Self-Employed Persons Program

Program status: paused indefinitely. IRCC fully paused new intake for the Self-Employed Persons Program starting April 30, 2024, and extended that pause indefinitely in December 2025 while it clears inventory and reviews whether the program continues in its current form.

About the Self-Employed Persons Program

This permanent residence program was designed for people with relevant experience in cultural activities or athletics who intend to be self-employed in Canada and can contribute to Canada’s cultural or athletic life. It’s distinct from the Start-up Visa, which targets tech/business entrepreneurs — the Self-Employed Persons Program has always focused specifically on artists, cultural workers, and athletes.

Who It Was For

• Self-employed farmers
• Musicians, visual artists, performers, and other cultural professionals
• Athletes and coaches intending to be self-employed in Canada

What This Means for You

With new intake paused, applicants in these fields currently need to look at other pathways — including provincial entrepreneur or talent streams, or federal economic programs through Express Entry if your background and occupation qualify. We can assess whether a provincial pathway is a realistic near-term substitute while this program’s future is decided.

How We Help

We monitor IRCC’s announcements on this program and can advise on realistic alternatives for cultural and athletic professionals in the meantime.