Relevant experience is worth up to 35 points, and the window is generous: it opens five years before you apply and stays open until the day a decision is made, so experience gained while you wait can still count. Two one-year periods of qualifying experience earn 20 points, and more periods earn more. What counts as relevant experience comes from the definitions section (88), and it is narrow, built around self-employment in cultural activities or athletics.
(1) and (2)[Repealed, SOR/2016-316, s. 9]
(3)A member of the self-employed persons class shall be awarded assessment points up to a maximum of 35 points for relevant experience during the period beginning five years before the date of their application for a permanent resident visa and ending on the day a determination is made in respect of the application as follows: (a)20 points for(i)two one-year periods of experience described in clause (a)(i)(A) or (B) of the definition relevant experience in subsection 88(1) or a combination of two one-year periods of such experience,(ii)two one-year periods of experience described in clause (a)(ii)(A) or (B) of the definition relevant experience in subsection 88(1) or a combination of two one-year periods of such experience, or(iii)two one-year periods of experience described in subparagraph (a)(iii) of the definition relevant experience in subsection 88(1); (b)25 points for(i)three one-year periods of experience described in clause (a)(i)(A) or (B) of the definition relevant experience in subsection 88(1) or any combination of three one-year periods of such experience,(ii)three one-year periods of experience described in clause (a)(ii)(A) or (B) of the definition relevant experience in subsection 88(1) or any combination of three one-year periods of such experience, or(iii)three one-year periods of experience described in subparagraph (a)(iii) of the definition relevant experience in subsection 88(1); (c)30 points for(i)four one-year periods of experience described in clause (a)(i)(A) or (B) of the definition relevant experience in subsection 88(1) or any combination of four one-year periods of such experience,(ii)four one-year periods of experience described in clause (a)(ii)(A) or (B) of the definition relevant experience in subsection 88(1) or any combination of four one-year periods of such experience, or(iii)four one-year periods of experience described in subparagraph (a)(iii) of the definition relevant experience in subsection 88(1); and (d)35 points for(i)five one-year periods of experience described in clause (a)(i)(A) or (B) of the definition relevant experience in subsection 88(1) or any combination of five one-year periods of such experience,(ii)five one-year periods of experience described in clause (a)(ii)(A) or (B) of the definition relevant experience in subsection 88(1) or any combination of five one-year periods of such experience, or(iii)five one-year periods of experience described in subparagraph (a)(iii) of the definition relevant experience in subsection 88(1).