To qualify for Self-Employed Persons Program the applicant must show that he is associated with the agricultural, artistic, or athletic field and have hands-on experience which allows him to be a successfully self-employed person in Canada and to make a significant contribution to his espective area, or experience in managing a farm, and intend and be able to buy and manage a farm in Canada.

Relevant experience has to for minimum two years either self-employed or participating at a world-class level in art, culture, recreation, or sports activities selected by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). And applicants who want to buy a farm must have at least two years of farm management practice.
Candidates are also evaluated based on  English/French language ability and adaptability, education, experience, age.

Cultural activities include jobs which are part of artistic and cultural fields of Canada. Examples include:

• creative and performing artists,
• sculptors and other visual artists,
• authors and writers,
• craftspeople,
• musicians,
• technical support and other jobs in motion pictures,
• creative designers and
• painters

ESDC gives a complete list of qualifying activities for self-employed persons.