Graduate Entrepreneur Stream – Eligibility

Overview The Graduate Entrepreneur Stream allows Alberta to nominate qualified international graduates from Alberta post-secondary institutions who want to establish or operate a business in Alberta to apply for permanent residence. Who is an entrepreneur? An entrepreneur is a person who sets up a business with the aim to make a profit. An entrepreneur is commonly seen as an innovator, a source of new ideas, goods, services and business/or procedures. Entrepreneurs play a key role in Alberta’s economy, using their skills and initiative to anticipate needs and creating jobs for Albertans. Entrepreneurs who prove to be successful in taking on the risks of a start-up business are rewarded with profits and continued growth opportunities.

Grant Deadline

Deadline not available

Funding Amount

Deadline not available

Type of Grant

Hiring

Sectors

All Sectors

Demographics

Incorporation

For Profit

Perks

Region Restriction

This grant is restricted to whole of Canada

Keywords

Age Restriction

This grant is age restricted from 21 to 49

Eligibility and Requirements

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for this stream, candidates must meet the following criteria:

Table 1. Requirements for Graduate Entrepreneur Stream


Education

Have completed at least two years of full-time education, resulting in a degree or diploma from an Alberta Advanced Education publicly funded post-secondary institution.


Work permit

Have a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), which is valid at the time of your Expression of Interest (EOI) submission.


Language

Have a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of 7 for each English language skill or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) of 7 for each French language skill: reading, writing, listening and speaking. Official test results must be less than 2 years old at the time your EOI is submitted. Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) only accepts the following language tests:

Check the federal guideline on CLB/NCLC equivalency for each of the tests.


Business establishment

Must establish a new business or buy an existing business in Alberta with a minimum 34% ownership. The proposed business type must not be on the list of ineligible businesses.


Candidates are not required to establish a business in Alberta until their Business Application is approved by the AAIP. Find resources on how to establish a business in Alberta, including supports and services related to business plan development, business start-up, and business loans.


Business Partners must be Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents.


Table 2. Factors that increase your chances


Work experience

Have a minimum of 6 months of full-time work experience that can be a combination of actively managing or owning the business or equivalencies. Equivalencies include experience with a business incubator or business accelerator, or completion of entrepreneurship program courses.*


Work experience can be acquired:

Alberta education credential used to meet both education and work experience criteria must cover the minimum required duration for both education and work experience.


Economic benefit

Can provide economic benefit to Alberta through:


Age

21 to 49 years


Spouse

Your spouse or common-law partner has at least one of the following:


Alberta relative

You, or your spouse or common-law partner, have one or more of the following relatives living full-time in Alberta: father, step-father, mother, step-mother, child, step-child, sister, step-sister, brother, step-brother


 


Grant Application website

https://www.alberta.ca/aaip-graduate-entrepreneur-stream-eligibility.aspx

Contact

Contact


Connect with the program if you have questions:

Email: entrepreneur.supportservice@gov.ab.ca