The Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream is an economic immigration program that nominates qualified foreign-educated graduates from outside Canada for permanent residence after they establish start-up enterprises and innovative businesses in Alberta. This stream is a partnership between the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) and approved designated agencies.
Foreign graduates interested in this stream must collaborate with a designated agency. If the agency determines that the graduate meets the AAIP’s requirements, it will issue a letter of recommendation. This letter must be submitted with the graduate’s Expression of Interest (EOI) via the AAIP Portal.
The designated agency will evaluate the business plan based on factors like market demand, potential for success, customer acquisition, business development, key partnerships, and financial planning. The agency will then provide a written assessment, which the graduate must include in their Business Application for the Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream.
The role of the designated agency is to:
Foreign graduates interested in applying for the Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream should contact one of the following approved designated agencies:
To be eligible for the Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream, candidates must meet the following requirements:
Area | Requirements |
Work Experience | Minimum of 6 months of full-time work experience in managing or owning a business or equivalent (e.g., work experience with a business incubator or accelerator). |
Education | Completion of a degree from a post-secondary institution outside of Canada, with an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA). The degree must: |
Business Plan | A business plan with projected financials, following the Business Plan Guidelines. |
Pitch Deck | A 10-minute presentation (slides only) outlining the proposed business venture, focusing on what an investor would want to see. |
Language | Minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of 5 for each English skill or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) of 5 for each French skill (reading, writing, listening, speaking). Official test results must be less than two years old at the time of EOI submission. Accepted tests: |
Business Establishment | Must own a minimum of 34% of the business if located in an urban center, or at least 51% if located in a regional area outside of Calgary and Edmonton Census Metropolitan Areas. |
Business Investment | Minimum investment required from the candidate’s (or spouse/common-law partner’s) own equity or from a recognized Canadian financial institution, venture capital, or angel investment firm: |
Letter of Recommendation | Must have a letter of recommendation from an AAIP-approved designated agency. |
Settlement Funds | Must demonstrate sufficient funds to support the business and personal expenses while on a work permit and launching the business. |
Settlement Funds Requirement for Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream (in Canadian Dollars)
These amounts represent the funds needed for at least the next 6 months to support you and your family while setting up your business in Alberta. The required funds increase based on the number of family members and the community size.
Number of Family Members | Less than 1,000 | 1,000 to 30,000 | 30,000 to 99,999 | 100,000 to 499,999 | 500,000 and over |
1 | $8,922 | $10,151 | $11,093 | $12,961 | $12,960 |
2 | $11,107 | $12,636 | $13,810 | $16,135 | $16,135 |
3 | $13,655 | $15,534 | $16,977 | $19,836 | $19,836 |
4 | $16,579 | $18,861 | $20,613 | $24,084 | $24,083 |
5 | $18,803 | $21,392 | $23,379 | $27,315 | $27,315 |
6 | $21,208 | $24,127 | $26,367 | $30,807 | $30,806 |
7 | $23,611 | $26,861 | $29,356 | $34,299 | $34,299 |
Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream Points Grid
Human Capital (Maximum: 100 points)
Criteria | Description | Points |
Language Proficiency | CLB 5 (mandatory minimum), CLB 6-8 or higher | 10-30 |
Education | Degree completion with ECA, preferences for degrees completed in the last 5 years | 5-15 |
Business Management or Ownership | Experience in managing or owning a business or equivalent (e.g., business incubator) | 5-20 |
Business Factors (Maximum: 120 points)
Criteria | Description | Points |
Business Plan | Business plan with projected financials, as per AAIP guidelines | 40 |
Investment: Prior to Coming to Alberta | Ability to invest from personal equity or a financial institution (urban vs. regional) | 5-25 |
Proposed Investment: Additional After Launch | Additional investment after launch from personal equity or a financial institution | 5-20 |
Job Creation | Creating jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents | 5-15 |
Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream Mandatory Minimums
Criteria | Description | Pass or Fail |
Ownership of Start-up | Minimum 34% ownership in urban centres or 51% ownership in regional areas | Pass/Fail |
Business in Key or Priority Sectors | Must be in sectors like technology, aerospace, financial services, energy, etc. | Pass/Fail |
Settlement Funds | Demonstration of required settlement funds based on LICOs for 6 months | Pass/Fail |
Pitch Deck | A 10-minute investor-focused presentation of the business | Pass/Fail |
Letter of Recommendation | Must have a letter from an AAIP-approved designated agency | Pass/Fail |
Total Maximum Points: 200
Candidates must meet the pass or fail criteria to proceed with their application, while their total points will determine their ranking and eligibility for nomination.
Selection and Notification Process
After submitting your Business Application, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) will assess it against the eligibility criteria. The points from your Expression of Interest (EOI) will also be verified. If needed, an AAIP officer may contact you for additional information.
It’s important to note that submitting a Business Application or receiving a nomination from the AAIP does not guarantee that your application will be assessed, or that you will be nominated for permanent residence. AAIP reserves the right to determine which applications will be assessed based on the criteria.
Established Businesses in Alberta
Foreign graduates who currently own and operate a business in Alberta can apply for permanent residency through the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). To be eligible, they must meet the criteria outlined in the Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream Points Grid and the Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream Mandatory Minimums Grid at the time of submitting their Expression of Interest (EOI).
To qualify, the business must have been in operation in Alberta for at least one year immediately before submitting the EOI. Submissions will be ranked based on points, and candidates with the highest scores will be invited to submit a Business Application to the AAIP. Foreign graduates who already own and run their business in Alberta do not need to operate it for an additional year after applying.
Once the Business Application is submitted and reviewed, eligible foreign graduates will receive a nomination certificate and must continue operating their business in Alberta while their permanent residency application is processed with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Business Eligibility
It is your responsibility to ensure your business meets the eligibility criteria. If the business does not meet these standards or does not provide a significant economic benefit to Alberta, your application may be declined.
To be eligible under the Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream, the proposed business must:
