Alberta
For foreign graduates with an entrepreneurial zeal, a tech focus and the qualifying business idea, Alberta offers a unique opportunity of bringing a start-up into Canada. One can either be the originator of the idea or partner with fellow entrepreneurs to establish the idea in Alberta.
If you are interested in this program, we can introduce you to our partner who is an approved designated agency for the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). Through this introduction, you can obtain a Letter of Recommendation from the Designated Entity making you eligible to apply into the program.
CRITERION
MINIMUM REQUIREMENT
| CRITERION | ALBERTA FOREIGN GRADUATE STREAM |
|---|---|
| Business Experience | Minimum of 6 months full-time work experience. (Owning the business or actively managing it counts towards experience. Time spent in incubation programs with entities designated by the Government of Canada to administer its Startup Visa Program also counts towards qualifying experience. |
| Language | Minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level 5. |
| Maximum # of Applicants | 1 - principal applicant only. (Dependents can accompany the principal applicant.) |
| Education | Completion of a degree from a post-secondary institution outside of Canada with the past 10 years. |
| Age | No maximum age requirement |
| Business Investment | The mandatory minimum investment for an urban centre is $100,000 CAD while the mandatory minimum investment for a regional area is $50,000 CAD. Investment can be from the principal applicant or their partner. Investments from eligible Canadian Venture Capital Funds and Angel Investor Groups are also accepted. |
| Business Research Visit | An exploratory visit is recommended. |
| Net Worth | No minimum net worth requirement. Net worth evaluation is required. |
| Business Performance Agreement | Applicants are expected to deliver on the milestones established in the Business Plan. |
| Residency Obligations | Applicants should be willing to establish business in Alberta. |
| Percentage of Equity | Urban centre - minimum 34% Regional area - minimum 51% |
| Job Creation | Not specifically required but applicants are expected to deliver on the milestones established in the Business Plan. |
| Letter of recommendation | Must have a letter of recommendation from an AAIP-approved designated agency. |
