Self-Employed programme update
Check the current federal Self-Employed Persons Programme position before making plans around a new application.
Separate programme information from an available intake.
IRCC identifies this federal programme’s intake as paused. It concerns relevant cultural or athletic experience and should not be described as an Express Entry selection stream.
If you have an existing file, explain the application history and the issue you want to discuss. A different business or immigration plan needs a separate assessment.
Verify the current programme before planning around it.
Professional or self-employed experience may be relevant to a broader immigration discussion, but it does not establish an available federal intake. We begin with current official instructions and any existing application. Other possible routes, if appropriate, need their own assessment rather than being described as interchangeable.
How VSA can assist
VSA can assess the immigration questions raised by your business goals and explain the evidence to discuss. Commercial transactions, tax planning and regulated legal work may need independent advisers. We identify the professional scope before further work is accepted and do not promise an immigration outcome in exchange for an investment.
What to discuss in your consultation
- Whether there is an existing application or only a future plan.
- The relevant history and latest official correspondence.
- Which current options require an individual assessment.
Prepare for a useful conversation
Prepare a short outline of any existing application and your questions about the next steps.
A preparation checklist
- Professional and self-employment history
- Existing application details and correspondence
- The proposed Canadian activity
- Any deadlines or commitments connected with earlier advice
This is a discussion checklist, not an application checklist. The records required depend on the route and your circumstances.
Start with a short enquiry. The office will explain consultation arrangements, fees and the appropriate document-sharing process before you send private records.
What the next steps can look like
Clarify the goal
We discuss your circumstances, immigration history and any immediate timing issue.
Review the available evidence
We identify the records and questions needed for a useful assessment.
Agree on the work
Any retained services, professional fees and responsibilities are confirmed in writing.
Prepare and keep the record current
Agreed work follows the relevant process; changes in circumstances must be reported promptly.
Before you decide.
Does self-employment create automatic eligibility?
No. Current programme availability and the applicable requirements need to be checked. Business activity by itself is not an immigration approval.
How do I find the latest official requirements?
Use the government links below. Check the current programme page and its notices before relying on a summary, a past invitation round or another person’s experience.
What does the consultation cost?
Contact the office to confirm the fee, duration and format before booking. Further representation is a separate decision with a written scope and fee agreement.
Government guidance & latest updates
Open the official website for current instructions, forms and notices. These external sources may change after this guide is reviewed. Government decisions and programme availability are outside VSA’s control.
IRCC: Self-Employed Persons Programme ↗www.canada.ca · Opens the official external websiteIRCC notices: current programme changes ↗www.canada.ca · Opens the official external websiteGuide reviewed 12 November 2026. General information only. Eligibility, availability and requirements must be checked against current official instructions and your circumstances. Linked government websites do not endorse VSA.
Visit the official-updates hub