Self Employed

The Canadian self-employed immigration programme is a business work visa service designed for those interested in immigration Canada on a permanent basis.

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Global Visas can help you to navigate the wide range of Canadian visa options available and determine which Canadian business immigration service is most appropriate for your requirements.

As a specialist consultancy that deals with immigration to Canada, we can assist you at every stage of your visa application and our immigration consultants can provide everything required for your Canada visa from immigration lawyer advice, information on immigration processes and more.

Benefits

Canadian Self Employed visas, along with the Canadian Immigrant Investor Program or (IIP) and Canadian Entrepreneur Immigrant Programme make up the Canadian Business Immigration Programme, a range of business visas designed to attract Canadian visa applications from people with desirable business skills and experience.

Applying for Canadian visas of this kind constitutes a route to settlement in and relocation to Canada. Accordingly, this confers permanent residence status upon successful applicants.

No time restrictions are placed upon a business visa for this route as is the case with temporary immigration services such as the Canadian visit visa.

As permanent residents, candidates will receive the same rights and privileges as Canadian citizens with the exception of the right to vote.

Beyond permanent residency, applicants may be able to pursue a grant of citizenship three years after successfully.

Eligibility Criteria

Canada visa applications under the self-employed category require applicants to demonstrate the following:

Relevant experience: this could include participation at a world-class level in athletics or cultural activities and farm management experience.
Meet the selection criteria, which assesses applicants on their experience, education, age, language abilities and adaptability.
Pass a medical examination, security and criminal checks.
Show evidence of sufficient funds to support yourself in Canada.

Candidates may only apply for one Canadian business immigration service. Once an application has been submitted, switching to another route or working visa is not permitted.

Points System

The entrepreneur scheme involves a points-based skills assessment. Candidates who wish to migrate to Canada via this route are rated on their educational achievements, business experience, age and language proficiency.

People who viewed this page and found it useful also visited our guide on jobs in Canada. We hope you find it helpful too.

Business experience

In Canada, visa applications of this kind grant points for business experience gained in the five years prior to the application's submission.

Education

Points are awarded for education. Points are based on an applicant's highest academic achievement and years spent in education as set out below:

Master's degree/PhD and a minimum of 17 years in full-time study = Maximum Points
Two or more bachelor's degrees and a minimum of 15 years in full-time study
Three-year diploma, apprenticeship or trade certificate and a minimum of 15 years in full-time study
Bachelor's degree plus a minimum of 14 years in full-time study
Two-year diploma, apprenticeship or trade certificate and a minimum of 14 years in full-time study
One-year bachelor's degree plus a minimum of 13 years in full-time study
One-year diploma, apprenticeship or trade certificate and a minimum of 13 years in full-time study
One-year diploma, apprenticeship or trade certificate plus a minimum of 12 years in full-time study - 12 Points.
Graduation from secondary school = Minimum Points.

Language Skills

The entrepreneur scheme constitutes of a route to settled status as a permanent Canadian resident. Accordingly, applying for a Canadian work visa of this kind requires proficiency in either English or French, the official languages of Canada.

Candidates with proficiency in both languages should elect one as their "first language".

Points are awarded in the four abilities of speaking, listening, reading and writing with a higher allocation of points for the first language, and less points for the second.

First Official Language (Points are given per ability area)

High = Maximum Points
Moderate
Basic = Minimum Points
None = 0

Second Official Language (Points are given per ability area)

High = Maximum Points
Moderate
Basic = Minimum Points
None = 0

Age

Canadian immigration visas of this class also award points for an applicant's age.

The maximum will be awarded to candidates between the ages of 21 and 49. Beyond this range, two points are deducted per year with no points awarded to candidates aged below 17 or over 53.

Adaptability to life in Canada

Extra points can be obtained for demonstrating an ability to adapt to life and business in Canada.

Applications for Canadian visas can be bolstered by demonstrating that candidates have:

Made an exploratory business trip to Canada in the five years preceding the application.
Participated in an immigration programme run as a joint federal-provincial initiative.

In either of the above circumstances, documentary evidence will be required from your destination province.

Dependants

In Canada, business visa applications make provision for spouse and dependent immigration, allowing your husband, wife, common-law partner, or unmarried partner to join you in Canada. Unmarried dependent children under the age of 22 may also join you. Find out further information on our Student Visa page.