Alberta Graduate Entrepreneur Stream

What are the eligibility requirements for the Alberta Graduate Entrepreneur Stream?

• Education Requirements:

Candidates must possess a minimum two-year degree or diploma from an Alberta Advanced Education publicly funded post-secondary institution, which must make the applicant eligible for a Post-Graduate Work Permit.

• Work Experience:

There is no set requirement for work experience in this stream. However, having a minimum of 6 months of full-time work experience in business management or ownership, or equivalent, can enhance a candidate’s chances of success. Equivalency can include entrepreneurship program courses or experience with a business incubator or accelerator.

• Work Permit:

Applicants must hold a valid post-graduate work permit when submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) profile.

• Business Establishment:

To be eligible, candidates must either establish a new business or purchase an existing one in Alberta with at least 34% ownership.

Alberta Graduate Entrepreneur Stream Application Procedure

The Graduate Entrepreneur Stream follows a process based on Expression of Interest (EOI). Prospective candidates who meet the eligibility criteria of the stream can register a profile through the AINP’s online platform. The profiles submitted by the candidates will then be evaluated, scored, and ranked against each other through the GES Points Grid. The candidates with the highest scores will receive an invitation from AINP to submit a comprehensive Business Plan.

Candidates who receive the invitation to submit a Business Plan must submit a complete application to the stream within a timeframe of 90 days from the receipt of the request. The business plan must be assessed by a Qualified Service Provider designated by AINP. The online submission of AINP Business Applications is subject to a non-refundable application fee of CAD 3,500.

As part of the process, candidates must sign a Business Performance Agreement with Alberta, which outlines the conditions for obtaining a nomination for permanent residency. Upon mutual agreement of all parties and successful execution of the Business Performance Agreement, Alberta will issue a Business Application Approval Letter. Candidates are expected to fulfill the conditions outlined in the agreement and maintain residence and operation of their business in Alberta for at least 12 months before submitting a final report to AINP for nomination.

After obtaining a provincial nomination, applicants must file a federal application for Canadian permanent residency within six months. This process requires a paper-based application, which must be submitted by mail to the relevant application center. The processing time for paper-based PNP applications for permanent residency is approximately 18 months.