With immigration to the US become more and more tricky, more and more people are looking into immigrating into Canada. If immigrating to Canada has always been on your wish list, there’s no better time to than now, especially following the Canada immigration minister Marco Mendicino’s message to talent all over the world to “Come to Canada” to help grow the Canadian economy following President Donald Trump’s recent ban of H1-B visas which will affect some high skilled workers.
In this post, I share the step by step process of immigrating to Canada if you don’t have a job but rather want to immigrate to Canada as a self-employed person.
With this detailed straightforward step-by-step process, you don’t need the services of an immigration consultant if you can’t afford one.
Besides, the CIC provided a very in-depth page with step by step explanations on how to fill each section of every form.
But first, a disclaimer: I do not work for the Canada immigration office. Selection criteria, requirements and other information for applicants can sometimes change. Make sure to therefore periodically visit the Immigration and citizenship webpage for the latest news, selection criteria updates and applications links.
What's Covered in This Article
Eligibility to immigrate to Canada under the Self-employed Persons Program
The Self-employed Persons Program allows you to apply for immigration to Canada permanently as a self-employed person as long as you meet the following eligibility requirements:
Relevant Experience
- have relevant experience in cultural activities or athletics and
- are willing and able to make a significant contribution to the cultural or athletic life of Canada
Additionally, you must:
- have at least two years of relevant experience in working for yourself in cultural activities or athletics; or taken part in cultural activities or athletics at a world-class level. It must be during the period starting 5 years before the day you apply and ending on the day Canada immigration make a decision on your application.
- intend to become self-employed in Canada in the arts or athletics field should you be granted a visa to Canada under the federal self-employed stream.
Selection criteria
To qualify, you must also meet the program’s selection criteria which include your:
- experience
- education
- age
- language abilities
- adaptability
Medical, security checks and other requirements
You must also meet medical, security and other conditions
You and your family members will have to undergo a medical exam as well as get certificates of good conduct.
You must also show that you have enough money to support yourself and your family once you get to Canada.
Professions that fall under the Canada self-employed persons’ category.
Examples of professions that fall under the Canada self-employed persons’ category. include:
- Authors and writers (this is my profession)
- Creative and performing artists
- Musicians
- Painters
- Sculptors and other visual artists
- Technical support and other jobs in motion pictures
- Creative designers
- Craftspeople
For a full list of qualifying activities for self-employed persons in Canada, please visit the Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) website.
Federal Self-Employed Stream Points
To qualify for consideration as an immigrant to Canada as a self-employed immigrant under the federal self-employed program, you must score at least 35 points out of a maximum possible score of 100 on their selection criteria as shown in the table below:
| Selection criteria | Maximum points | Your score |
|---|---|---|
| Education | 25 | |
| Experience | 35 | |
| Age | 10 | |
| Ability in English and/or French | 24 | |
| Adaptability | 6 | |
| TOTAL | 100 |
Funds required to settle in Canada as an immigrant under the self-employed person’s program
You must prove to the immigration officer handling your application that you have enough money to support both yourself and your family members for at least one year after you arrive in Canada.
This done by the net worth requirement.
While there is no regulated minimum net worth requirement for the self-employed program ,you still have to satisfy a visa officer that you have enough money to:
- settle in Canada with your dependents and
- finance the work on which your selection was based.
The funds must be available both when you apply and when (if) you’re issued a permanent resident visa. You must be in a position to prove to an immigration officer that you can legally access the money for your use when you arrive in Canada.
The minimum amount of money you need to immigrate to Canada
The amount of money you need to support your family depends on the size of your family. To calculate the size of your family you must include
- yourself
- your spouse or partner
- your dependent children and
- your spouse’s dependent children
Include your spouse or dependent children even if they’re
- permanent residents or Canadian citizens
- not coming to Canada with you
This table shows the minimum amount you need to immigrate to Canada. If you have more money, you should list the full amount in your profile or application.
| Number of family members |
Funds required (in Canadian dollars) |
|---|---|
| 1 | $12,960 |
| 2 | $16,135 |
| 3 | $19,836 |
| 4 | $24,083 |
| 5 | $27,315 |
| 6 | $30,806 |
| 7 | $34,299 |
| For each additional family member | $3,492 |
For proof, you must get official letters from any banks where you’ve banked the money.
Letter(s) must:
- be printed on the banks’ letterhead
- include their contact information (address, telephone number and email address)
- include your name
- list outstanding debts such as credit card debts and loans
- include, for each current bank and investment account, the
- account numbers
- date each account was opened
- current balance of each account
- average balance for the past 6 months
Find out more about the funds you need.
How to apply for Canada permanent residence under the self-employed person’s program
Step 1. Gather all required Documents
These are listed in the Document Checklist (IMM 5784).
Step 2. Complete the Application
The following forms must be filled out and submitted by all applicants:
- Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008) (PDF, 553.83KB)
- Additional Dependants/Declaration Form (IMM 0008DEP) (PDF, 424.19KB)
- Schedule A – Background/ Declaration (IMM 5669) (PDF, 776.39KB)
- Schedule 5: Economic Classes—Declaration of Intent to Reside in Quebec (IMM 0008 Schedule 5) (PDF,1.37MB)
- Schedule 6A: Business Immigrants-Self-Employed Persons (IMM 0008 – Schedule 6A) (PDF, 1.78MB)
- Additional Family Information (IMM 5406) (PDF, 570KB)
- Use of a Representative (IMM 5476) (PDF, 648.31KB), if applicable.
Step 3. Pay the Fees
Use the table below to calculate the total amount of fees you need to pay. The processing fee must be included with your application.
| Application (per person) | $CAN |
|---|---|
| Your application Processing fee ($1,575) and right of permanent residence fee ($500) | 2,075 |
| Your application (without right of permanent residence fee) | 1,575 |
| Include your spouse or partner Processing fee ($825) and right of permanent residence fee ($500) | 1,325 |
| Include your spouse or partner (without right of permanent residence fee) | 825 |
| Include a dependent child | 225 |
CIC recommends that you pay the right of permanent residence fee ($500) as you submit your application to avoid delays once your application to become a Canadian permanent resident is successful.
To pay your fees for your application you’ll need:
- a valid email address;
- access to a printer (you’ll need to print the receipt), and
- a credit card or Canadian debit card.
Visit the link below and follow these instructions to pay:
- Go to Online Payment.
- Follow the online instructions.
- At the end, click on the button to print the IRCC official receipt with barcode. Print two copies.
- Attach a copy of this receipt to your completed application.
- Keep the second copy of the receipt for your records.
Do not exit without printing the receipt! The printed receipt is your proof of payment!
Biometrics fees $CAN
Biometrics (per person): 85
Biometrics (per family) (2 or more people) 170
Maximum fee for a family of 2 or more people applying at the same time and place.
Step 4. Mail the Application
Make sure to complete the Document Checklist (IMM 4500) included in the application guide and include it with your application.
Then sign your application and date it before submitting.
Only provide documents which are listed in the checklist.
Put the completed forms, supporting documents and fee payment in a 23 cm x 30.5 cm (9” x 12”) envelope.
If you are sending the application by a courier service, use the following address (no public drop-offs):
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Self-employed Class or Quebec Business Class
Centralized Intake Office
49 Dorchester Street
Sydney, NS
B1P 5Z2
If the CIO determines that your application is complete, it will be forwarded to the appropriate office for processing. If your application is incomplete and does not include all of the documents and forms set out in the checklist, it will be returned to you.
If your application is complete, CIC will begin to process it. You will also be sent a letter that:
- notifies you of this fact and provides you with your visa office file number,
- sets out some basic instructions for contact with the visa office, and
- gives you a brief outline of future processing steps.
Review for decision
Your application will undergo a detailed review by a Visa Officer. The Officer will consider all the information and documentation you have provided, and will assess it against current selection standards.
Permanent resident status
If your application is successful, you and your family members will receive permanent resident visas meaning that you are eligible to become permanent residents of Canada when you move to Canada within the validity of your visa(s).
Some conditions will apply though:
- You will remain a permanent resident until you become a Canadian citizen, as long as you spend at least two years of each five-year period in Canada.
- You may leave and re-enter Canada as often as you wish.
Appendix A – Photo Specifications
Appendix B – Provincial and Territorial Government Contacts
Should you have any more questions, please ask away in the comments section below and I will try to respond to the best of my knowledge.
Very well written and clear.
I thank you for taking your time to compile this info
good read and very detailed. thanks for keeping us in the know for those who wish to migrate there.
Hi Kerry, you’re welcome. Thank you for stopping by. Please share with whoever you think this might benefit.
very understandable but what if your looking for a job
This is awesome and well explained. Is this process the same if you are a “skilled” worker who has been in formal employment?
Thank you Priscilla. For a skilled worker, the process and requirements are different.Please let me know if you’d like for me to write a detailed post about it.
Please write about skilled workers too for those of us who don’t fall in the self employed categories
Yes! yes! please do.I had already done an assement and know am eligible but i am too scared and confused with all those immigration agencies.i dont know legit ones and scams😥
That will require a different immigration process. Probably under the skilled worker program. Thank you for stopping by Mikelita.
Thank you Loise, kindly wrote about skilled worker program. Kindly also confirm if we migrate with a spouse on self employed program would i be able to look for employment as a skilled worker pr will be required to apply independently. Thanks
Beautiful well analyzed…Thanks
You’re welcome Peter. Thank you for stopping by.