In a significant policy shift, the Canadian government has recently unveiled new immigration implications for self-employed individuals looking to relocate to the country. The changes, aimed at fostering economic growth and supporting entrepreneurship, will have a profound impact on those seeking permanent residency through the self-employed immigration pathway.
IRCC accepts various forms of evidence for self-employed like articles of incorporation, documentation from third parties, and evidence of self-employed income and payment details.
Here are the key implications of the new policy:
- Enhanced Eligibility Criteria: Tightened criteria for self-employed applicants to attract exceptional skills and experienced candidates in a specific field.
- Targeted Industries: The Canadian immigration authorities will now focus on specific industries or sectors like arts, sports, and cultures where self-employed immigrants can make a substantial contribution.
- Language Proficiency: Language proficiency requirements in English or French have been heightened to ensure that self-employed immigrants can effectively integrate into Canadian society.
- Proven Experience: Applicants will be required to showcase a proven track record of their self-employment activities, illustrating their achievements and successes in their respective fields.
- Adaptability Factors: Additional weightage will be given to adaptability factors, such as prior Canadian experience, family connections, or a job offer from a Canadian employer
- Financial Requirements: Self-employed immigrants will need to provide evidence of sufficient funds to support themselves and their families during the initial settlement period in Canada.
- Limited Application Intake: The government will limit the number of applications accepted annually for the self-employed immigration category.