Self-Employed Immigration Paths
Being self-employed as a business owner or freelancer is very popular for many individuals. Many choose this route to avoid working for corporate companies and managing their own salary.
Although there is not a specific visa for self-employed individuals who wish to immigrate to Canada, there are programs available.
Self-employed international, professional athletes, or individuals in the arts and culture industry who can prove that they have the potential to be gainfully self-employed in Canada are eligible for a business immigration visa, provided they meet the selection criteria for the Federal Self-Employed Persons Program.
Federal Self-Employed
To immigrate to Canada through Federal Self Employment, you need to be an athlete on either international or national level or an artist who earns livings on artistic activities.
Immigration to Canada through self employment is for the candidates who demonstrate their self employment (that means they have earned livings on artistic, athletic, or agricultural fields for 2 years of past 5 years).
After immigration, they are able to participate in self-employment programs as they intend and can afford to do that, they are enough experienced, and proficient at English or French, so that not only they could help with development of art, sport, or agriculture in Canada, but also earn a living on such activities. To apply for this program, it must be noted that only real artists, farmers, or athletes can convince the immigration officer to be able to start a business in Canada.
Who is a self-employed artist?
An artist, according to immigration law, is considered someone who had had at least one of the following criteria for the 5 past years before the application was submitted:
Two years self-employment in cultural-artistic fields
Two years international cultural-artistic activities
One year self-employment in cultural-artistic fields, in addition to one year cultural-artistic activities on national or international levels
In addition to above-mentioned criteria, the candidates need to demonstrate that they intend to start a business as a self-employment activity.
The significant point is that what types of activities are considered cultural-artistic?
note that:
it is not enough for your job to fall in any of the following categories. In order to immigrate to Canada, you need to be either self employed or active on national/international levels.
For instance if you are a restore specialist or a painter who works for a private or public company, you are not considered self employed. However, if you restore monuments or antiquities, or do some paintings as a contractor through official contracts with private/ public companies, so as to earn your living through the contract, you are self employed.
Cultural- artistic activities are categorized as follows. All the categories are defined specifically and a number is allocated to every one of them in Canadian labor law. We need to personally interview with you for the compliance of the criteria with the legal definition.
Professional Occupations in Art and Culture with NOCs
NOC | Professional Occupations in Art and Culture |
| 5111 | Librarians |
| 5112 | Conservators and Curators |
| 5113 | Archivists |
| 5121 | Authors and Writers |
| 5122 | Editors |
| 5123 | Journalists |
| 5124 | Professional Occupations in Public Relations and Communications |
| 5125 | Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters |
| 5131 | Producers, Directors, Choreographers and Related Occupations |
| 5132 | Conductors, Composers, and Arrangers |
| 5133 | Musicians and Singers |
| 5134 | Dancers |
| 5135 | Actors and Comedians |
| 5136 | Painters, Sculptors, and Other Visual Artists |
| NOC | Technical and Skilled Occupations in Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport |
| 5211 | Library and Archive Technicians and Assistants |
| 5212 | Technical Occupations Related to Museums and Art Galleries |
| 5221 | Photographers |
| 5222 | Film and Video Camera Operators |
| 5223 | Graphic Arts Technicians |
| 5224 | Broadcast Technicians |
| 5225 | Audio and Video Recording Technicians |
| 5226 | Other Technical and Co-ordinating Occupations in Motion Pictures, Broadcasting and the Performing Arts |
| 5227 | Support Occupations in Motion Pictures, Broadcasting and the Performing Arts |
| 5231 | Announcers and Other Broadcasters |
| 5232 | Other Performers |
| 5241 | Graphic Designers and Illustrators |
| 5242 | Interior Designers |
| 5243 | Theatre, Fashion, Exhibit and Other Creative Designers |
| 5244 | Artisans and Craftspersons |
| 5245 | Patternmakers – Textile, Leather and Fur Products |
| 5251 | Athletes |
| 5252 | Coaches |
| 5253 | Sports Officials and Referees |
| 5254 | Program Leaders and Instructors in Recreation, Sport, and Fitness |
How to Apply for Self-Employed Persons Program
Step 1: Gather the application package
The application package is available to those who wish to immigrate to Canada as a self-employed person that includes a guide and document checklist to make sure you are completed prepared. In most cases, you now need to give your fingerprints and biometrics after you apply.
Step 2: Pay your application fees
The following fees that need to be paid before submitting your application:
- Processing Fee
- Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF)
- Biometrics Fee
- Third Part Fees (medical exams. police certificates, and language testing)
Step 3: Submit your application
You know your application is ready to be submitted when you have successfully answered all questions, signed all application forms, paid processing fees, and included all required supporting documents.
The first step towards moving to Canada is to get an assessment of your specific situation. Call us today at 1+613.222.7154 for an assessment to see if you are eligible to move to Canada, or fill out our online assessment form.
Thanks for the info that a business immigration visa is available to self-employed foreign nationals, professional athletes, and others working in the arts and culture sector who can demonstrate the ability to be gainfully self-employed. I will share this article with my best friend who lives in Germany and wants to migrate here to the US for better job opportunities. Maybe, I’ll even advise her to get an Employment Immigration attorney to make sure the process is guided by legal aid and someone who knows the ins and outs of the system.