Alberta Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream

The Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream is a collaboration between Alberta and approved designated agencies. If you're interested in applying to immigrate to Canada under this stream, you are required to work with a designated agency.

If you meet the requirements set out by the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program, the designated agency will issue a letter of recommendation.

You will then be required to submit that letter with your Expression of Interest (EOI) through AAIP Portal, the province's online portal. You are required to submit an EOI to show your interest in immigrating to Alberta.

The designated agency will review your business plans based on your ability to demonstrate the potential for successful market entry, customer acquisition, business development, key partnerships and financial plans to fund the development and operation of the business. The agency will provide a report on their assessment of the business plan. You must submit this report as part of your Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream Business Application.

Approved Designated Agencies

If you are interested in the Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Streams, you should contact one of the following agencies:

• Empowered Start-Ups

• Platform Calgary 

Minimum Requirements

To apply for the Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream, you must meet the following requirements:

Work Experience

You need to have at least 6 months of full-time work experience of actively managing or owning the business, or work experience with a business incubator or business accelerator.

Education

You must have completed a degree from a post-secondary institution within the last ten years. You must also obtain an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA).

Business Plan

You are also required to submit a business plan with projected financials.

Pitch Deck

You must prepare a 10-minute presentation that outlines the proposed business. Assume this presentation is for an investor.

Language requirements

You must have a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of 5 for each English language skill (reading, writing, listening and speaking)

OR

Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) of 7 for each French language skill (reading, writing, listening and speaking).

Test results that are more than two years old at the time of EOI submission will not be accepted.

Business establishment

You must have at least 34% ownership if the business is located in an urban centre, or at least 51% ownership if the business is located in a regional area outside Calgary and Edmonton.

Business investment

Before coming to Alberta, you must make an investment of at least CAD $100,000 if the business is located in an urban centre, or CAD $50,000 if it is located in a regional area. The more you invest, the more points you will gain.

The investment must be from your own equity, or from a recognized Canadian financial institution, venture capital or angel investment firm. 

Letter of recommendation

You must have a letter of recommendation from an AAIP-approved designated agency.

Settlement Funds

In addition to the above, you are required to demonstrate that you have the funds required to set up your business and support yourself while you are doing so.

The amount you need to have to support yourself depends on two factors: how many people are in your family, and the population of the community you will launch your business in.

Points Assessment