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Alberta Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream (AFGE)

Alberta Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream

immilib.com/AFGE

Class
Section
Category
Destination
Selection
  • P.N.P: Provincial Nominee Programs
  • S.D: Sponsor-driven
  • P.S: Point System
  • E.O.I: Expression of Interest
Applicant
Visa
  • Permanent Resident
  • |
  • Work
Status
  • Open

Table of Contents

GSB

ASB

SUMMARY

Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP)

The Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream is an immigration path that nominates talented and eligible foreign educated graduates from outside Canada for permanent residence in Alberta when they launch an innovative start-up business.
Foreign graduates, who are interested in applying under this stream, must work with a designated agency. The designated agency will issue a letter of recommendation if it deems that the foreign graduate meets the AAIP requirements. The foreign graduate must submit the letter of recommendation with their Expression of Interest (EOI) through the AAIP Portal.

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ASA

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

The following requirements must be met if you are applying to Alberta Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream:

1- Education

You must have completed a degree from a post-secondary institution outside of Canada with an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA).
This degree must have been completed within the last ten (10) years at the time of EOI submission, and must be equivalent to a Canadian degree.

2- Language Ability

You must have an approved test results taken within two (2) years prior to EOI being submitted. You must have obtained a minimum score of Canadian Language Benchmark CLB 5 in all for abilities in English or French (➨Appendix 5).

3- Work Experience

At the time of submission of EOI, you must have at least six (6) months full-time work experience that can be a combination of actively managing or owning the business or equivalent (equivalencies are work experience with business incubator or business accelerator).

4- Eligible Business Idea

You must have a business that is connected to one of the following sectors:
  • Technology
  • Aerospace
  • Financial services
  • Energy
  • Agriculture
  • Tourism
  • Life sciences
  • Pharmaceuticals
You must also prepare a 10-minute presentation (slides only) that outlines the proposed business venture and focuses on what an investor would want to see.

5- Recommendation of a Designated Organization

You must have a letter of recommendation from an AAIP-approved designated agency.
You should contact the following approved designated agencies to present your business plan with projected financial information if you are interested to apply to the Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur stream:
List of Approved Designated Agencies

Empowered Startups

420-744 West Hastings

Vancouver, British Columbia

V6C 1A5

Phone: 604-229-1052

Fax: 604-229-2037

[email protected]

empoweredstartups.com

Platform Calgary

429 – 8 Avenue SE

Calgary, Alberta

T2G 0L6

Phone: 403-284-6400

[email protected]

www.platformcalgary.com

6- Settlement Funds

You must show that you have enough money for you and your family to settle in Canada based on 50% of Statistics Canada’s Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) (➨Appendix 2).

7- Ineligibility

You are not eligible to apply under the Alberta Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur stream if:
  • You have an active nomination which has not expired and/or is eligible for extension under another AAIP stream. Candidates are only eligible for one AAIP Nomination Certificate.
  • You are a refugee claimant in Canada, a failed refugee claimant, had a removal order, are prohibited from entering or being in Canada, do not have status in Canada or are living illegally in your country of residence.

Ready to take the next step towards your Canadian immigration journey? Fill out the form below and embark on your path to new opportunities.

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AGMRA

ALBERTA BUSINESS REQUIREMENTS

In order to qualify as an eligible business under the Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream, you must currently own and operate a business in Alberta that meets the following criteria:

1- Business Ownership / Management

You must own at least 34% of the equity of a business in Alberta in an urban centre (Edmonton or Calgary) or at least %51 is a regional centre. You must provide active and on-going participation in the day to day management of the business for at least twelve (12) months. You may not do this remotely, or from another Canadian province or territory or from another country and you are required to demonstrate residence in Alberta while on a work permit.

2- Minimum Investment

You must make a minimum level of investment from your (or spouse or common-law partner) own equity or from a recognized Canadian financial institution, venture capital, or angel investment firm prior to coming to Alberta. The mandatory minimum investment for an urban centre is $100,000 while the mandatory minimum investment for a regional area is $50,000.

3- Type of Business

You must have a business that is connected to one of the following sectors:
  • Technology
  • Aerospace
  • Financial services
  • Energy
  • Agriculture
  • Tourism
  • Life sciences
  • Pharmaceuticals
The business purpose must be to make a profit from active income through the sale of goods and/or services.
The following types of businesses are not eligible under Alberta Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream:
  • Any business in contravention of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations (for example, immigration-linked investment schemes or passive investment).
  • Businesses without a value-add economic component, including pay day loan, cheque cashing and related businesses and businesses trading in used goods
  • Businesses that would be considered passive investment and/or lack active management, including insurance brokerage or business brokerage
  • Project based or seasonal businesses
  • Home-based businesses, including bed-and-breakfasts and lodging houses
  • Businesses that are part of a succession plan.
  • 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.

4- Active Management

You must provide active and on-going participation in the day to day management and direction of the business at the business site.

CALCULATE YOUR SCORE

If you meet the minimum requirement, then you must calculate your total score based on the following selection factors (➨immilib.com/AFGE-Grid). There is no minimum required score. But you will be ranked based upon your points assessment score and placed in an Expression of Interest (EOI) pool.

Candidates will be ranked against each other and only top ranked candidates will be invited to apply. A draw will occur with only the top ranked candidates being selected and issued an invitation to apply. The selection factors may be summarized as follows:
Selection Factor Maximum Points
Factor 1: Language Ability 30
Factor 2: Education 35
Factor 3: Business management, ownership or equivalent 35
Factor 4: Business Plan 40
Factor 5: Investment 45
Factor 6: Job Creation 15
Maximum 200

Factor 1: Language Ability

To be awarded point for language, you must have taken an approved test results. Test must be taken no more than two (2) years prior to submission of your EOI as well as your application.

The lowest score achieved in the four (4) skills (Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening) is your score.
First Official Language (English or French)
First Official Language (Lowest score in any of 4 skills) Points
CLB 8 and higher 30
CLB 7 20
CLB 6 15
CLB 5 10
Below CLB 5 Not Eligible

To prove your language abilities you must take any of the following approved tests:

  • English: IELTS General or CELPIP General or PTE Core
  • French: TEF Canada or TCF Canada

To find out the equivalent CLB level for any of the above approved tests (➨Appendix 5).

Factor 2: Education

You can receive up to 35 points for your degree from a post-secondary institution outside of Canada within the last 10 (ten) years with an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) (➨Appendix 3).
Level of Education Points
Doctoral degree 15
Master’s degree 10
Bachelor’s degree 5
None of the above Not Eligible
You will get additional points if you have a degree in any of the following degrees (to a total of 20 points.)
Preference Degrees Points
Completed a degree within the last 5 years 10
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics 5
Business 10

Factor 3: Business Management / Ownership Experience

You may claim up to 20 points based on your business experience. The number of points is based on your past business ownership experience or senior management experience or equivalent (equivalencies include work experience with a business incubator or business accelerator).
Management Experience Points
More than 2 years 20
1 to 2 years 15
more than 6 months to less than 1 year 10
6 months 5
Less than 6 months Not Eligible
You will get 15 additional points if you have business ownership experience.
Ownership Experience Points
Ownership Experience 15

Factor 4: Business Plan

You will get a maximum of 40 points for your business plan with projected financial information.
Business Plan Points
Business Plan 40

Factor 5: Investment

You can receive up to 25 points for your level of initial investment from your (or spouse or common-law partner) own equity or from a recognized Canadian financial institution, venture capital, or angel investment firm prior to coming to Alberta.
Initial Investment Points

For business in an urban centre:

Edmonton and Calgary Census

Metropolitan Areas (CMAs)

 Over $200,000 25
$150,001 to $200,000 18
$100,001 to $150,000 11
$100,000 5
Less than $100,000 Not Eligible

For business in regional area:

Communities outside the Edmonton and

Calgary CMAs

 Over $150,000 25
$100,001 to $150,000 18
$50,001 to $100,000 11
$50,000 5
Less than $150,000 Not Eligible

You will also receive points for your proposed investment after launch of your business. It can also be from your (or spouse or common-law partner) own equity or from a recognized Canadian financial institution, venture capital, or angel investment firm.

Proposed Investment (After Launch) Points

For business in an urban centre:

Edmonton and Calgary Census

Metropolitan Areas (CMAs)

 Over $250,000 20
$200,001 to $250,000 15
$150,001 to $200,000 10
$100,000 to $150,000 5

For business in regional area:

Communities outside the Edmonton and

Calgary CMAs

 Over $200,000 25
$150,001 to $200,000 18
$100,001 to $150,000 11
$50,000 to $100,000 5

Factor 6: Job Creation

You will receive up to 15 points based on your proposed full-time equivalent (FTE) job creation. Jobs must be created for Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents (not including relatives) for a period of at least six (6) months.
Number of Full-time Jobs Points
3 or more 15
2 10
1 5
0 0
Your Total Score  

GCYSA

ACYSA

WHAT STEPS SHOULD YOU TAKE?

Step 1: Prepare Business Plan and Pitch Deck

You will need to submit a Business Plan as part of your application. You must submit a business plan that demonstrates that the business will be viable and likely to provide material economic benefit to the economy of Alberta as a whole or to the local economy where the business will be located.

In addition to a Business Plan, you must submit your EOI, you need to prepare a 10-minute presentation (slides only) that outlines the proposed business venture and focuses on what an investor would want to see.

Step 2: Get Recommendation from a Designated Agency

You must have a letter of recommendation from an AAIP-approved designated agency.
You should contact the one of the approved designated agencies (listed above) to present your business plan with projected financial information if you are interested to apply to the Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur stream.
List of Approved Designated Agencies

Empowered Startups

420-744 West Hastings

Vancouver, British Columbia

V6C 1A5

Phone: 604-229-1052

Fax: 604-229-2037

[email protected]

empoweredstartups.com

Platform Calgary

429 – 8 Avenue SE

Calgary, Alberta

T2G 0L6

Phone: 403-284-6400

[email protected]

www.platformcalgary.com/programs-and-events/foreign-grad/
The designated agency will review your business plan based on your ability to demonstrate market need or demand, potential for short- to medium-term market entry, customer acquisition, business development, key partnerships, and financial plans to fund the development and operation of the start-up. The designated agency will evaluate the business plan and gives you a written report (Business Plan Evaluation Report). You must submit this report with your business application.

Step 3: Submit an Online Expression of Interest (EOI)

If you meet all the criteria above, you can submit your Expression of Interest (EOI) by accessing the AAIP Portal (➨ immilib.com/AFGE-Apply). The AAIP will review and score your EOI within 30 days of submission (➨immilib.com/AFGE-Draws). Highest-ranking candidates will be requested to submit a Business Application.

AAIP Application
Submit the application online:
immilib.com/AFGE-Apply
Official Program Guide:
immilib.com/AFGE-Guide
AAIP Application Fee:
$3500
AAIP EOI Fee:
$200
Processing Time:
immilib.com/AB-PT
Document Checklist:
immilib.com/AFGE-Doc
Contact:
780-6382843, 780-6447534
[email protected]
EOIs are placed in the pool of qualified candidates for a period of twelve (12) months from the date of their original submission.

Step 4: Submit Application to AAIP

Your information will be assessed based on a Points Grid. Candidates with the highest-ranking points will be contacted directly by the AAIP and invited to submit a Business Application. If you receive the Invitation Letter, you will be able to access the AAIP Portal and start the application process.
Once the Business Application and supporting documents are received, the AAIP will assess your Business Application. If the AAIP approves your application, you will be sent a Business Performance Agreement (BPA) for your review and signature.
If your application is declined, you may be eligible to submit a request for reconsideration.

Step 5: Business Plan Report / Qualified Service Provider Report

Business Plan Evaluation Report by one of the Designated Agencies must be submitted with your application.
You may be required to have your net worth and business investment assessed by the Qualified Service Provider. If requested by the AAIP you must also get a Qualified Service Provider Report from one of the following agencies.
List of AAIP Qualified Service Providers

Grant Thornton

1701 Scotia Place 2

10060 Jasper Avenue NW

Edmonton, Alberta T5J 3R8

(780) 422-7114

[email protected]

www.grantthornton.ca

KPMG-LLP

3100, 2005 5 Avenue SW

Calgary, Alberta T2P 4B9

(416) 777-3887

[email protected]

www.kpmg.ca

MNP-LLP

Suite 1600, MNP Tower

10235 101 Street NW

Edmonton, Alberta T5J 3G1

(587) 441-6021

[email protected]

www.mnp.ca
Once the Business Application and supporting documents are received, the AAIP will assess your Business Application. If the AAIP approves your application, you will be sent a Business Performance Agreement (BPA) for your review and signature.
If your application is declined, you may be eligible to submit a request for reconsideration.

Step 6: Business Performance Agreement (BPA)

If you meet all Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream criteria and get approved by AAIP, you will be sent a Business Performance Agreement for your review and signature.
You must scan your signed and dated Business Performance Agreement and submit as instructed within fourteen (14) days from the date the agreement was sent to you.
Your Business Performance Agreement is your legal agreement with the Province of Alberta. It will state the amount you will invest in your business and the business sector where you will operate your business. The Business Performance Agreement will also list any other information relevant to your application including but not limited to: job creation, business succession, and business location. This is based upon the information you supplied in your Business Plan.

Step 7: Apply for Work permit

Upon receipt of your signed and dated Business Performance Agreement, AAIP will issue you with an Approval Letter and instructions on how to apply for a Work Permit. A work permit allows you to settle in Alberta and operate your business.

You must then provide the work permit letter of support, your business plan and your signed Business Performance Agreement to the Government of Canada with an application for a temporary work permit (➨Page).

You are required to submit your application for a work permit to IRCC within 3 months of receiving this letter so to facilitate your arrival in Alberta within 12 months of receiving your Business Application Approval Letter.

Step 8: Business Establishment in Alberta

Upon receiving your Business Application Approval Letter and your work permit, you are required to reside in Alberta and actively operate your business on a day-to-day basis as per the requirements of your BPA and Business Plan.
To be eligible for nomination you must satisfy the terms of your signed BPA within the validity of your Work Permit and demonstrate operation of your business for no less than twelve (12) months.

Step 9: Request for Nomination

In order to be eligible for nomination you must be living in Alberta and you must have fulfilled the terms outlined in the Business Performance Agreement including operating business for at least twelve (12) months, transferring the required funds to Canada, and maintaining legal status in Canada.
Once you have fulfilled your Business Performance Agreement, you can request nomination. To do so, you should electronically submit an application for nomination.
You must demonstrate that you have actively managed your business for a minimum of twelve (12) months in Alberta and also satisfy the officer that you have been, and remain, a resident in Alberta. If approved for nomination the AAIP will send a nomination certificate so you can apply to IRCC for permanent residence.

Step 10: Apply for Permanent Residence

If you are nominated by the Province of Alberta, then your next step is to submit a complete application for a permanent resident visa within six (6) months (➨Page).

You must submit your application using the IRCC Permanent Residence Portal (PR Portal) (➨ immilib.com/PR-Portal).

If your application is complete, you will receive a letter or an email confirming that your file has been received and accepted for processing. This letter is called the Acknowledge of Receipt (AOR) and will include your IRCC file number.

Once you have received your acknowledgement of receipt, you can create an online account and link your application to it. By creating an account, you will be able to receive email updates and a more detailed case status.

Step 11: Landing in Canada

If your application is approved, you will be asked to pay your right of permanent residence fee if you haven't already done so. You will receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (CoPR) and if you are from a country that requires a visa you will also be issued a permanent resident visa.

You will only become a Permanent Resident of Canada when you cross a Canadian port of entry. This is referred to as ‘landing in Canada' (➨Page).

You must land in Canada before the expiry date, which appears on your Canada Immigration Visa. Usually, the expiry date is one (1) year from the time medical examinations were completed. As this is not always the case, be sure to verify the expiry date as soon as the Canada Immigration Visa is received.

Ready to take the next step towards your Canadian immigration journey? Fill out the form below and embark on your path to new opportunities.

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