Program Self-employed persons (The Self-Employed Persons Program) in Canada provides an opportunity for self-employed individuals in the cultural or sports fields to immigrate and develop their business in Canada. All detail are below.

On April 30, 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced that it would suspend applications for this program until January 2027. This decision was made due to the high volume of applications, which resulted in processing times increasing to more than four years.

According to the official statement, during this period IRCC will process already submitted applications. And in order to prevent such precedents, the program will be reformed in parallel to make it more efficient.

Required fees: from $2385 (as of July 2024).

 

What is Needed to Participate

To participate in the Self-employed Persons program, you must meet a number of requirements:

  1. Experience.  Applicants must have at least two years of experience in the cultural or sports sector within the last five years at the time of application. Experience may include both independent work and participation in world-class events.
  2. Contribution to development. Applicants must demonstrate the intention and ability to make a significant contribution to the cultural or sporting life of Canada.
  3. Scoring system. Applicants are subject to assessment by the point system.
  4. Financial stability. Applicants must provide evidence of sufficient financial resources to support themselves and their families in Canada.
  5. Related checks. Applicants and their families must have medical examination results and undergo a criminal background check.

How to Submit an Application

The application process consists of several stages:

  1. Collection of necessary documents. Includes evidence of work experience (portfolio, contracts, letters of recommendation), educational certificates, language test results and financial documents.
  2. Filling out the questionnaire. Applicants must complete an application form on the IRCC website. The form includes detailed questions about personal information, professional experience, and future plans in Canada.
  3. Payment of fees. As of July 2024, the minimum fee listed on the official immigration program page is $2,385.
  4. Sending documents. All collected documents to the Application Processing Center. Documents must be translated into English or French and certified.
  5. Biometric data. If the applicant is between 14 and 79 years old, fingerprints and a photograph may be required.

Apply online:

  • Create an account. Create an account on portal for submitting applications for permanent residence. The official website has instructions in the manual IMM 4500 to help fill out forms.
  • Filling out digital forms online. You must complete the following digital forms online (for yourself and your family members over 18):
    • Universal Immigration Form for Canada (IMM 0008).
    • Appendix A: Biographical Data/Declaration (IMM 5669).
    • Additional Family Information (IMM 5406).
    • Additional information "Your Trips" (IMM 5562).
  • Filling out PDF forms. The applicant completes forms for themselves and their family members and uploads them to the online application. The forms for family members are also signed by the applicant. The forms include:
  • Completing and signing PDF forms, if applicable.
    Some forms must be completed, printed, signed by hand and uploaded to the online application. For example:
    • Declaration of Separation for Minors Travelling to Canada [IMM 5604], if applicable.
    • Statutory Declaration of Civil Union [IMM 5409], if applicable.
  • Payment of application processing fees. Collections with help online payment tool for the migration service.
  • Submitting an online application. It is important to make sure that all required fields are filled in. Otherwise, the immigration service has the right to reject it, after which you will have to correct the errors and re-apply.

The applicant may appoint a representative to act on his/her behalf by submitting the Use of a Representative form [IMM 5476], sign it manually or electronically. The representative must do the same. After completing these steps, the form is uploaded to the online application.

An immigration representative (consultant or lawyer) can provide advice and help with completing the application for a fee. They can also help prepare forms and documents and answer questions about the forms.

However, the representative does not have the right to create an account on the portal on behalf of the applicant and sign applications for him, or to enter the portal using the details (login and password) of the applicant.

After reading the declaration, the applicant must enter his/her name and click the "Submit" button. This is a legal requirement for the application to be considered "signed" under Canadian immigration law.

After submitting an application, the candidate receives a confirmation with the application number and further instructions. Also, during the processing of the application, the authorities may ask for additional documents or invite you to an online interview.

Once approved, applicants will receive a visa to enter Canada. Upon arrival in the country, applicants must register with local services such as health and education, and learn about support programs for new immigrants. After that, the first step is to open a bank account and obtain a Social Insurance Number (SIN).