Canada's Self-Employed Persons Program is "no longer fit for purpose" within the country's economic immigration system, according to an evaluation by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The report says the program continues to offer a needed pathway to permanent residence for exceptional artists and athletes, but its current design has resulted in high refusal rates, lengthy processing times and a large application backlog. IRCC has accepted the recommendation to review the program and develop new policy options to attract top global talent.
The evaluation covered the program between 2014 and 2024 and assessed its relevance, performance and future direction. During this period, the Self-Employed Persons Program accounted for less than one percent of all economic immigration admissions to Canada, admitting 7,785 permanent residents, including 2,954 principal applicants, 2,151 spouses or partners and 2,680 dependants.
