Canada's Self-Employed Persons Program Struggles to Attract Top Talent
The Self-Employed Persons Program (SEPP) in Canada has been plagued by a significant backlog, high refusal rates, and lengthy processing times. According to an official report published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the program's unclear objectives and overly broad eligibility criteria are to blame.
The SEPP is designed for world-class self-employed talent, but it has averaged a 69% refusal rate over the past decade. With over 8,000 applications in inventory, processing times have reached an average of 10 years or more for those who applied after July 2022.
IRCC has paused SEPP intake indefinitely and is reviewing its federal business immigration programs to ensure they effectively contribute to a strong economy and support the Government's Talent Attraction Strategy. As part of this review, IRCC will develop options to revamp the SEPP and ensure Canada can continue to attract top global talent.