athletics
- 2 years (not continuous) being self-employed in athletics, or
- 2 years (not continuous) participating at a world class level in athletics, or
- A combination of one year in (a) and (b)
The benefits of this program include no language requirement and immigration without having to work or study in Canada first. Applicants will need to submit their business plan on their proposed Canadian business venture and show a high chance of being financially self-sufficient. Applicants will also be asked to attend an interview several months before a decision is made on their application.
If you plan to immigrate to Quebec, the province has its own immigration program and you can not apply for the Federal Self-Employed Persons Program.
- Quick and easy online application
- Preparation of submission package
- Expert review and representation
- $1 million in insurance
- Secure encrypted document storage
How It Works
- 1Create An Account
Do an eligibility check, or pick a visa, or just sign up directly to create an account. Then you can see all the documents needed, questions you must answer, and fee payments for our services and to the government. If you have any questions, it is easy to contact our sales team or to schedule a call.
- 2Eligibility Confirmation Before Payment
First you will answer a few questions to ensure you are eligible for the visa. Only if you are eligible will the payment unlock. Making payment assigns an immigration lawyer or regulated consultant to your application. We are transparent in our process and pricing, and clearly list all the fees and processing times for your visa. Read our Transparency Pledge. We use Stripe for credit or debit card payment processing, which is secure and encrypted.
- 3Complete Your Application Online
You can complete as many of the application tasks you wish before payment. Take your time. Some visas require a lot of information, which requires answering questionnaires and uploading of documents. Our system ensures everything necessary is gathered depending on your situation - preventing errors and omissions - and saving you time.
- 4Visa Preparation and Submission
Once all the tasks are completed, our experts will review your answers and start preparing your application so that the best case is best presented. Government fees are also due once the application is completed and we can correctly calculate the government fees due. After a final review by you, and by our experts, your application will be submitted! You will have peace of mind that only comes with an accurate application.
- 5Approval and Renewals
We notify you when your visa is approved! If there are any questions or rejections from the government, we will answer them and resubmit without any further fees from us. We securely store your immigration documents for 7 years and provide alerts well before any expiry dates. Renewing or taking the next step toward citizenship is easy when all your immigration history is in one place.
Required Documents
Some documents you will need to provide, and some documents we may prepare for you.
- Digital Photo
- Passport
- Police Certificate
- Proof of Relevant Experience
- Provide proof of funds showing that you can financially support your family after they landed in Canada