Canada Self Employed Immigration Program Visa 2025

A Canadian freelance visa is a type of Canadian immigration visa that is granted to those who want to move to Canada and work as a freelancer in Canada. To qualify for business immigration to Canada under the Canadian Freelancer Program, an applicant must demonstrate that they have relevant artistic or athletic experience that allows them to be self-employed while living in their country of origin.

To be successful in their application, applicants for the Canadian self-employment immigration program must be able to make a reasonably significant contribution to one of the artistic or athletic fields related to their experience and skills in Canada.

Below is a list of professions that can be applied for a freelance immigration program visa to Canada.

• Cultural
  • Sports / Athletic
  • Artist
  • Dancer
  • Journalist
  • Writer
  • Musician
  • Designer
• Sports / Athletic
  • Sports Coach
  • Athlete
  • Judge
  • Program leaders

Any self-employed person who has the necessary funds and work experience to start a business in Canada can apply for the Canadian self-employed immigration program.

Who is Eligible for the Canadian Self-Employment Program Visa?

The Canadian Government expects applicants for a Canadian self-employment visa to meet certain criteria.

The eligibility requirements for the Canadian freelance program visa are listed below.

• Having sufficient experience and skills
• Meet the Canadian freelance program’s points-based occupation groups and selection criteria

Proving Sufficient Experience for Canada Self-Employment Visa

The Government of Canada expects individuals who wish to work as freelancers in Canada to have sufficient experience and the skills to operate their business in Canada.

One of the sufficient experience requirements for a Canadian freelance visa is that individuals must have at least 2 years of freelance work experience within the last 5 years. A points-based evaluation system is used in Canadian freelance visa applications. The more work experience and experience people have, the more points they will receive in Canadian freelance visa applications.

Three criteria are taken into consideration in calculating sufficient experience for the Canadian freelance visa.

Below are the Canadian freelance visa experience calculation criteria.

• Have at least 2 years of experience in cultural/athletic activities
• Participation in cultural activities or athletics at world standards for at least 2 years
• Have experience and skills in more than one type of freelance work

In Canadian freelance visa applications, people receive points based on their work experience, knowledge and skills.

Points Based Selection Criteria for Canadian Self-Employment Visa

The Government of Canada evaluates Canadian self-employment visa applications on a points-based system.

Canadian self-employment visa applicants are scored out of 100 in terms of work experience, education, age, language proficiency and compatibility criteria. In order for their Canadian self-employment visa applications to be approved, applicants must receive at least 35 points out of 100 in the points-based evaluation system.

Points-based selection criteria for the Canadian self-employment visa are given below.

• Work experience : Work experience earns a maximum of 35 points for Canadian self-employment visa applicants. Canadian self-employment visa applicants with 5 years or more of work experience receive full points in the work experience criterion. In order to receive points in the work experience criterion, Canadian self-employment visa applicants must have at least 2 years of work experience.
• Education : To receive points for the education criteria, Canadian self-employment visa applicants must have at least 17 years of full-time education. Canadian self-employment visa applicants with master’s and doctoral degrees receive full points for the education criteria. The education criteria earn Canadian self-employment visa applicants a maximum of 25 points.
• Age : Canadian self-employment visa applicants between the ages of 21-49 receive full points based on the age criterion. The age criterion earns Canadian self-employment visa applicants a maximum of 10 points.
• Language skills : Within the scope of language skills, the English and French knowledge of Canadian self-employment visa applicants is measured. The language skills criterion gives Canadian self-employment visa applicants a maximum of 24 points. Canadian self-employment visa applicants must take one of the following exams to prove their language proficiency: IELTS, CELPIP for English; TEF, TFC for French.
• Compatibility : Canadian self-employment visa applicants’ spouse’s education level, previous work experience in Canada, and having relatives residing in Canada earn points for their compatibility with Canada. The compatibility criterion earns Canadian self-employment visa holders a maximum of 6 points.

What are the Required Documents for a Canadian Self-Employment Visa?

For a Canadian self-employed visa (Self-employed immigration Canada), individuals must prove their work experience, language proficiency, and education level with the necessary documents requested by the Canadian Government.

The documents required for a Canadian freelance visa are listed below.

• Passport: Must have been obtained within the last 10 years and be valid for at least 1 year.
• Canada freelance visa application form.
• Educational documents: Certificates, diplomas and graduation certificates must be included in the Canadian self-employment visa application file.
• Proof of language proficiency: IELTS, CELPIP for English; TFC, TEF exam results for French.
• Work experience documents
• Proof of compliance: The applicant’s spouse’s education documents, work history documents-work contracts if they have a work history in Canada, and the address and contact information of the person’s relative residing in Canada must be included in the application file.
• Travel history documents: If individuals have traveled abroad before, documents regarding their travel history and photocopies of previous passport pages must be included in the Canadian self-employment visa application file.
• Birth certificates: If the Canadian self-employment visa applicant has children who will accompany him/her, their birth certificates must be included in the application file.
• Marriage certificate: Married Canadian self-employment visa applicants must have their marriage certificate included in their visa application file.
• Criminal record: The applicant must have proof of residence permit for each country and territory in which he/she has resided for more than 6 months.
• Photocopy of identity card: The applicant must have a photocopy of his/her identity card containing his/her local identity number.
• Canadian visa photo: 2 biometric, up-to-date, white-background Canadian visa photos. The photos should be 35×45 mm in size and adjusted so that the face is in the middle of the photo.
• Canada freelance visa application fee payment receipt: The receipt showing that the Canada freelance visa application fee has been paid must be included in the file.
• For applicants applying as Quebec selected applicants: The Quebec selection certificate (CSQ) must be included in the Canadian self-employment visa application file.

The documents required for the Canadian self-employment visa application can be accessed in detail at https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/ircc/migration/ircc/english/pdf/kits/forms/imm5784e.pdf.

Canadian self-employment visa applicants must not make false statements or submit false documents at any stage of their application. If the Canadian Government discovers that the applicant has made a false statement, it may result in the person’s Canadian self-employment visa application being rejected and the person’s right to enter Canadian territory for many years to come.

How to Apply for a Canadian Self-Employment Visa?

Canada freelance visa application is made online. Individuals must apply for Canada freelance visa through the official website of the Canadian Government.

The Government of Canada first applies an eligibility test for those who will apply for a Canadian self-employment visa through the official website canada.ca.

After the Canadian freelance visa applicants complete the eligibility test on the Canadian official website, if the Canadian Government decides that the applicant is eligible, an application approval email is sent to the applicant’s e-mail address. The application approval sent by the Canadian Government includes the forms to be filled out and the documents to be submitted regarding the Canadian freelance visa.

Canadian self-employment visa applicants must first complete the Canadian self-employment visa application form online at https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/ircc/migration/ircc/english/pdf/kits/forms/imm0008enu_2d.pdf. The Canadian visa application form must be filled out completely and accurately and must be consistent with any additional Canadian visa documents that the person will submit.

Canadian self-employment visa applicants must gather the documents requested by the Canadian Government in the application package sent to them after completing the application form.

After gathering the necessary documents for the Canadian freelance visa, individuals must ensure that all documents are uploaded to the online application system. Canadian freelance visa applicants must have paid the Canadian freelance visa application fee and include the visa application fee payment receipt among the documents they submit.

Canadian visa and immigration authorities may request additional documents from Canadian self-employment visa applicants who are found to have any deficiencies or errors in their application documents. Canadian visa officers have the authority to request new documents from Canadian immigration applicants if they deem it necessary.

After submitting their Canadian self-employment visa application documents through the online system, applicants between the ages of 14-79 must go to the Canadian visa application centre in their country of residence and submit their biometric data.

What Should Be Done If Your Canadian Self-Employment Visa Application Is Approved?

Once a Canadian self-employed visa application is approved, individuals are eligible to immigrate to Canada. Canadian self-employed visa holders are greeted by Canadian Border Services (CBSA) officers when they travel to Canada.

Self-employed visa holders entering Canada must carry a valid Canadian permanent resident visa, Canadian confirmation of permanent residence (COPR), and proof of sufficient funds to support themselves and their family members in Canada.

People who enter Canada through the Canadian self-employed immigration program are subject to an interview by border officials. Canadian border officials ask people questions to assess whether they can enter the country under a Canadian self-employed visa. Canadian border officials have the authority to allow a Canadian self-employed visa holder to enter Canadian territory. If a person gives incomplete or incorrect answers to the questions asked by border officials, officials will not allow the Canadian self-employed visa holder to enter the country.