Who can qualify

To receive benefits for self-employed people, you must:

• be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
• own your own business or control more than 40% of the corporation's voting shares
• have decreased the amount of time working on your business by more than 40% for at least one week
• have earned a minimum amount of $8,826 in net self-employed earnings between January 1 and December 31, 2024
• meet the conditions of the specific benefit you're applying for
• have entered into an agreement with the Canada Employment Insurance Commission (CEIC) for at least 12 months

How to enter into an agreement

You can enter into an agreement with the CEIC online through My Service Canada Account (MSCA).

After you sign in to MSCA, find the Employment Insurance section, select "View my agreement status (self-employed)" and follow the instructions.

Once you've completed the steps, you'll receive a letter confirming that you've entered into an agreement with the CEIC.

As part of the agreement, you'll be required to pay premiums through your yearly income tax returns for as long as you remain self-employed.

Your agreement must be active for at least 12 months before you can receive any special benefits. After this period, apply for Employment Insurance (EI) benefits as soon as the amount of time working on your business has decreased by more than 40%. If you delay filing your claim, you may lose benefits.