Alberta Advantage Immigration Program – Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa / Stream Name	Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream (AAIP)
Pathway Type	Provincial nomination for permanent residence
Stay Duration	Initial 2-year work permit; permanent residence pathway
AAIP Application Fees	EOI: $200; Business Application: $3,500
Other Service Fees	Extensions/Changes: $150; Reconsideration: $250
Work Rights	Temporary work permit; owner-operator
Study Rights	Not stated in the source
Medicare / Healthcare	Not stated in the source
Travel Facility	Facilitates arrival in Alberta within 12 months
Citizenship Pathway	Permanent residence pathway leads to eligibility
Family Sponsorship	Spouse and dependents included in applications
Language Requirement	Minimum CLB/NCLC 5 in all skills
Education Requirement	Foreign degree within past 10 years (ECA)
Work Experience	Minimum 6 months actively managing/owning
Minimum Investment	$100,000 (urban) or $50,000 (regional)
Minimum Ownership	34% (urban) or 51% (regional)

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Purpose and Overview

The Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream is an economic immigration pathway under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). It nominates qualified foreign-educated graduates to launch start-up enterprises and innovative businesses in Alberta, leading to Canadian permanent residence.

Applicants must work with an AAIP-approved designated agency, which evaluates the business plan, provides entrepreneurial coaching, and issues a formal letter of recommendation required for applying.

Approved Designated Agencies

• Elite Global Group Ltd. (Edmonton, AB) – info@elitestartuphub.com | 780-680-0065

• Empowered Startups (Vancouver, BC) – info@empoweredstartups.com | 604-229-1052

• Platform Calgary (Calgary, AB) – fgsp@platformcalgary.com | 403-284-6400

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Eligibility Criteria

1. Candidate Criteria

• Education: Completion of a foreign post-secondary degree equivalent to a Canadian degree completed within the last 10 years. Must provide an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) from an IRCC-designated organization.
• Language Proficiency: Minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) or NCLC level of 5 in all 4 skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking). Test results must be less than 2 years old (accepted: CELPIP-General, IELTS General, PTE Core, TEF Canada, TCF Canada).
• Work Experience: Minimum 6 months of full-time work experience combining active business ownership, management, or equivalent experience with a business incubator/accelerator.
• Settlement Funds: Must demonstrate sufficient unencumbered funds based on the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) for at least 6 months.

Settlement Funds Requirements (CAD)

Family Size	Pop. <1,000	1,000–30,000	30,000–99,999	100,000–499,999	500,000+
1 person	$8,922	$10,151	$11,093	$12,961	$12,960
2 people	$11,107	$12,636	$13,810	$16,135	$16,135
3 people	$13,655	$15,534	$16,977	$19,836	$19,836
4 people	$16,579	$18,861	$20,613	$24,084	$24,083
5 people	$18,803	$21,392	$23,379	$27,315	$27,315
6 people	$21,208	$24,127	$26,367	$30,807	$30,806
7 people	$23,611	$26,861	$29,356	$34,299	$34,299

2. Business Criteria

• Ownership: Minimum 34% ownership in an urban centre (Edmonton or Calgary Census Metropolitan Areas) or 51% in a regional area outside Calgary and Edmonton. Business partners must be Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents.
• Investment: Minimum equity/investment of $100,000 in an urban centre or $50,000 in a regional area prior to coming to Alberta. Funds may come from personal equity, a recognized Canadian financial institution, venture capital, or angel investment.
• Priority Sectors: Technology, aerospace, financial services, energy, agriculture, tourism, life sciences, or pharmaceuticals.
• Operation & Location: Physical place of business in Alberta at all times generating earned (non-passive) revenue from goods or services. Remote or out-of-province management is not permitted.
• Economic Establishment: Must demonstrate viable business operations, active daily owner-management, and compliance with all provincial/municipal licensing and trade standards.

Established Businesses in Alberta

Foreign graduates who already own and operate a business in Alberta for at least 1 continuous year prior to EOI submission are exempt from operating the business for an additional year under a Business Performance Agreement. If approved, they receive a nomination certificate directly.

Ineligible Applicants & Businesses

• Ineligible Applicants: Individuals with active unexpired AAIP nominations; those banned under previous AAIP applications; individuals with removal orders; refugee claimants or those under IRCC appeal; foreign nationals without valid temporary resident status in Canada.
• Ineligible Businesses: Passive or immigration-linked investments; payday loan and cheque-cashing businesses; used goods trading; project-based or seasonal businesses; home-based businesses (not commercially zoned); bed-and-breakfasts; succession plan acquisitions; adult entertainment services; businesses bringing the Government of Alberta into disrepute.

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Points Assessment Grid

EOIs are scored out of 200 points. The highest-ranked applicants are invited to submit a Business Application:

• Language (Max 30 pts): CLB 5 (10) | CLB 6 (15) | CLB 7 (20) | CLB 8+ (30)

• Education (Max 35 pts): Bachelor’s (5) | Master’s (10) | Doctoral (15). Bonus: Completed degree within last 5 years (+10), STEM degree (+5), Business degree (+5).

• Experience (Max 35 pts): 6 months to <1 yr (10) | 1–2 yrs (15) | >2 yrs (20). Bonus: Business ownership experience (+15).

• Business Plan (Max 40 pts): Mandatory business plan meeting guidelines (40).

• Initial Investment (Max 25 pts):

  • Urban: $100k (5) | $100k–$150k (11) | $150k–$200k (18) | >$200k (25)
  • Regional: $50k (5) | $50k–$100k (11) | $100k–$150k (18) | >$150k (25)

• Additional Investment After Launch (Max 20 pts):

  • Urban: $100k–$150k (5) | $150k–$200k (10) | $200k–$250k (15) | >$250k (20)
  • Regional: $50k–$100k (5) | $100k–$150k (10) | $150k–$200k (15) | >$200k (20)

• Job Creation for Canadians/PRs for 6+ months (Max 15 pts): 1 job (5) | 2 jobs (10) | 3+ jobs (15).

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Application Steps

1. Submit Expression of Interest (EOI):
   • Create an Alberta.ca Account and submit the EOI via the AAIP Portal within 120 days of creation.
   • Pay the non-refundable $200 EOI fee within 24 hours.
   • EOIs remain active in the pool for 12 months.
2. Submit Business Application (If Invited):
   • Submit the full application in the portal within 90 days of invitation.
   • Pay the non-refundable $3,500 application fee within 24 hours.
   • Provide a Business Plan Evaluation Report from an approved designated agency.
   • If requested, submit a net worth assessment from an approved Qualified Service Provider (Grant Thornton LLP, KPMG LLP, or MNP LLP).
3. Sign Business Performance Agreement (BPA):
   • If approved, review, sign, and return the BPA within 14 days.
   • AAIP issues a Business Application Approval Letter and a fee-exempt 205(a) Letter of Support.
4. Apply for a Work Permit:
   • Register in the IRCC Employer Portal, pay the employer compliance fee, and apply to IRCC for a 2-year work permit within 3 months using the 205(a) letter.
   • Arrive in Alberta within 12 months of receiving the Business Application Approval Letter.
5. Establish the Business in Alberta:
   • Submit an Arrival Report within 30 days of work permit issuance.
   • Reside in Alberta, operate the business, and submit a Business Progress Report every 6 months.
   • Fulfill all conditions of the BPA over at least 12 months of active operation.
6. Final Report and Nomination:
   • Submit the Final Report for Nomination to AAIP.
   • If approved, AAIP issues a Provincial Nomination Certificate (valid for 6 months).
7. Apply for Permanent Residence:
   • Submit a permanent residency application online to IRCC before the 6-month nomination expires.
   • Submit a Business Progress Report to AAIP 6 months after receiving the nomination.

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Program Fees and Service Requests

• EOI Submission Fee: $200 (non-refundable).
• Business Application Fee: $3,500 (non-refundable).
• BPA Change / Extension Request: $150 (non-refundable).
• Subsequent 205(a) Letter of Support: $150 (fee exempt if requested in writing by IRCC).
• Nomination Extension Request: $150 (must apply within 6 months of expiry; one-time extension only).
• Request for Reconsideration: $250 (must be filed within 30 days of a refusal based on administrative/assessment errors; refunded only if the refusal is overturned).

All fees must be paid online via credit or debit card within 24 hours of submission to prevent application cancellation.

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Required Documents

• Valid foreign passport and legal status documents.
• Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report and degree certificates.
• Valid language test results (less than 2 years old).
• Business Plan (aligned with AAIP guidelines).
• 10-minute Pitch Deck (slides only).
• Letter of Recommendation from an AAIP-approved designated agency.
• Business Plan Evaluation Report from the designated agency.
• Qualified Service Provider Report (if net worth assessment is requested).
• Completed Net Worth Worksheet.
• Settlement funds proof (bank statements, investment accounts).
• Signed Use of Representative Form (if applicable).
• Spouse, Common-Law Partners and Dependants Authorization Form (if applicable).
• Program reporting forms: Arrival Report, Business Progress Reports, and Final Report for Nomination.

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Important Warnings & Conditions

• Single Application Rule: Candidates can have only one active AAIP application in process at any time.
• No Guarantees: Meeting minimum criteria, receiving a 205(a) Letter of Support, or receiving an AAIP nomination does not guarantee work permit approval or permanent resident visa issuance by IRCC.
• Status Maintenance: Nominees are responsible for maintaining legal work permit status throughout the entire process via a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) or a 205(a) letter renewal.
• Accuracy: Providing inaccurate, incomplete, or fraudulent information will result in immediate refusal, nomination revocation, and a multi-year ban from applying to the AAIP.