Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream | Alberta's PNP

Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream for International Graduates

The Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream is a unique immigration stream offered under the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) that targets foreign graduates who have completed their studies outside of Canada and wish to establish or purchase a business in the province. This stream is designed to help foreign graduates start and grow their businesses in Alberta, contributing to the province’s economic development and creating job opportunities for the local population.

To be eligible for the Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream, candidates must have a degree from a post-secondary institution outside of Canada with an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA). They must also have a viable business plan for a new or existing business that they wish to establish or purchase in Alberta. Additionally, the mandatory minimum investment for an urban center is $100,000 while the mandatory minimum investment for a regional area is $50,000. Successful candidates under the Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream are nominated for permanent residency in Canada and can benefit from a streamlined application process. They are also provided with business development support and mentoring to help them establish and grow their businesses in Alberta.

The Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream is an excellent option for international graduates who wish to come to Canada and start their own businesses. Alberta is a vibrant and prosperous province with a strong entrepreneurial spirit and a welcoming business environment, making it an ideal location for foreign graduates to establish and grow their businesses.

Eligibility Criteria

Area	Requirements
Work experience	Minimum of 6 months full-time work experience that can be a combination of actively managing or owning the business or equivalent
Education	Completion of 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 10 years at the time of EOI submission, and must be equivalent to a Canadian degree.
Business plan	A business plan with projected financials.
Pitch deck	A 10-minute presentation (slides only) that outlines the proposed business venture and focuses on what an investor would want to see.
Language	Minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of 5 for each English language skill or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) of 5 for each French language skill: reading, writing, listening and speaking. Language tests: Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) General Test International English Language Testing System (IELTS) General Training Test Test d’evaluation de francais (TEF) Canada Test de connaissance du francais (TCF) Canada
Business establishment	Must have a minimum of 34% ownership if the business is located in an urban centre or a minimum of 51% ownership if located in regional area outside Calgary and Edmonton Census Metropolitan Areas. Business Partners must be Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents. Business must not be on the list of ineligible businesses.
Business investment	A minimum level of investment from candidate’s (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 center is $100,000 while the mandatory minimum investment for a regional area is $50,000.
Letter of recommendation	Must have a letter of recommendation from an AAIP-approved designated agency.
Settlement funds	Candidates must demonstrate that they have the funds needed to set up their business and support themselves while they are on a work permit and launching their start-up.

Settlement funds

	Population size of community and funds required
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
Criteria	Description	Points
Language Proficiency (Maximum of 30 points) Mandatory requirement	First official language
	CLB 5 (5 for each reading, writing, listening and speaking) (mandatory minimum)	10
	CLB 6 (6 for each reading, writing, listening and speaking)	15
	CLB 7 (7 for each reading, writing, listening and speaking)	20
	CLB 8 or higher (8 for each reading, writing, listening and speaking)	30
Education Maximum of 35 points Mandatory requirement	Minimum requirement is the completion of a degree from a post-secondary institution outside of Canada within the last 10 years with an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA). Education credential must be equivalent to Canadian standards.
	Bachelor’s degree or a 2-year Diploma (mandatory minimum)	5
	Master’s degree	10
	Doctoral degree	15
	Preference given to candidates with the following degrees:
	Completed a degree within the last 5 years at the time of EOI submission	10
	Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics	5
	Business	5
Business management, ownership or equivalent Equivalencies are work experience with business incubator or business accelerator. Maximum of 35 bonus points Mandatory requirement	Business ownership or management experience (more points allocated for additional years of experience)
	6 months (mandatory minimum)	5
	more than 6 months to less than 1 year	10
	1 to 2 years	15
	More than 2 years	20
	Preference will be given to candidates with business ownership experience.	15
Business factors
Business Plan Maximum of 40 points Mandatory requirement	A business plan with projected financial information. Business plan guidelines are available on the AAIP website.	40
Investment: prior to coming to Alberta Maximum of 25 points Mandatory requirement	Be able to demonstrate the ability to make a minimum level of investment from candidate’s own equity, and/or from a recognized Canadian financial institution, venture capital, or angel investment firm before coming to Alberta. Initial investment must be made within the first 12 months of launching the start-up. (Candidates with higher levels of investment available before coming to Alberta will be awarded more points. Points will also be awarded for urban centre or regional area, not both). Urban centre: Edmonton and Calgary Census Metropolitan Areas Regional area: Communities outside the Edmonton and Calgary Census Metropolitan Areas Urban Centre:
	$100,000 (mandatory minimum)	5
	$100,001 to $150,000	11
	$150,001 to $200,000	18
	Over $200,000	25
	Or regional area:
	$50,000 (mandatory minimum)	5
	$50,001 to $100,000	11
	$100,001 to $150,000	18
	Over $150,000	25
Proposed investment: additional investment after launch. Maximum 20 points Not a mandatory requirement	Additional investment after launching start-up from candidate’s own equity, or from recognized Canadian financial institution, venture capital, or angel investment firm. (Candidates with higher levels of investment after launch will be awarded more points. Points awarded for urban centre or regional area, not both.) Urban center: Edmonton and Calgary Census Metropolitan Areas Regional area: Communities outside the Edmonton and Calgary Census Metropolitan Areas Urban Centre:
	$100,000 to $150,000	5
	$150,001 to $200,000	10
	$200,001 to $250,000	15
	Over $250,000	20
	Or regional area:
	$50,000 to $100,000	5
	$100,001 to $150,000	10
	$150,001 to $200,000	15
	Over $200,000	20
Job creation Maximum of 15 points Not a mandatory requirement	Jobs must be created 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 or more	15
Total maximum points		200

Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream mandatory minimums

Criteria	Description
Ownership of start-up Mandatory minimum	Must have a minimum of 34% ownership in an urban center or a minimum of 51% ownership if the business is located in a regional community.
Businesses in key or priority sectors Mandatory minimum	Business plan or pitch deck must indicate business connected to one of the following sectors: technology aerospace financial services energy agriculture tourism life sciences pharmaceuticals
Settlement Funds Mandatory minimum	Candidates must demonstrate they have funds to support themselves while they are on a work permit and launching their start-up in Alberta. The minimum settlement funds required will be based on the Low Income Cut-Offs (LICOs). Refer to the Settlement Fund section.
Pitch Deck Mandatory minimum	A 10-minute presentation (slides only) that describes the foreign graduate and their venture focused on what an investor would want to see.
Letter of Recommendation Mandatory minimum	The candidate must have a letter of recommendation from an AAIP approved designated agency.

Ineligibility

You have an active nomination, which has not expired and/or is eligible for extension under another AAIP stream.
You have been issued a letter on a previous AAIP application that stated you are not eligible to re-apply to the AAIP for a specified period of time.
You have a removal order issued against you by IRCC or Canada Border Services Agency.
You are a refugee claimant, or an individual involved in a federal appeal or removal process.
You are a foreign national living or working in Canada with no valid temporary resident status.
Your business is on the list of ineligible businesses listed below.

How to apply

Step 1. Read the terms and conditions.
Step 2. Review the eligibility criteria.
Step 3. Submit an Expression of Interest

Required Documents

Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream Business Plan
Pitch Deck
Letter of Recommendation from a Designated Agency
Net Worth Worksheet
Use of Representative form – if applicable
Spouse, Common-Law Partners and Dependents Authorization form

Step 4. Submit the Business Application package.
- $3,500 non-refundable fee applies.
Step 5. Business Application assessment
Step 6. Establish your business in Alberta.
Step 7. Final Report for Nomination