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Self-Employed Persons Program (Federal)
Licensed RCIC guidance on the federal Self-Employed Persons Program and its paused status in 2026.
This page explains the current status of the federal Self-Employed Persons Program. It is information only and does not present the program as an active application pathway.
Current status: The federal Self-Employed Persons Program is paused. IRCC stopped accepting new applications on April 30, 2024. It is for cultural or athletic self-employed applicants, and it is not an active replacement for the Start-Up Visa.
Looking at business or self-employment immigration? Book a paid consultation to review active options. Not sure where you stand? Start with the free assessment.
Book a ConsultationStart Your Free Assessment1. Current status
The federal Self-Employed Persons Program is paused. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada stopped accepting new applications on April 30, 2024, and the pause has continued. Only previously submitted applications are being processed. It should not be treated as an active route, and it is not a replacement for the Start-Up Visa.
| Current status | Paused |
|---|---|
| New applications | Stopped April 30, 2024 |
| Who it is for | Cultural or athletic self-employed applicants |
| Not for | General entrepreneurs or investors |
| Replacement for Start-Up Visa? | No |
2. Who the program was for
The Self-Employed Persons Program is for people with relevant experience in cultural activities or athletics who intend to be self-employed in Canada and contribute to Canadian cultural or athletic life. It is not a general entrepreneur or investor program.
3. What to do now
If you are a general entrepreneur or investor, this program would not apply even when open. The active routes to assess are the provincial entrepreneur streams, which vary by province, and for some founders the federal skilled worker routes. We can identify what is currently available for your profile.
4. How MAK helps
MAK works with licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants and a CPA. We give an honest assessment of active options and do not direct you toward a paused program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Self-Employed Persons Program open?
No. It is paused; IRCC stopped accepting new applications on April 30, 2024.
Is it a replacement for the Start-Up Visa?
No. It is a separate, paused program for cultural or athletic self-employed applicants.
Who was it for?
People with experience in cultural activities or athletics who intend to be self-employed in Canada, not general entrepreneurs.
What can I do instead?
Assess currently active provincial entrepreneur streams or skilled worker routes with a licensed RCIC.
