The Self-Employed Persons Program is a federal permanent residence pathway that allows foreign nationals with relevant experience in cultural activities or athletics to immigrate to Canada based on their ability to become self-employed and make a significant contribution to the country's cultural or athletic life. It targets individuals with at least two years of relevant experience -- either through self-employment in cultural activities or athletics, or through participation at the world-class level.
This program is currently paused and is not accepting new applications. IRCC suspended intake on April 30, 2024 to address a backlog of over 43,200 cases, and on December 19, 2025 extended the pause "until further notice" -- an open-ended, indefinite suspension that replaces the earlier "through the end of 2026" framing. The program's official page now lists its status as "Paused" with a published processing time of more than 10 years for applications already in the inventory. Only existing files submitted before the April 2024 pause continue to be processed. IRCC has said it will transition to a new, targeted pilot program for immigrant entrepreneurs, with details to be communicated in 2026; as of mid-2026 that pilot has not launched.
The program covers a focused range of occupations in Canada's cultural and athletic sectors:
The program does not cover general freelancers, tech workers, or professionals outside cultural and athletic fields.
Applicants must score at least 35 points out of 100 on a selection grid assessing:
Meeting the pass mark does not guarantee approval -- the visa officer retains discretion to assess whether the applicant can become economically established and make a significant contribution.
There is no regulated minimum net worth or income requirement. Applicants must demonstrate sufficient settlement funds to support themselves and any dependants for at least one year and to finance their self-employment activity. Acceptable evidence includes bank statements, property valuations, and business financial statements.
Applications are submitted online through the IRCC Permanent Residence portal. Required forms include IMM 0008, IMM 5669, IMM 5406, IMM 5562, IMM 5784, and Schedule 6A. After submission, IRCC performs a completeness check, then a visa officer assesses the application against the selection criteria and may request an interview. Medical examinations are conducted by IRCC-approved Panel Physicians. Upon approval, the applicant receives a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) document.
Note: while the program is paused, new applications are not being accepted -- only the pre-pause backlog is being processed.
Current (fee increase effective April 30, 2026 now in force):
Before April 30, 2026:
Spouse or common-law partner and dependent children may be included. Each must undergo a medical examination and provide police certificates (for those aged 18+). Family members receive permanent resident status simultaneously with the principal applicant. There is no separate language test or selection criteria assessment for dependants.
Permanent residents may apply for Canadian citizenship after accumulating 1,095 days (3 years) of physical presence in Canada within the 5 years preceding the citizenship application.