The guide below takes a deep look into one of the streams of Alberta’s Provincial Nominee Program (AAIP), the Graduate Entrepreneur stream (GE). The guide will go through an overview of the stream, its eligibility requirements, how it works, the documentation needed, its cost and processing times.
Graduate Entrepreneur – Overview
The Graduate Entrepreneur stream (GE) is one of Alberta’s PNP streams that is dedicated to international graduate entrepreneurs already in Canada who would like to establish or buy a business in the province.
When receiving a nomination under the GE, candidates can then apply for Permanent Residence to the federal government of Canada.
This stream is not aligned with Express Entry, which means that candidates cannot take advantage of the 6-month average processing times of Express Entry. Processing times of Provincial Nominee Programs (not aligned with Express Entry) are usually longer and take at least 1 year.
The GE has minimum eligibility requirements, however, the AAIP does not send Invitations to Apply to every candidate that meets these minimum criteria. Each candidate, when entering the system, has a score (up to 125 points) that depends on multiple factors (explained in detail in the Eligibility Requirements section). In fact, the AAIP selects candidates with the highest scores.
Graduate Entrepreneur – Eligibility
Eligible and ineligible businesses
To be eligible to the Graduate Entrepreneur stream (GE), the proposed business must align with the following general requirements:
- The purpose must be to make a profit from active or earned income, not passive income, through the sale of goods and/or services.
- The proposed business must comply with any applicable federal, provincial or municipal legal, regulatory or licensing requirements that govern its operation (including Alberta labour laws).
- The proposed business must comply with applicable trade certification requirements in Alberta.
- The proposed business must have a physical place of business in Alberta at all times.
- For franchises, the ownership requirements and all other program criteria are the same as for other businesses. Candidates must also provide evidence that they have received support from the master franchisor to operate a franchise location.
Some types of businesses are not eligible for the GE:
- Any business in contravention of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations
- Businesses without a value-add economic component, including:
- pay day loan, cheque cashing and related businesses
- businesses trading in used goods
- Businesses that would be considered passive investment and/or lack active management, including
- property rental, investment and leasing activities
- real estate development/brokerage, insurance brokerage or business brokerage
- coin-operated businesses, including laundromats and car wash operations
- Project based or seasonal businesses
- Home-based businesses, including:
- businesses that are not zoned for commercial or industrial operations
- bed-and-breakfasts and lodging houses
- Businesses that are part of a succession plan. This includes businesses that:
- are owned/operated by a close relative of the candidate
- were previously owned/operated by a current or former AAIP entrepreneur stream candidates/nominees within the past 4 years
- have changed ownership in the past 3 years prior to GE application
- Businesses involved in producing, distributing or selling pornography or sexually explicit products or services, or providing sexually oriented services.
- Any other type of business that by association would tend to bring the AAIP and the Government of Alberta into disrepute.
Minimum criteria and GE 125-Point Grid
There are minimum criteria that have to be met in order to be eligible to the GE stream. You need to:
- 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,
- have a valid Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP),
- have a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of 7 for each English or French language skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking, and
- establish a new business or buy an existing business in Alberta with a minimum 34% ownership (you are not required to establish the business until your application is approved by the AAIP but you will be required to reside in Alberta and be involved in the day-to-day management of the business).
Other criteria are explained in detail below in the GE 125-point grid.
As said earlier, meeting minimum eligibility requirements does not necessarily mean that you will receive an invitation to apply from the AAIP, which will select the highest scores.
There are 3 factors under which you can score points that are explained in detail below. Remember that for each factor you will be claiming points for, you will have to provide supporting documents to prove you satisfy to the criteria of the factor.
Factor 1 – Business Establishment Factors (Max 75 points):
Sub-Factor 1.1 – Business Management or Ownership Experience or equivalent (Max 15 points):
You can score points if you have Business Management or Ownership Experience or equivalent (equivalencies include work experience with a business incubator or business accelerator or completion of entrepreneurship program courses).
This is not a mandatory requirement.
| Sub-Factor 1.1 – Business Management or Ownership Experience or equivalent | Points |
|---|---|
| More than 1 year | 15 |
| More than 6 months to 1 year | 10 |
| 6 months | 5 |
Sub-Factor 1.2 – Economic Benefit (Max 40 points):
You can score points if your proposed business satisfies to the following criteria.
This is not a mandatory requirement.
| Sub-Factor 1.2 – Economic Benefit | Points |
|---|---|
| Economic development sector (for example, energy; agriculture; technology/data/telecom/ aviation/aerospace; financial services/fintech) | 15 |
| Succession | 5 |
| Job creation (for Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents (not including relatives) for a period of at least 6 months) | 1 job: 5 2 jobs: 10 3 jobs: 15 |
| Rural (proposed business outside Edmonton and Calgary Census Metropolitan Areas) | 5 |
Sub-Factor 1.3 – Total Business Investment (Max 20 points):
You can score points depending on the dollar amount invested in the proposed business.
This is not a mandatory requirement.
| Sub-Factor 1.3 – Total Business Investment | Points |
|---|---|
| $75,001 or more | 20 |
| $50,001 to $75,000 | 15 |
| $25,001 to $50,000 | 10 |
| $25,000 or less | 5 |
Factor 2 – Human Capital Factors (Max 25 points):
Sub-Factor 2.1 – Language Proficiency (Max 15 points):
You must demonstrate you have a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) test score of 7 for each language skill, either in French or in English (which will get you 5 points). You can score more points if your CLB score for each language skill is above 7.
You are considered ineligible to the stream if you have less than CLB7 in one of the language skills.
| Sub-Factor 2.1 – Language Proficiency | Points |
|---|---|
| CLB9 or higher | 15 |
| CLB8 | 10 |
| CLB7 | 5 |
Sub-Factor 2.2 – Alberta Education (Max 10 points):
You must 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 (see list below). You can score more points if you have more than one degree or diploma or if you have a Master’s degree.
You are considered ineligible to the stream if you have studied outside Alberta or for a credential of less than 2 years in Alberta.
| Sub-Factor 2.2 – Alberta Education | Points |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree or higher in Alberta | 10 |
| Two or more post-secondary credentials in Alberta | 7 |
| Post-secondary credential of two years in Alberta | 5 |
Alberta Advanced Education publicly funded post-secondary institution
- Comprehensive academic and research universities (CARUs)
- Comprehensive community colleges (CCCs)
- Independent academic institutions (IAIs)
- Polytechnic institutions (PIs)
- Specialized arts and cultural institutions (SACIs)
- Undergraduate universities (UUs)
Factor 3 – Adaptability Factors (Max 25 points):
Sub-Factor 3.1 – Age ( Max 5 points):
You will earn no points if you have less than 21 years OR if you have more than 49 years.
This is not a mandatory requirement.
| Sub-Factor 3.1 – Age | Points |
|---|---|
| 21 to 49 years old | 5 |
Sub-Factor 3.2 – Spouse/Partner characteristics (Max 10 points):
You can only earn a maximum of 10 points in this factor, even if you can score more than 10 points.
This is not a mandatory requirement.
| Sub-Factor 3.2 – Spouse/Common-law characteristics | Points |
|---|---|
| Your spouse/partner has at least 1 year of continuous full-time employment in Alberta | 10 |
| Your spouse/partner has completed at least 2 years of full-time study at a post-secondary institution in Alberta | 10 |
| Your spouse/partner has a minimum level CLB 5 in English or NCLC 5 in French in all 4 language abilities | 10 |
Sub-Factor 3.3 – Alberta Relatives (Max 10 points):
You can earn points if you have relatives currently living full-time in Alberta. Relatives are defined as father, step-father, mother, step-mother, child, step-child, sister, step-sister, brother, step-brother of candidate or spouse/common-law partner.
This is not a mandatory requirement.
| Sub-Factor 3.3 – Alberta Relatives | Points |
|---|---|
| You or spouse/partner have a relative living full-time in Alberta | 10 |
Graduate Entrepreneur – Application Process
For a better understanding of the process, below is a list of the steps involved in obtaining Permanent Residence through the Graduate Entrepreneur stream (GE):
Step 1:
- A candidate must register an Expression of Interest (EOI), meaning filling in forms, and uploading supporting documentation, which include the GE Business Proposal Summary, the Net Worth worksheet, etc. This allows them to be included in the pool of candidates and be assigned a score out of 125 points based on their specific factors. The AAIP will review and score the EOI within 30 days.
- If selected by the AAIP, the candidate must submit within 90 days a Business Application to the AAIP, which includes a Business Plan Evaluation Report and possibly a Qualified Service Provider Report to assess the candidate’s net worth and business investment by an approved service provider (list below).
- If the processing of the candidate’s application is successful, they must sign a Business Performance Agreement whereby they commit to achieving their intended investment. The agreement usually contains (but is not limited to) (i) investment amounts and timelines for commitments, (ii) number and types of jobs to be created for Canadian citizens or permanent residents, (iii) mandatory business milestones and achievements, etc.
- Once all parties have signed the Business Performance Agreement, the AAIP will provide a Business Application Approval Letter.
Step 2:
- Upon receiving the Business Application Approval Letter and Letter of Support, the candidate is required to reside in Alberta and meet the conditions of the Business Performance Agreement.
- Candidates must submit a Start-up Report to the AAIP within 30 days of receiving the Business Application Approval Letter, and submit a Business Progress Report every 6 months.
- Once the candidate has satisfied the conditions of their Business Performance Agreement, they can submit a Final Report for AAIP Nomination. If successful, candidates will be issued a provincial nomination by the AAIP.
- The candidate must finally apply for permanent residence to IRCC within 6 months of receiving the nomination. The candidate needs to apply on paper to IRCC, and include documents received by the AAIP.
Please note that international graduates who currently own and operate a business in Alberta and are eligible for this stream can still apply but the established business must have operated in Alberta for at least one year. Instead of being issued a Business Performance Agreement, the AAIP will directly issue the candidate a nomination certificate. They are only required to operate their business in Alberta while they go through the permanent residence application process with IRCC.
Approved Service Providers - Business Plan Evaluation Report
KPMG LLP
3100, 2005 5 Avenue SW
Calgary, Alberta T2P 4B9
Telephone: 416-777-3887
Fax: 403-691-8008
Website: www.kpmg.ca
Email: ainpverification@kpmg.ca
MNP LLP
Suite 1600, MNP Tower
10235 101 Street NW
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 3G1
Telephone: 587-441-6021
Fax: 403-269-8450
Website: www.mnp.ca/en/services/enterprise-risk/provincial-nominee-program/alberta
Email: ainp-bp@mnp.ca
Approved Service Providers - Qualified Service Provider Report
Grant Thornton LLP
1701 Scotia Place 2, 10060 Jasper Avenue NW
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 3R8
Telephone: 780-422-7114
Fax: 780-426-3208
Website: www.grantthornton.ca
Email: abpnp@ca.gt.com
KPMG LLP
3100, 2005 5 Avenue SW
Calgary, Alberta T2P 4B9
Telephone: 416-777-3887
Fax: 403-691-8008
Website: www.kpmg.ca
Email: ainpverification@kpmg.ca
MNP LLP
Suite 1600, MNP Tower
10235 101 Street NW
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 3G1
Telephone: 587-441-6021
Fax: 403-269-8450
Website: www.mnp.ca/en/services/enterprise-risk/provincial-nominee-program/alberta
Email: ainp-bp@mnp.ca
Graduate Entrepreneur – Application Fees
The fee for this stream is quite expensive, one of the most expensive in all other Provincial Nominee Programs. It is set at 3,500 CAD. It can only be paid by a credit or debit card. Application fees are non-refundable.
An additional 200 CAD fee is required for the AAIP for assess the expression of interest.
The fees associated with obtaining and preparing the required documents such as the Business Plan Evaluation Report are not included in the application fees.
Graduate Entrepreneur – Processing Times
As of August 12, 2024
Graduate Entrepreneur Stream approximate average processing times:
- Expression of Interest scoring (between submitting the EOI and scoring is completed) : 1 month
- Business Application decision (between submitting the full Business Application and receiving the approval) : 3 months
- Final report and nomination (between submitting the final report and receiving a final decision on nomination) : 4 months
