Newfoundland and Labrador

Self-Employment Assistance

Complex application

Tax filing not required

Self-Employment Assistance is an employment program that gives financial and entrepreneurial help to eligible individuals to help you create jobs for yourself by starting a business.

If you are working, do not quit your job, as this may affect your eligibility for help.

With your Case Manager you will get a needs determination and create an Employment Plan. If you do not currently have a Case Manager to help with creating your Employment Plan, contact your local Advanced Education, Skills and Labour (AESL) office who can tell you where to get this service.

You will not be approved for Self-Employment Assistance if you have started your business before making this application.

You are eligible if you are legally entitled to work in Canada and you are unemployed. If that is the case, you are eligible if one of the following is true:

  • You have a current EI claim; or
  • You have an established benefit period or your benefit period has ended within the previous 60 months.

You must show that you will put in a 25% personal investment in the business.

To apply:

You will need to complete the application form Self-Employment Assistance Employment Benefit Participant Application and submit it to your local Immigration, Skills and Labour office.

Last updated: July 10, 2021