Is the Self-Employed Persons Program open?
No. Canada stopped accepting new applications to the Self-Employed Persons Program on April 30, 2024. On December 19, 2025, IRCC extended that pause until further notice. There is no reopening date.
The program was built for artists, athletes and cultural professionals who planned to be self-employed in Canada. If that describes you, here are the facts that matter right now.
At a glance
Bottom line
Don’t build your plans around this program reopening. If a new pathway for self-employed talent appears, treat it as a bonus, and look at the routes that are open today.
What has IRCC said about the program’s future?
The pause started as a backlog measure. Since then, IRCC has signalled that the program may not come back in its old form.
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Step 01
April 30, 2024: intake paused
IRCC stopped accepting new applications through Ministerial Instructions to work down a backlog of more than 11,000 files.
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Step 02
December 19, 2025: pause extended
IRCC extended the pause "until further notice." No end date was given.
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Step 03
January 2026: evaluation completed
IRCC’s evaluation found the program "no longer fit for purpose" as an economic immigration program.
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Step 04
July 2026: IRCC responds
IRCC agreed to review the program’s goals, design and delivery, and to look at pathways for top global talent.
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Step 05
Late 2026: options due
IRCC aims to finish policy options by October–December 2026. Options are not a promise of a new program.
What this means for you
IRCC says it still sees a need for a pathway for top global talent, but a redesigned program, if one comes, may target different people and use different rules. Nothing has been announced, so no one can tell you today whether you would qualify.
What if you already applied to the Self-Employed Persons Program?
Your answer depends on when you applied.
Applied before April 30, 2024
What happens
IRCC keeps processing these files under the existing rules.
What to do
Keep your contact details current and answer any IRCC request quickly and completely.
Applied after July 2022
What to expect
IRCC estimates a wait of more than 10 years for these files.
What to do
Check whether a faster route fits you now. A separate application can often run alongside your SEP file.
Trying to apply now
What happens
IRCC is not accepting new applications until further notice.
What to do
Don’t pay anyone to "prepare" or "submit" a new SEP application.
Hoping to work while you wait
What happens
The program has no work permit of its own. A pending SEP file does not let you work in Canada.
What to do
Any work permit must be earned through its own program, such as a C11 permit.
How did IRCC assess self-employed applicants?
This matters mainly if your file is already in the queue. IRCC assesses it under the rules below.
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Relevant experience
At least two one-year periods of self-employment, or of world-class participation, in cultural activities or athletics. It must fall between five years before you applied and the day IRCC decides.
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Intention and ability
You must intend, and be able, to be self-employed in Canada and make a significant contribution to its cultural or athletic life.
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Selection points
You need at least 35 out of 100 points. There is no minimum education or language score.
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Funds and admissibility
You must show you can support yourself and your family, and pass medical, security and background checks.
Selection points
| Factor | Maximum points |
|---|---|
| Experience | 35 |
| Education | 25 |
| English and/or French | 24 |
| Age | 10 |
| Adaptability | 6 |
| Pass mark | 35 of 100 |
Source: IRCC, Evaluation of the Self-Employed Persons Program (2026).
Farm management
The regulations also cover farm managers, but IRCC’s evaluation notes this group has been suspended since 2018.
What mistakes should self-employed applicants avoid right now?
These are the errors we see most often from artists and athletes waiting on this program.
Planning around a reopening date
Why it hurts
There is no date, and IRCC may redesign the program rather than reopen it.
What works instead
Plan on routes that are open today and treat any new pathway as a bonus.
Letting your experience go stale
Why it hurts
Only experience in the five years before an application counts. Gaps can cost you eligibility later.
What works instead
Keep working in your field and keep records: contracts, invoices, reviews, awards and tax filings.
Trusting outdated guides
Why it hurts
Many pages still say the program reopens in 2026 or 2027, or quote 1–2 year processing. Neither is true.
What works instead
Check IRCC’s notices or speak with a licensed lawyer before you spend money.
What are your options while the Self-Employed Persons Program is paused?
No single program replaces it. The right route depends on whether you will run a business, work for an employer, or build points over time. Start with our guides to the C11 work permit, Express Entry and provincial nominee programs.
Open routes compared
| Route | Who it can fit | Leads to PR? |
|---|---|---|
| C11 work permit | You will own at least 51% of a real Canadian business, such as a studio, production company or sports academy, that brings a significant benefit to Canada. | Not directly. Permits last up to 18 months; PR needs a separate program. |
| Express Entry | You have at least one year of skilled work experience (TEER 0–3), strong English or French test results and recognized education. | Yes. It is a permanent residence system. |
| Provincial nominee programs | You have a job offer, ties to a province, or plan to buy or start a business there. | Yes, after a provincial nomination. |
| Short-term exemptions | You are performing or competing in Canada for a limited engagement. | No. These are temporary only. |
Each route has its own rules. Eligibility depends on your full profile.
Key point for artists and athletes
A C11 permit is for business owners, not freelancers. If your work is mostly gigs, commissions or competitions, Express Entry or a provincial program is often the more realistic long-term route.
Self-Employed Persons Program: frequently asked questions
No. IRCC stopped accepting new applications on April 30, 2024, and on December 19, 2025 extended the pause until further notice.
IRCC has not set a date. Its 2026 evaluation found the program “no longer fit for purpose” in its current form, and IRCC is developing options for late 2026. That may lead to a redesigned pathway rather than a reopening.
Yes. IRCC continues to process applications received before the pause under the existing rules. Wait times are long: IRCC estimates more than 10 years for files submitted after July 2022.
Not through this program. It has no work permit of its own. You would need to qualify separately, for example for a C11 permit if you will own and run a Canadian business.
At least two years of relevant self-employment or world-class experience in cultural activities or athletics within the past five years, the intention and ability to be self-employed in Canada, and at least 35 out of 100 selection points.
In many cases, yes. A separate application, such as Express Entry, can often run alongside your file. Get advice first so your applications stay consistent.
No minimum applied, but education and English or French ability earned points toward the 35-point pass mark.
Final thoughts
The Self-Employed Persons Program has been closed to new applicants since April 2024, and IRCC has made clear it may not return in its old form. If your file is in the queue, keep it current. If you haven’t applied, don’t wait for a reopening that may never come.
Talented artists, athletes and cultural professionals still have routes to Canada. The key is matching your real work history to a program that is open today.
Related guides: C11 Work Permit · Express Entry · Provincial Nominee Programs · Entrepreneur Work Permits
