Well, first you have to qualify. 'Self-Employed' applicants are assessed on a 100 point scale regarding your education, work experience, age, ability in either English or French, and your adaptability to live in Canada. You need 35 points.
- Education:
- You have a Master?s Degree or Ph.D. and at least 17 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study: 25 points
- You have two or more university degrees at the bachelor?s level and at least 15 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study: 22 points
- You have a three-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship and at least 15 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study: 22 points
- You have a university degree of two years or more at the bachelor?s level and at least 14 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study: 20 points
- You have a two-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship and at least 14 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study: 20 points
- You have a one-year university degree at the bachelor?s level and at least 13 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study: 15 points
- You have a one-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship and at least 13 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study: 15 points
- You have a one-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship and at least 12 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study: 15 points
- You completed high school: 5 points
- Work Experience:
- 5 years of relevant experience (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/business/self-employed/apply-who.asp#definitions): 35 points
- 4 years of relevant experience: 30 points
- 3 years of relevant experience: 25 points
- 2 years of relevant experience: 20 points
- Age:
- 16 or under, or 54 and over: 0 points; 17 or 53: 2 points; 18 or 52: 4 points; 19 or 51: 6 points; 20 or 50: 8 points; 21-49: 10 points
- Ability in English or French:
- Up to 24 points, see http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/self_employed/selection_factors/language.asp
- Adaptability (maximum 6 points from the below situations):
- Spouse?s or common-law partner?s level of education
- Secondary school (high school) diploma or less: 0 points
- A one-year diploma, trade certificate, apprenticeship, or university degree and at least 12 years of full-time or full-time equivalent studies: 3 points
- A two or three-year diploma, trade certificate, apprenticeship, or university degree and at least 14 years of full-time or full-time equivalent studies: 4 points
- A master?s degree or PhD and at least 17 years of full-time or full-time equivalent studies: 5 points
- You, or your accompanying spouse or common-law partner have completed a minimum of one year of full-time work in Canada on a valid work permit: 5 points
- You, or your accompanying spouse or common-law partner have completed a program of full-time study of at least two years? duration at a post-secondary institution in Canada. You must have done this after you were 17 years old and with a valid study permit: 5 points
- You, or your accompanying spouse or common-law partner, have a relative (parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, child of a parent, sibling, child of a grandparent, aunt or uncle, or grandchild of a parent, niece or nephew) who is residing in Canada and is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident: 5 points
So if you qualify you can apply. Then you need the following:
- the completed application package (9 separate forms)
- language test results (IELTS, CELPIP, TEF)
- passports for you and any accompanying dependents
- police clearances
- ID and civil status documents
- children's info (if applicable)
- photos
See this checklist for the full details.