In recent years, the lack of labor force in Canada has increased the job capacities of this country for immigrants. As a result, the Canadian government started offering the Freelance Visa in 2022. This document is also known as self-employment visa and is issued to people who want to create business in various fields. The Canadian freelance visa allows you to work in other fields, such as startups, art or sports, in addition to freelance activities. To learn more about this type of visa, be with the advisors.
Types of Canadian freelance visas
Many people believe that using Self Employed programs in Canada is a profitable opportunity for savvy business people who do not want to invest any amount of their personal capital in government businesses. Programs that you can use in this regard include:
Federal Self Employed Program
The Federal Self-Employed Program is designed using a points-based grading system to assess applicant eligibility. The program requires applicants to have two years of relevant work experience in their field and to demonstrate that they can be gainfully employed in any Canadian city (except Quebec).
Quebec Self Employed Program
It can be said that Quebec’s self-employment program is almost similar to the federal program. This means that applicants are required to demonstrate their ability to be successful self-employed in their industry. The program also requires a minimum net worth of $100,000 and, like all of the province’s immigration programs, only approves residency in Quebec.
Provincial candidate programs for self-employed workers
If the Canadian freelance visa applicant wants to settle in a certain province, he can apply under the Provincial Nominee Programs for Self Employed Workers stream. Each province and territory has its own set of eligibility requirements and selection criteria. Of course, there are often many overlapping eligibility requirements that can be found in other business immigration streams (such as years of experience and proof of financial means).
Eligibility for Canada Freelancer Visa
Self-employment visa is one of the most popular visas, but there are certain conditions in this path as well. To get this visa, you must have the necessary skills and job independence. At the same time, have a specific motivation and plan for your future career. Getting to know the process of freelancing in Canada will also help you to get more opportunities to accept this visa.
With these interpretations, to be eligible for work immigration to Canada and receive a freelance visa, you must consider the following:
| Having at least two years of freelance work experience | This must be proven in one of the eligible occupations such as graphic designers, web designers, writers, editors, journalists, photographers, programmers, etc. |
| Meet minimum English or French language requirements | For this purpose, you must take a language test and achieve at least level 7 in the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) in all four skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing). |
| Have enough funds to support yourself and the people coming to Canada with you | You must also provide proof that you have enough money to support yourself and your family for at least the next six months. |
| Checking the security background and passing the medical exam | |
Canadian Freelance Visa Benefits
Also remember this important point that to get a Canadian freelance visa, you need to obtain certain points. This score reaches at least 35 out of 100 and includes the following:
| The main component | The amount of points |
| age score | 10 |
| Education score | 25 |
| Work experience score | 35 |
| English or French language level score | 24 |
| Environmental compatibility score | 6 |
| Education level of spouse or partner | 3 to 5 |
| Previous work experience in Canada | 5 |
| Education in Canada | 5 |
| Having a relative in Canada | 5 |
To learn more about this scoring system, you can have a look at the following tables.
| age | The amount of points | education | The amount of points |
| under 16 years of age | 0 | High school diploma | 5 |
| 17 years old | 4 | 12-year education certificate or having a 1-year diploma | 12 |
| 18 years old | 2 | Business certificate or having a 1-year diploma | 15 |
| 19 years old | 6 | 1-year bachelor’s degree or equivalent | 15 |
| 20 years old | 8 | Business certificate or 2-year diploma | 20 |
| From 21 to 49 years old | 10 | Bachelor’s degree of 2 years or more | 20 |
| 50 years old | 8 | 3-year trade certificate or diploma | 22 |
| 51 years old | 6 | Providing two or more bachelor’s degrees | 22 |
| 52 years old | 4 | Providing a master’s degree or doctorate degree | 25 |
| 53 years old | 2 | ||
| 54 years old and above | 0 | ||
Also, before submitting the application, the applicant must provide documents that show that he has at least 5 years of relevant work experience.
For points related to the level of English or French, IELTS or CELPIP tests for English and TEF or TCF for French are considered as acceptable documents. Also, in the job score section compatible with the environment, various items are calculated and the maximum can be 6 points. Increasing the language score and better work experience can increase the points and make the applicant successful in this direction.
How to apply for a Canadian freelance visa
To get a Canada Freelance Visa, you first need to make sure you meet the eligibility criteria. Then collect your required documents and provide documentation of language test results, proof of funds and police certificate.
To begin the process, you will create an account on the Canadian government’s immigration website. You then complete your application and answer questions about your personal information, work experience, and background. The fee for this type of request is currently approximately $1,050 CAD and will be non-refundable. As a result, you have to plan the path ahead correctly.
Our suggestion is that instead of submitting your application online and waiting for a response, you should contact the consultants of Estehbanati Immigration Institute. We are with you in all stages so that you can easily start your own business in this country.
Required documents for Canadian freelance visa
The first document you need to prepare is the application form for initial residence and self-employment work permit. Each applicant must complete and sign two visa application forms by filling out each section of the EX-07 form. If a minor is with you, one parent must sign the application.
It is also important to present your passport and a photocopy of any valid passport or travel document pages. Besides this, don’t forget your activity permits. List of licenses must be issued for opening or operating the planned activity or professional activity you are considering.
Put the original and a copy of the documents confirming the legally required training and, if necessary, the qualifications for professional activity in the list of Canadian freelance visa documents. Foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and, if necessary, must be submitted with an official translation.
At the same time, you have to plan for the establishment or the activity that needs to be done. This is done by referring to the planned investment and the expected return. Also, consider the original and copy of the documents that confirm that the applicant has sufficient financial capacity to make the planned investment or the commitment of financial institutions or other institutions to provide support.
To pay the fees at the consulate office, the applicant must complete and sign all the fields of the form. The fee can also be paid online for Form 790-062. In this case, the payment certificate obtained from the same web page is attached.
The fee for form 790 code 052 must be paid at the consulate.
List of self-employed jobs in Canada
There are many jobs in Canada that can be used for self-employment and obtain the corresponding visa. Of course, this list is constantly changing, but the most important jobs that make it easy for you to immigrate to Canada are:
| the artist | freelance writer | photographer | yoga instructor |
| Graphic designer | hairdresser | Event planner | virtual assistant |
| Web developer | personal trainer | accountant | Real estate consultant |
| masseur | Financial advisor | Wedding planner | lawyer |
| Marketing consultant | Social media manager | Teacher or coach | sales representative |
| Cleaning service provider | Landscaper or gardener | Child care at home | the editor |
Important points of freelancing in Canada
While you have seen the basic eligibility requirements and application process for Canada Freelance Visa, it is necessary to pay attention to some important points. First, the Canadian government does not offer any assistance to immigrants to find freelance work. As a self-employed person, finding clients and projects is your responsibility. However, there are many online resources and platforms that can help you find leads.
Second, while a Canadian freelance visa allows you to legally work in Canada, it does not provide a path to Canadian citizenship. If you want to become a Canadian citizen, you must apply for permanent residence and meet the eligibility criteria for the same.
Finally, there is a possibility that the Canadian government will reject your application for various reasons. For example, if they believe that you are a security risk to the country or suspect that you are not being truthful in your application, your application may be rejected. However, if you meet the eligibility criteria and follow the application process carefully, you will definitely experience a high chance of success.
The cost of obtaining a Canadian self-employment visa
Applicants must pay the Canadian freelance visa fee online before submitting their application. This cost includes four parts, which will be as follows:
1. Biometric fee which includes fingerprints, digital photo and setting up an appointment in case of admission.
2. Costs related to the third party, which include medical evaluation, certificate of no bad history, language documents, etc.
3. Visa application review fee
4. Permanent Resident Fee (RPRF) which is about 500 Canadian dollars.
If the applicant withdraws from the visa after the evaluation process has begun, none of the fees spent on processing the application by himself or his companions will be refunded. But if you don’t want to enter Canada or you want to withdraw the application, you can get the permanent residence fee back.
Canada Freelance Visa Processing Time
If you follow all the mentioned steps to register the freelance visa application correctly, the final result will be sent to you via email. If the applicant has updated information such as address change, marriage, divorce, etc., he must edit all of them before reviewing the file. Of course, this edit will cause the file to be re-entered into the queuing system and its processing will be delayed.
If the officer notices problems such as lack of medical examinations, security conditions, and any other suspicious cases while reviewing the documents, he will postpone the case review process to clarify the duties of these cases. In general, the processing time for a self-employed visa in Canada will be between 22 and 24 months. Finally, remember that the more complete the documents are, the faster the visa process will be.
final word
Overall, Canada has many ways for a person to qualify as a self-employed person when immigrating. Immigrating to this country with a Canadian freelance visa is subject to the economic streams of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). These use the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system, which is designed to evaluate an individual’s work experience against program criteria. To qualify as a self-employed person, you must have at least 2 years of relevant experience and demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to move and live in Canada. Also, earn at least 35 points in a selected network.
If the use of these programs has many benefits for you, get in touch with Esthebanati consultants to obtain additional information.
Frequently asked questions
1- What is a Canadian freelancer visa?
You can start your own business in this country by using a self-employed visa.
2- Do we need a language certificate to immigrate to Canada as a freelancer?
Yes, you must get an acceptable score in IELTS to immigrate to Canada.
3- What conditions do artists need to receive a self-employment visa?
The ability to prove skills in artistic fields (resume) is the most important condition for receiving a self-employment visa.
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