Thursday, February 6, 2025

Alberta Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream – (Step by Step Guide)

The Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream Alberta is designed for eligible candidates who have graduated from abroad aiming to establish startup enterprises and innovative businesses in Alberta as part of an economic immigration program.

Candidates in this stream are ranked through a points-based Expression of Interest system, with the top-ranked individuals invited to submit detailed Business Applications. Successful applicants receive a provincial nomination, which gives them 600 additional points that boost their application for Canadian permanent residence.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Work Experience: A minimum of 6 months of full-time work experience, involving active management, ownership of a business, or equivalent experience with a business incubator or accelerator.
  • Education: A foreign degree, completed within the last 10 years at the time of Expression of Interest (EOI) submission, must undergo an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) to ensure its equivalence to a Canadian degree.
  • Business plan: Must need to submit a business plan with projected financials.
  • Pitch deck: Present the proposed business venture in a 10-minute slide-only presentation, emphasizing key aspects that would interest potential investors.
  • Language: Achieve a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of 5 for each English language skill or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) level of 5 for each French language skill.
  • Business ownership: Require minimum ownership of 34% for businesses in urban centers or 51% for those in regional areas outside Calgary and Edmonton CMAs. Eligible businesses should be in one of the following major sectors:
    • technology
    • aerospace
    • financial services
    • energy
    • agriculture
    • tourism
    • life sciences
    • pharmaceuticals
  • Investment: Urban centers require a minimum investment of $100,000, and regional areas necessitate a mandatory minimum investment of $50,000.
  • Letter of recommendation: Require a recommendation letter from an approved AAIP-designated agency.
  • Required funds for settlement: Candidates must show they possess the necessary funds to establish their business and sustain themselves during their work permit period while launching their startup. Check out required funds here.

Points Grid Criteria

Human Capital requirements:

Human CapitalPoints
Language ProficiencyMaximum 30 points
CLB 510
CLB 615
CLB 720
CLB 830
Education Maximum 35 points
Bachelor's degree5
Master's degree10
Doctoral degree15
Degree completed within the last 5 years10
Degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics5
Business degrees5
Business ExperienceMaximum 35 points
6 months (minimum)5
more than 6 months to less than 1 year10
1 to 2 years15
More than 2 years20
Additional Points: Business ownership experience15

Business Requirements needed to meet the criteria:

Business FactorsPoints
Business PlanMaximum 40 points
Submit a business plan with anticipated financial details in accordance with AAIP guidelines.40
Investment RequiredMaximum 25 points
Urban centre
$100,000 (mandatory minimum)5
$100,001 to $500,00011
$150,001 to $200,00018
Over $200,00025
Regional Area
$50,000 (mandatory minimum)5
$50,001 to $100,00011
$100,001 to $150,00018
Over $150,00025
Additional investment after launchMaximum 20 points
Urban areas and communities outside the Edmonton and Calgary Metropolitan Regions
$100,000 to $150,0005
$150,001 to $200,00010
$200,001 to $250,00015
Over $250,00020
Regional Areas
$50,000 to $100,0005
$100,001 to $150,00010
$150,001 to $200,00015
Over $200,00020
Job CreationMaximum 15 points
1 job5
2 job10
3 jobs or more15

How to Apply?

  1. Expression of Interest (EOI) Submission: Candidates meeting minimum requirements register a profile using AINP’s online portal.
  2. Ranking and Invitation: Profiles are scored and ranked using the FGES Points Grid; top candidates are invited to submit a Business Application.
  3. Business Application Submission: Invited candidates submit a complete application within 90 days, with the business plan evaluated by an AINP-designated agency and Qualified Service Provider.
  4. Application Fee: All online AINP Business Applications require a $3,500 CAD application fee.
  5. Approval and Agreement: If AINP approves the Business Application, candidates sign a Business Performance Agreement, a legal document outlining conditions for permanent residence nomination.
  6. Approval Letter: Alberta issues a Business Application Approval Letter upon agreement from all parties.
  7. Residency and Operation: Candidates must fulfill conditions, residing and operating their business in Alberta for at least 12 months before submitting a final report for AINP Nomination.
  8. Provincial Nomination: After receiving a provincial nomination, applicants have six months to submit a federal application for Canadian permanent residence.
  9. Paper-Based Permanent Residence Application: Applicants in this program submit a paper-based permanent residence application by mail to the appropriate application center.
  10. Processing Time: Paper-based PNP applications for permanent residence are generally processed within 18 months.

Stay Connected

Recent News