This program targets foreign nationals who have experience in cultural and athletic activities. This experience shall either be working as self-employed or participating in those fields at a world class level. Qualified foreign nationals shall also show their ability and intention to be self-employed in Canada. This is done by a well-thought business plan detailing the proposed Canadian business. This program is a direct pathway to Canadian permanent residency and does not require the applicant to first obtain a work-permit nor it requires the applicant to undertake a business performance agreement.
Language proficiency is not a requirement but extra points will be awarded for having an official language score.
Legal Ground | Section 88(1) of IRPR |
Eligibility | – Obtain at least 35 points in the program’s point system – Have at least two years of relevant experience as follows:
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Requirements | – Proving the intention and ability to be self-employed in Canada through a well-thought Business Plan |
Performance Obligations | None |
Financial/Investment Requirement | – No prescribed minimum amount (But a person’s financial assets is a measure of intent and ability to be established economically in Canada, and specific amount depends on the nature of the business) – Applicants must have sufficient funds to create an employment opportunity for themselves and maintain themselves and their family members (in general no less than $50,000) |
Required Supporting Documents | – Proof of having been self-employed in country of residence (company, contracts, etc.) – Proof of sufficient funds to operate the business in accordance with the Business Plan – Applicant’s personal documents (i.e. resume, education, financial ability and etc.) – Proof of relevant experience in cultural and/or athletic fields |
Processing Time | 21 months |
Permanent Residency Prospect | Direct |
To qualify for this program, the applicant needs to get a minimum of 35 points out of 100. Points are given as follows:
EDUCATION | MAX 25 |
Master’s Degree or PhD & at least 17 years of full-time study. | 25 |
Two or more university degrees at the bachelor’s level & 15 years of full-time study OR three-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship & 15 years of full-time study. | 22 |
University degree of 2 years or more at the bachelor level & 14 years of full-time study OR two-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship & 14 years of full-time study. | 20 |
One-year university degree at the bachelor level & 13 years of full-time study OR one-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship & 13 years of full-time study. | 15 |
one-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship & 12 years of full-time study. | 12 |
High School Diploma | 5 |
EXPERIENCE (in cultural and athletics activities) | MAX 35 |
Two years | 20 |
Three years | 25 |
Four years | 30 |
Five years | 35 |
AGE | MAX 10 |
Age < 16 or Age > 54 | 0 |
17 or 53 | 2 |
18 or 52 | 4 |
19 or 51 | 6 |
20 or 50 | 8 |
21-40 | 10 |
LANGUAGE ABILITY | MAX 24 |
ADAPTABILITY | MAX 6 |
Spouse or common-law partner’s education | 3-5 |
One year of full-time Canadian work experience (applicant or spouse or common-law partner) | 5 |
Two years of full-time study at a Canadian post-secondayr institution | 5 |
Relatives in Canada who is a PR or citizen (parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, child of parent, sibling, child of grandparent, aunt or uncle, niece or nephew) | 5 |
Some examples are:
Some examples are:
“World-class participation” language is used in this program to identify persons who are known internationally. It also identifies persons who may not be know internationally but perform at the highest levels in their discipline.
Very important. Because it is a measure of your intent and ability to be established economically in Canada. Although there is no minimum investment level for a self-employed person, he or she must have sufficient funds to create an employment opportunity for themselves and maintain themselves and their family members. Basically you have to show that you have enough financial resources to execute you business plan.
You need to provide documents that show you earned a living through your talents. For example your contracts, invoices, account books, articles of association, self-employed pension and etc.
If you have gained your experience largely as an employee, you may still qualify. As per the federal court decision in Guryeva v. Canada, the fact that artists and writers were considered “employees” was not determinative.
Your proposed Canadian business have to be exactly in line with your experience in either cultural or athletics fields. You cannot propose a business that does not match your experiences.
No, but its viability is a deciding factor. Your proposed business shall be viable meaning it is capable of working out successfully.
It often starts with a Complimentary Business Immigration Assessment that we will conduct for you free of charge. In this process we will evaluate the information you provide to formulate tailored strategies for your needs and expectations. We then will schedule a Complimentary Consultation Session wherein we share the results of the assessment with you and will determine if we are the right fit for each other. If we mutually reach a decision to form a professional relationship, we will send you a retainer agreement and when you accept and sign, we will begin working for you.
Depending on how you use this term, it can mean either of the two following things:
There are many different business immigration programs and they are often complicated to navigate, and determine whether they are a good match for your needs. We fill that gap by providing you with an assessment that will analyse your situation against many different business immigration programs to identify the one(s) that best suit your needs and expectations.
The results of this assessment, among other things, will be discussed with you during a scheduled Complimentary Consultation Session.
Please note that for our Business Immigration section, no Complimentary Consultation Session is scheduled unless you complete the Business Immigration Assessment Questionnaires.
Our Complimentary Consultation Session is a half-hour meeting (in-person or remote) with one of our lawyers to discuss the results of your Business Immigration Assessment, your needs and expectations, and to decide whether we are a good fit for each other. The purpose of this meeting is to ensure that we can actually help you achieve your goals and it is not to address all of your concerns and questions.
There is no obligation on you and no obligation on us to continue our relationship and the complimentary consultation session will not, on its own, form a lawyer-client relationship between you and our firm.
For all Business Immigration services we will charge you a Flat Fee. In this arrangement we will charge you a single fixed fee for services that we specify in your Retainer Agreement. The fixed (flat) fee is divided into different installments that will be due once certain milestones are met.
There are many reasons. You can read about some of them here or here. Also SILAW Professional Corporation is a licensed corporation by the Law Society of Ontario and as such it is held to its professional and ethical rules of conduct. You can read about these rules here.
But the BEST way to answer this question is to see us in action. For better insights to judge our value, consult as many professionals as you can, then Contact Us and decide for yourself.
Based on the rules of our governing body (the Law Society of Ontario) we cannot use contingency billing or guarantee results in an immigration matter. But we can, and we do guarantee that we will provide the best possible client service and legal representation.
We will always honestly assess your case (both good and bad) and set realistic expectations during your consultation. We’ll discuss our goals and objectives but no duly licensed attorney can ever guarantee how a case will conclude.
As an alternative to looking for guaranteed results we recommend you look for an attorney who most likely will succeed. Because in immigration matters your life and future is at stake, and getting a refund is little consolation. Mistakes and omissions in this area of law will gravely jeopardize your future chances. Therefore it is very important you choose your representation carefully.