5 stars
25 Combined Years of Canadian Business Immigration Experience | phone +1 416 895 3026 | (24/7 Toll-Free) phone +1 888 505-3026

What are the Pros of the Self-Employed Program in Canada?

Talk to a Lawyer

Canada’s Self-Employed Program is designed to streamline the immigration process for certain motivated individuals who can make unique contributions to the Canadian economy and have relevant experience in farm management, athletics, or cultural activities. Applicants to this program must also possess the ability and intention to create a business after entering Canada that will at least create employment for themselves, while ideally creating additional jobs and benefits to Canada.

Benefits of Canada’s Self-Employed Program

The Self-Employed Program provides an immigration route for foreign individuals who want to immigrate to Canada and work for themselves. This program is open to foreign individuals seeking to immigrate to any province or territory in Canada, except for Quebec, which administers its own Quebec Self-Employed Program.

The benefits of this program help separate it from many of Canada’s other immigration routes.

Indeed, applicants under this program are not required to invest their own funds into a company or the government, and they are not required to obtain any funding from a private organization or governmental entity.

The program also offers several benefits that separate it from Canada’s Entrepreneur Visa Program.

Unlike the Entrepreneur Visa Program, the Self-Employed Program does not have any net-worth requirement, although it does require you to have sufficient funds for immigration purposes such as supporting any dependents that you intend to bring into Canada with you. Without this net-worth requirement, you will be free to set up your own business without the added pressures of maintaining a certain profit margin or profit-maximizing mindset that may conflict with your goals. You will be free to set up your business or enterprise on your own terms while still contributing to the Canadian economy.

Meanwhile, the program may also be more attractive than the Federal Skilled Worker Program.

Unlike the Federal Skilled Worker Program, you will only need two years of experience in your chosen field to enter Canada as a self-employed individual intending to operate within that area of culture or athletics. While you still need to be qualified in this chosen field, you will have much more flexibility in terms of entrepreneurship.

Aside from being an optimal solution for non-residents looking to move to Canada and open their own business or otherwise be self-employed, this program can also streamline the immigration process for those who are eligible. Under the Self-Employed Program, you will not need a job offer to apply for entry. Further, you will not be required to actually start a business before you enter Canada, and there will be no conditions on your status as are placed by many other immigration programs in Canada.

Finally, after your application is approved for Canada’s Self-Employed Program, you will then be granted permanent residency in Canada. Other immigration programs, such as the Provincial Nominee Program, require you to apply and be accepted under the program before, then also applying for permanent residency. Other programs may also require you to apply, be approved, and enter Canada on a temporary visa before, then applying for permanent residency later.

Contact Sobirovs Law Firm

As you navigate the Self-Employed Program opportunities in Canada, it’s important to consult with a business immigration firm like Sobirovs Law Firm to make sure your goals, dreams and plans can be accomplished. Contact us today and complete our business immigration assessment form.

Bringing You, Your Talent &
Your Business To Canada

Get started and make your first step towards Canada. Book your 1-hour strategy meeting with a licensed Canadian immigration lawyer.

Immigration to Canada can be very complicated for businesses, business owners, and foreign employees. Hiring business immigration lawyers with the skill, experience, and patience is often crucial to successfully navigating this complex process. The experienced professionals at Sobirovs Law Firm offer tailored legal services in all business and corporate immigration matters. Contact us for more information on how we can help you meet your immigration needs.

We have worked with & represented clients from all walks of life. Always just one call – or click – away, weʼre happy to help you begin your & your familyʼs journey to Canada.

Talk to a Lawyer

Our Clients Say…

Our Lastest Insights

We publish helpful tips about Canadian immigration programs and are happy to share our knowledge with you.
How One Entrepreneur Extend His C11 Work Permit July 17, 2025

Success Story: C11 Work Permit Extension Approved Despite Language Barriers

How a Vietnamese Entrepreneur Successfully Extended His C11 Work Permit After IRCC's Enhanced Language Requirements Meet "Van Minh" (not his real name) — a Vietnamese...
Judge's gavel beside Canadian legal book symbolizing court decision July 16, 2025

When Language Tests Fall Short: Federal Court Clarifies Substituted Evaluation Standards for Start-up Visa Applications

The Federal Court’s decision in Helmzadeh v. Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, 2025 FC 1023, provides critical guidance for entrepreneurs applying for Canada’s Start-up Visa...
Stressed entrepreneur reviewing Start-up Visa refusal notice July 9, 2025

Strategic Backup: Using Substitute Evaluation to Protect Your Start-up Visa Application

The Start-up Visa (SUV) program offers an exciting pathway for foreign entrepreneurs to bring their innovative business ideas to Canada. However, one of its most...
July 7, 2025

Canadian Court Orders Government to Process Delayed Start-Up Visa: What Entrepreneurs Need to Know 

A landmark Federal Court ruling could signal hope for entrepreneurs facing endless delays in Canada's Start-Up Visa program  If you're an entrepreneur caught in Canada's...
Justice scale symbolizing the balance between transparency and strategic documentation in immigration approval. June 18, 2025

A Win Against the Odds: C11 Approval After IRCC’s Policy Overhaul 

How an Entrepreneur from India Overcame the Odds to Secure Her C11 Work Permit in Canada  Ashu (not her real name), an entrepreneur from India,...
C11 work permit checklist showing key legal criteria being reviewed by a business applicant June 18, 2025

New Federal Court Case Sets a Stricter Standard for C11 Work Permit Renewals

In 2025 FC 1014, the Federal Court upheld the refusal of a C11 work permit extension, reaffirming the rigorous evidentiary burden placed on self-employed foreign...

Sign Up To Be

The First in Canadian Business Immigration News

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.