The Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream is an economic immigration program for qualified foreign educated graduates from outside of Canada who want to launch start-up enterprises and innovative businesses in Alberta.
Age
Language
Have a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of 7 for each English language skill or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) of 7 for each French language skill: reading, writing, listening and speaking. Official test results must be less than 2 years old at the time your EOI is submitted.
Education Outside Canada
Have completed at least two years of full-time education, resulting in a degree or diploma from an Alberta Advanced Education publicly funded post-secondary institution.
Work/Business Experience
Minimum of 6 months full-time work experience that can be a combination of actively managing or owning the business or equivalent (equivalencies are work experience with business incubator or business accelerator).
Additional Requirements
Candidates must demonstrate that they have the funds needed to set up their business and support themselves while they are on a work permit and launching their start-up.
Minimum settlement funds requirements will be based on the Low Income Cut-Offs (LICOs). Population size of community and funds required
Ineligibility
You Are Not Eligible to Apply Under the Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream If:
- You have an active nomination, which has not expired and/or is eligible for extension under another AAIP stream – candidates are only eligible for one AAIP Nomination Certificate.
- You have been issued a letter on a previous AAIP application that stated you are not eligible to re-apply to the AAIP for a specified period of time – if you submit an application during the specified period, it will be declined.
- You have a removal order issued against you by IRCC or Canada Border Services Agency.
- You are a refugee claimant or an individual involved in a federal appeal or removal process – the AAIP does not intervene in the federal refugee claim, appeal or removal process.
- You are a foreign national living or working in Canada with no valid temporary resident status.
- Your business is on the list of ineligible businesses listed below.
Ineligible Businesses Include:
- Any business in contravention of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations – for example, immigration-linked investment schemes or passive investment.
- Businesses without a value-add economic component, including:
- Pay day loan, cheque cashing and related businesses.
- Businesses trading in used goods.
- Businesses that would be considered passive investment or lack active management, including:
- Insurance brokerage or business brokerage.
- Project-based or seasonal businesses.
- Home-based businesses, including:
- Businesses that are not zoned for commercial or industrial operations.
- Bed-and-breakfasts and lodging houses.
- Businesses that are part of a succession plan.
- Businesses involved in producing, distributing, or selling pornography or sexually explicit products or services, or providing sexually oriented services.
- Any other type of business that by association would tend to bring the AAIP and the Government of Alberta into disrepute, in the opinion of and as determined by the AAIP.
Business Plan
A business plan with projected financials. Refer to the Business Plan Guidelines.
Pitch deck – A 10-minute presentation (slides only) that outlines the proposed business venture and focuses on what an investor would want to see.
Business Investment
A minimum level of investment from candidate’s (or spouse or common-law partner) own equity or from a recognized Canadian financial institution, venture capital, or angel investment firm prior to coming to Alberta. The mandatory minimum investment for an urban centre is $100,000 while the mandatory minimum investment for a regional area is $50,000. Higher levels of investment prior to coming to Alberta will be awarded more points. Points are awarded for urban centre or regional area, not both.
Business Establishment
A minimum level of investment from candidate’s (or spouse or common-law partner) own equity or from a recognized Canadian financial institution, venture capital, or angel investment firm prior to coming to Alberta. The mandatory minimum investment for an urban centre is $100,000 while the mandatory minimum investment for a regional area is $50,000. Higher levels of investment prior to coming to Alberta will be awarded more points. Points are awarded for urban centre or regional area, not both.
Community Support / referral Letter or Letter of recommendation from a Designated Agency
Must have a letter of recommendation from an AAIP-approved designated agency.
Application Period
Graduate Entrepreneur Stream approximate average processing times: Expression of Interest scoring (between submitting the EOI and scoring is completed) : 1 month Business Application decision (between submitting the full Business Application and receiving the approval) : 5 months Final report and nomination (between submitting the final report and receiving a final decision on nomination) : 4 months
Application Fee
The fee for this stream is set at
- 3,500 CAD Application fee
- $300 registration fee
Submission of Application
Step 1
- A candidate must register an Expression of Interest (EOI), meaning filling in forms and uploading supporting documentation, which includes the GE Business Proposal Summary, the Net Worth worksheet, etc. This allows them to be included in the pool of candidates and be assigned a score out of 125 points based on their specific factors. The AAIP will review and score the EOI within 30 days.
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If selected by the AAIP, the candidate must submit a Business Application to the AAIP, which includes:
- A Business Plan Evaluation Report
- Possibly a Qualified Service Provider Report to assess the candidate’s net worth and business investment by an approved service provider (list below).
More about deadlines in the Required Supporting Documents section below.
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If the processing of the candidate’s application is successful, they must sign a Business Performance Agreement, committing to achieving their intended investment. The agreement usually contains (but is not limited to):
- Investment amounts and timelines for commitments
- Number and types of jobs to be created for Canadian citizens or permanent residents
- Mandatory business milestones and achievements
- Once all parties have signed the Business Performance Agreement, the AAIP will provide a Business Application Approval Letter.
Step 2
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Upon receiving the Business Application Approval Letter and Letter of Support, the candidate is required to:
- Reside in Alberta
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Actively own and operate an eligible business in Alberta with:
- At least 34% ownership in an urban centre
- 51% ownership in a regional area for at least 12 months
- Meet the conditions of the Business Performance Agreement signed with the Government of Alberta
- Demonstrate that the business is operating successfully by generating products or services after one year of operation
Once the conditions of the Business Performance Agreement have been met, submit the Final Report for Nomination.
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Candidates must submit:
- A Start-up Report to the AAIP within 30 days of receiving the Business Application Approval Letter
- A Business Progress Report every 6 months
- Once the candidate has satisfied the conditions of their Business Performance Agreement, they can submit a Final Report for AAIP Nomination. If successful, candidates will be issued a provincial nomination by the AAIP.
- The candidate must apply for permanent residence to IRCC within 6 months of receiving the nomination. This application must be submitted on paper to IRCC and include documents received from the AAIP.
Note: International graduates who currently own and operate a business in Alberta and are eligible for this stream can still apply. However, the established business must have operated in Alberta for at least one year. Instead of being issued a Business Performance Agreement, the AAIP will directly issue the candidate a nomination certificate. They are only required to operate their business in Alberta while they go through the permanent residence application process with IRCC.
Link to portal to submit application
Maximum points required
Total maximum points – 200