AAIP Graduate Entrepreneur Stream

The Alberta Graduate Entrepreneur Stream is designed for international students who have graduated from approved post-secondary institutions in the province of Alberta. Candidates establish or operate a business in the province of Alberta on a work permit, and may then apply for Canadian permanent residence.

Overview of the Alberta Graduate Entrepreneur Stream

The Alberta Graduate Entrepreneur Stream is a programme under theAlberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP)of the province of Alberta, offering an immigration route for international students who have graduated from approved post-secondary institutions in the province of Alberta.

Eligibility

To be eligible to immigrate to Canada through the Alberta Graduate Entrepreneur Stream, candidates must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Education: must have completed at least 2 years of full-time study and hold a degree or certificate from an eligible post-secondary institution in the province of Alberta.
• Work permit: must hold a validPost-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)at the time of submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI).
• Language: must have aCanadian Language Benchmark (CLB)of at least 7 for each English skill (reading, writing, listening and speaking), or an NCLC of at least 7 for each French skill.
• Establishing a business: must start a new business, or buy an existing business in the province of Alberta, with 34% ownership. The candidate’s business partner must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. The business must be an eligible business. Check the list of ineligible businesses athere.

Accepted language tests

The Alberta Graduate Entrepreneur Stream accepts the following English and French tests:

• Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP).
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
• Test d’évaluation de français (TEF)
• Test de connaissance du français (TCF)

Assessment factors

The following are the factors used to assess immigration candidates through the Alberta Graduate Entrepreneur Stream:

• Work experience: having a minimum of 6 months of work experience, which may be a combination of actively managing or owning a business, or the equivalent. Candidates must meet this requirement before submitting an EOI.
• Economic benefit: whether the candidate can bring economic benefit to the province of Alberta through:
  • Job creation.
  • The economic sector.
  • The business location (for example, rural).
  • Business succession.
  • Investment.
  • Intellectual property developed.
  • Partnerships, or support from a business incubator, business accelerator, venture capital fund or angel investor.
• Age: whether the candidate is aged between 21 and 49
• Spouse: whether the candidate’s spouse or common-law partner meets at least one of the following:
  • One year of continuous full-time work in the province of Alberta.
  • Completion of at least 2 years of full-time study at a post-secondary institution in the province of Alberta.
  • A minimum CLB of 5 in English or NCLC 5 in French for each language ability.

Points grid

Business factors

Experience managing or owning a business, or the equivalent

This may be experience with a business incubator, or completion of a start-up programme course. Candidates receive a maximum of 15 points, and this is a mandatory factor.

Description	Points
6 months	5
1 year	10
More than 1 year	15

Economic benefit

Candidates receive a maximum of 40 points, and this is an optional factor.

Description	Points
An economic development sector (for example, energy, agriculture, financial services, fintech and so on)	15
Succession	5
Creating 1 job	5
Creating 2 jobs	10
Creating 3 jobs or more	15
The business is located in a rural area (outside Calgary and Edmonton)	5

Total investment

Candidates receive a maximum of 20 points, and this is an optional factor.

Description	Points
$25,000 or less	5
$25,001 to $50,000	5
$50,001 to $75,000	15
$75,001 or more	20

Human capital factors

Language ability

Candidates receive a maximum of 15 points, and this is a mandatory factor.

Description	Points
CLB/NCLC 7 in reading, writing, listening and speaking in English or French	5
CLB/NCLC 8 in reading, writing, listening and speaking in English or French	12
CLB/NCLC 9 in reading, writing, listening and speaking in English or French	15

Education in Alberta

Candidates receive a maximum of 10 points, and this is a mandatory factor.

Description	Points
A bachelor’s degree or a 2-year qualification	5
2 or more degrees or certificates	12
A master’s degree or higher	10

Adaptability factors

Age

Candidates aged between 21 and 49 receive an additional 5 points. This is an optional factor.

Spouse or common-law partner

Candidates receive a maximum of 10 points where their spouse or common-law partner meets one of the following criteria:

• At least 1 year of continuous full-time work in the province of Alberta.
• Completion of at least 2 years of full-time study at a post-secondary institution in the province of Alberta.
• A minimum CLB of 5 in English or NCLC 5 in French for every language ability.

Relatives in Alberta

Candidates receive a maximum of 10 points where they have a relative in the following group:

• Father
• Stepfather
• Mother
• Stepmother
• Child
• Stepchild
• Sibling
• Half-sibling

Requirements for the business

Candidates under the Alberta Graduate Entrepreneur Stream must ensure their business meets the requirements, failing which their application may be refused.

The business of a candidate under the Alberta Graduate Entrepreneur Stream must have the potential to bring economic benefit to the province of Alberta. The proposed business must meet the following general requirements:

• The purpose of the business must be to generate profit from operating income — not passive income.
• The business must comply with all federal, provincial or municipal legal, regulatory or licensing requirements.
• The business must comply with the trade certification requirements applying in the province.
• The business must have a physical location in the province of Alberta.
• Where the business is a franchise, the ownership requirement is the same as for other businesses. Candidates must also demonstrate that they have the support of the master franchisor to operate the franchise.
• Candidates must own at least 34% of the business and must live in the province of Alberta and take part in the day-to-day management of the business. Candidates cannot do this remotely.

Ineligible businesses

• Businesses with no value-added economic component, including:
  • Payday lending, cheque cashing and related businesses.
  • Businesses trading in second-hand goods;
• Businesses treated as passive investments requiring no active management:
  • Property rental, investment and leasing activities.
  • Property development/subdivision, insurance brokerage or business brokerage.
  • Coin-operated businesses, including launderettes and car washes.
• Home-based businesses
• Businesses forming part of a succession plan, such as:
  • Businesses owned or operated by a close relative;
  • Businesses previously owned or operated by a current or former AAIP entrepreneur stream candidate/nominee within the past 4 years;
  • Businesses that have changed ownership in the 3 years before the application;
• Businesses involved in producing, distributing or selling pornographic or sexually explicit products or services.
• Other types of business that could damage the reputation of the AAIP and the Alberta provincial government.

The process

Once candidates have reviewed the criteria and confirmed that they are eligible for the Alberta Graduate Entrepreneur Stream, the next steps are set out below:

Step 1: submit an Expression of Interest

Candidates must submit an Expression of Interest through the AAIP Portal. The AAIP reviews and scores candidates within 30 days of submission. The highest-ranked candidates are asked to submit a Business Application.

Step 2: submit the application

Where a candidate successfully receives a request to submit an application, they may do so through the AAIP Portal. A draft application is generated automatically using the information the candidate provided when completing their EOI.

Upload the required documents and forms in the AAIP Portal and pay the non-refundable fee of CAD 3,500.

Two of the required documents are:

• A business plan assessment report from one of the following providers:
  • KPMG LLP
  • MNP LLP
• A report from an approved service provider (where required) from one of the following providers:
  • Grant Thornton LLP
  • KPMG LLP 
  • MNP LLP

Step 3: assessment of the application

Once the candidate submits the application together with supporting documents, it is assessed. Where further information is needed, an officer makes contact by email or telephone. If the candidate does not respond to a request for further information, their application may be refused.

If the application is approved, the AAIP sends a Business Performance Agreement (BPA), which the candidate must review and sign. Candidates must sign, scan and email their BPA within 14 days.

The BPA is a legal agreement between the candidate and the province of Alberta. It covers:

• The economic sector of the business;
• The term of the agreement;
• Other information relating to the business.

Step 4: establish the business in the province of Alberta

On receiving the Business Application Approval Letter, the candidate must now move to the province of Alberta and:

• Actively own and operate the business with at least 34% ownership for 12 months;
• Meet the conditions of the BPA they signed;
• Demonstrate that the business is operating successfully.

Candidates must also submit aStart-up Reportwithin 30 days of receiving the approval letter. At the end of each 6-month period from the date of the letter, candidates must submit aBusiness Progress Report. Where more time is needed to meet the conditions of the BPA, email[email protected]to request an extension.

Having completed these steps, candidates may submit a Final Report to be nominated by the AAIP.

Step 5: the Final Report for AAIP nomination

Once candidates meet the conditions of the BPA, they may apply for AAIP nomination for permanent residence. Candidates must submit a Final Report for AAIP nomination together with supporting documents.

That report is assessed and the decision communicated to the candidate.

If the Final Report is approved, the candidate receives an emailed copy of the nomination certificate, which they need in order to apply for permanent residence.

Please note:Candidates must continue to meet the conditions of the BPA while their AAIP nomination is being assessed.

If the Final Report is refused, the candidate receives an email with a decision letter setting out the reasons for refusal in detail.