If an immigrant qualifies under this programme, extra points are awarded. A self-employed immigrant is a person who intends to and establishes a business which will make a significant contribution to the economic and cultural life in Canada. Athletes and artists are some of the persons covered under this class. An entrepreneur is a person with the ability to establish, purchase or invest in a business and who will participate in the management of that business which will create employment for one or more Canadians who are not family members. Entrepreneurs and their dependents receive conditional visas.
Investors require prior business experience and significant net worth.
Changes are expected to be made in the business programme within the next few months. The skilled worker category has recently been changed with the changes to become effective on February 9,1996. There are four categories of skilled workers which are subject to a points count. These categories are the professional and skilled administrative workers who require 52 points. Technical workers require 47 points while tradespersons require 45 points in order to receive a visa.