Alberta’s Graduate Entrepreneur Stream is designed for international students who have graduated from approved Alberta post-secondary institutions. Applicants establish or operate a business in Alberta on a work permit, and can then apply for Canadian permanent residence.
Eligibility
To be eligible to immigrate to Canada through this stream, you must meet the following minimum requirements:
Education: Must have completed at least two years of full-time education resulting in a degree or diploma from an eligible Alberta post-secondary institution;
Work permit: Must have a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) valid at the time you submit your Expression of Interest (EOI);
Language: Must have a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of 7 for each English skill (reading, writing, listening, and speaking), or a Niveau de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) of 7 for each French skill.
Business Establishment: Must start a new business, or buy an existing business in Alberta with 34% ownership. Your business partners must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents. The business must be an eligible business. Check the list of ineligible businesses here.
Accepted language tests
Alberta accepts the following English language tests:
Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP),
International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
The following French language tests are accepted:
Test d’évaluation de français (TEF) Canada
Test de connaissance du français (TCF) Canada
Improve your chances
The following is a list of adaptability factors. These are things that would help you settle in Alberta.
Work Experience: Have a minimum of 6 months of work experience that can be a combination of actively managing or owning the business or equivalent. You must meet this requirement before submitting your EOI.
Economic Benefit: If you can provide an economic benefit to Alberta through:
Job creation;
Economic sector;
Business location (e.g. rural);
Business succession;
Investment;
Developed intellectual property;
Partnership, or support from a business incubator, business accelerator, venture capital, or angel investor.
Age: If you are between 21 to 49 years old
Spouse: If your spouse or common-law partner has at least one of the following:
One year of continuous full-time employment in Alberta;
Completed at least two years of full-time study at an Alberta post-secondary institution;
A minimum CLB 5 in English or NCLC 5 in French in each language ability.
Points Grid
1- Business Establishment Factors
Criteria
Descriptions
Points
Business management or ownership experience or equivalent.
This could be experienced with a business incubator or completion of entrepreneurship program courses
Maximum of 15 points
Mandatory Requirement
6 months
5
1 year
10
More than 1 year
15
Economic Benefit
Maximum of 40 points
Not a mandatory requirement
Economic development sector (e.g. energy, agriculture, financial services, fintech, etc.)
15
Succession
5
Job Creation (max 15 points)
1 job
5
2 jobs
10
3 jobs or more
15
Rural (outside Calgary or Edmonton)
5
Total Business Investment
Maximum of 20 points
Not a mandatory requirement
$25,000 or less
5
$25,001 to $50,000
10
$50,001 to $75,000
15
$75,001 or more
20
2- Human Capital Factors
Criteria
Descriptions
Points
Language Proficiency
Maximum of 15 points
Mandatory Requirement
CLB/NCLC 7 for reading, writing, listening, and speaking in English or French
5
CLB/NCLC 8 for reading, writing, listening, and speaking in English or French
12
CLB/NCLC 9 for reading, writing, listening, and speaking in English or French
15
Alberta Education
Maximum of 10 points
Mandatory requirement
Bachelor’s degree or a 2-year diploma
5
2 or more degrees or diplomas
7
Master’s degree or higher
10
3- Adaptability Factors
Criteria
Descriptions
Points
Age
Maximum of 5 points
Not a mandatory Requirement
21 to 49 years old
5
Spouse or Common-law partner characteristics
Maximum of 10 points
Not a mandatory requirement
Your spouse or common-law partner has one or more of the following:
At least one year of continuous full-time employment in Alberta;
Completed at least 2 years of full-time study at an Alberta post-secondary;
A minimum of CLB 5 in English or NCLC 5 in French in all language abilities.
10
Alberta relatives
Maximum of 10 points
Not a mandatory requirement
A relative is one of the following:
Father;
Step-father;
Mother;
Step-mother;
Child;
Step-child;
Sister;
Step-sister;
Brother;
Step-brother.
10
Business requirements
You must make sure that your business meets the requirements, otherwise, your Business Application can be refused.
Your business must have the potential to create economic benefit to Alberta. Your proposed business must meet the following general requirements:
The purpose of the business must be to make a profit from active income – not passive income;
Your business must comply with any federal, provincial, or municipal legal, regulatory or licensing requirements;
Your business must comply with applicable trade certification requirements for the province;
Your business must have a physical location in Alberta;
If your business is a franchise, the ownership requirements are the same as other businesses. You must also prove that you received support from the master franchisor to operate a franchise;
You must own at least 34% of your business, and you must stay in Alberta and be involved in the day-to-day management of your business. You cannot do this remotely.
Ineligible businesses
Businesses without a value-add economic component, including:
a payday loan, cheque cashing, and related businesses;
businesses trading in used goods;
Businesses that would be considered a passive investment and do not need any active management;
property rental, investment, and leasing activities;
real estate development/brokerage, insurance brokerage, or business brokerage;
coin-operated businesses, including laundromats and car wash operations;
Project-based or seasonal businesses;
Home-based businesses;
Businesses that are part of a succession plan, such as:
A business owned or operated by a close relative;
A business that was previously owned or operated by a current or former AAIP entrepreneur stream candidate/nominee within the last 4 years;
A business that has changed ownership in the past 3 years prior to applying
Business involved in producing, distributing, or selling pornography or sexually explicit products or services;
Another type of business that may bring the AAIP and the Government of Alberta into disrepute.
Process
Once you have reviewed the eligibility criteria and are satisfied that you are eligible for this immigration stream, the next steps are outlined below:
Step 1: Submit an Expression of Interest
You must submit an Expression of Interest through the AAIP Portal. The AAIP will review and give you a score within 30 days of submitting your application. The highest-ranked candidates will be requested to submit a Business Application.
Step 2: Submit your Business Application Package
If you successfully receive a request to submit a Business Application, you can do so through the AAIP Portal. A draft of the application will automatically be created with the information you provided when you completed your EOI.
Upload the required documents and forms in the AAIP Portal and pay the CAD $3,500 non-refundable fee.
Two of the required documents are:
Business Plan Evaluation Report from one of the following providers :
When you submit your application with the supporting documents, it will be assessed. If more information is needed, an officer will contact you by email or phone. If you do not respond to requests for additional information, your application may be refused.
If your application is approved, the AAIP will send you a Business Performance Agreement (BPA) that you will have to review and sign. You will have to sign, scan and email your BPA within 14 days.
The BPA is a legal agreement before you and Alberta. It will include:
The industry sector of your business
The length of the agreement
Other information related to your business
Step 4:Establish your business in Alberta
When you receive your Business Application Approval Letter, you now must move to Alberta and:
actively own and operate your business with at least 34% ownership for 12 months
meet the conditions of your BPA that you signed
show that the business is operating successfully
You must also submit a Start-Up Report within 30 days of receiving the approval letter. At the end of each 6-month period from the date you received the letter, you will have to submit a Business Progress Report. If you need more time to meet the conditions of your BPA, email lbr.pnpoffice@gov.ab.ca to request an extension.
Once this is done, you can submit the Final Report for AAIP Nomination.
Step 5:Final Report for AAIP Nomination
Once you meet the conditions of your BPA, you can apply to be nominated by the AAIP for permanent residence. You will have to submit a Final Report for AAIP Nomination with your supporting documents.
That report will be assessed and inform you of the decision.
If your Final Report is approved, you will receive an email copy of the nomination certificate which you will need to apply for permanent residence.
Note: You must continue to meet the conditions of your BPA during your AAIP nomination assessment.
If your Final Report is refused, you will receive an email with a decision letter detailing the reasons why it was refused.
Optimize your chances of success!
What are your options for Canadian Immigration? You can consider any of the following pathways to Canadian Immigration:
Chugo Immigration Service is authorized to offer Canadian Immigration and Citizenship services under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. The Principal Consultant, Pius Chukwuma Ekwulugo RCIC, is a member in good standing of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) and has helped many foreigners to start a new life in Canada. We will help you too!
For effective and diligent legal help regarding Canadian Immigration matters, we partner with Weekes Law Office.
What Do I Do Next?
Are you looking for an immigration pathway to Canada? If you do not know where to look and how to start, we invite you to book an eligibility consultation with us. We will prepare an individualized assessment report for you and guide you on your immigration journey to Canada.
We advise you to complete the assessment questionnaire now in order to properly plan your application.
Alberta’s Graduate Entrepreneur Stream is designed for international students who have graduated from approved Alberta post-secondary institutions. Applicants establish or operate a business in Alberta on a work permit, and can then apply for Canadian permanent residence.
Eligibility
To be eligible to immigrate to Canada through this stream, you must meet the following minimum requirements:
Accepted language tests
Alberta accepts the following English language tests:
The following French language tests are accepted:
Improve your chances
The following is a list of adaptability factors. These are things that would help you settle in Alberta.
Points Grid
1- Business Establishment Factors
This could be experienced with a business incubator or completion of entrepreneurship program courses
Maximum of 15 points
Mandatory Requirement
Maximum of 40 points
Not a mandatory requirement
Maximum of 20 points
Not a mandatory requirement
2- Human Capital Factors
Maximum of 15 points
Mandatory Requirement
Maximum of 10 points
Mandatory requirement
3- Adaptability Factors
Maximum of 5 points
Not a mandatory Requirement
Maximum of 10 points
Not a mandatory requirement
Maximum of 10 points
Not a mandatory requirement
Business requirements
You must make sure that your business meets the requirements, otherwise, your Business Application can be refused.
Your business must have the potential to create economic benefit to Alberta. Your proposed business must meet the following general requirements:
Ineligible businesses
Process
Once you have reviewed the eligibility criteria and are satisfied that you are eligible for this immigration stream, the next steps are outlined below:
Step 1: Submit an Expression of Interest
You must submit an Expression of Interest through the AAIP Portal. The AAIP will review and give you a score within 30 days of submitting your application. The highest-ranked candidates will be requested to submit a Business Application.
Step 2: Submit your Business Application Package
If you successfully receive a request to submit a Business Application, you can do so through the AAIP Portal. A draft of the application will automatically be created with the information you provided when you completed your EOI.
Upload the required documents and forms in the AAIP Portal and pay the CAD $3,500 non-refundable fee.
Two of the required documents are:
Step 3: Business Application Assessment
When you submit your application with the supporting documents, it will be assessed. If more information is needed, an officer will contact you by email or phone. If you do not respond to requests for additional information, your application may be refused.
If your application is approved, the AAIP will send you a Business Performance Agreement (BPA) that you will have to review and sign. You will have to sign, scan and email your BPA within 14 days.
The BPA is a legal agreement before you and Alberta. It will include:
Step 4: Establish your business in Alberta
When you receive your Business Application Approval Letter, you now must move to Alberta and:
You must also submit a Start-Up Report within 30 days of receiving the approval letter. At the end of each 6-month period from the date you received the letter, you will have to submit a Business Progress Report. If you need more time to meet the conditions of your BPA, email lbr.pnpoffice@gov.ab.ca to request an extension.
Once this is done, you can submit the Final Report for AAIP Nomination.
Step 5: Final Report for AAIP Nomination
Once you meet the conditions of your BPA, you can apply to be nominated by the AAIP for permanent residence. You will have to submit a Final Report for AAIP Nomination with your supporting documents.
That report will be assessed and inform you of the decision.
If your Final Report is approved, you will receive an email copy of the nomination certificate which you will need to apply for permanent residence.
Note: You must continue to meet the conditions of your BPA during your AAIP nomination assessment.
If your Final Report is refused, you will receive an email with a decision letter detailing the reasons why it was refused.
Optimize your chances of success!
What are your options for Canadian Immigration? You can consider any of the following pathways to Canadian Immigration:
Chugo Immigration Service is authorized to offer Canadian Immigration and Citizenship services under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. The Principal Consultant, Pius Chukwuma Ekwulugo RCIC, is a member in good standing of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) and has helped many foreigners to start a new life in Canada. We will help you too!
For effective and diligent legal help regarding Canadian Immigration matters, we partner with Weekes Law Office.
What Do I Do Next?
Are you looking for an immigration pathway to Canada? If you do not know where to look and how to start, we invite you to book an eligibility consultation with us. We will prepare an individualized assessment report for you and guide you on your immigration journey to Canada.
We advise you to complete the assessment questionnaire now in order to properly plan your application.
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