Alberta Rural Entrepreneur Stream

The Alberta Rural Entrepreneur Stream offers qualified entrepreneurs the opportunity to obtain a provincial nomination from Alberta, allowing them to either start a new business or take over an existing one in a rural Alberta community. The program aims to harness the skills and initiatives of entrepreneurs to generate job opportunities for Albertans. According to the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), an entrepreneur is defined as someone who establishes or expands a business for profit, with the potential to introduce new ideas, products, services, or innovative business practices. To qualify for the program, rural Alberta communities must have a population of under 100,000 and be located outside of the Calgary and Edmonton metropolitan areas.

How It Works

The Rural Entrepreneur process involves the following steps:

• Step 1: Entrepreneurs begin by making an exploratory visit to connect with local business contacts, community economic development officers, and other relevant stakeholders. This visit helps entrepreneurs learn about the local business landscape and the requirements for establishing a successful business in the chosen region. The goal of this step is to enable prospective entrepreneurs to make an informed decision about operating and managing a business in rural Alberta.
• Step 2: The entrepreneur provides the community contact with a copy of the Rural Entrepreneur Stream Business Proposal Summary.
• Step 3: If the business project is deemed beneficial and likely to have a positive impact on the community, a Community Support Letter will be issued. This letter endorses the project, confirming that the community supports its development in Alberta.
• Step 4: After receiving the Community Support Letter, the entrepreneur can submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP).

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur program, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Have completed a post-secondary degree outside of Canada within the last 10 years.
• Obtain a Letter of Recommendation from a government-designated agency, such as Empowered Startups.
• Plan to start a business in one of the eight priority sectors.
• Have at least 6 months of full-time work experience managing or owning a business, or experience working with a business incubator.
• Meet the Canadian Language Benchmark level 5 for each language skill in either English or French.

The following factors may improve a candidate's chances:

• The candidate is between 29 and 49 years of age.
• The spouse or common-law partner has completed at least one year of full-time post-secondary education or has a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark level 4 in English, or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens 4 in French, in all four language abilities (Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking).
• The candidate has a relative residing in Alberta.

Alberta Advantages

Alberta and the Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream offer several benefits:

• Low taxes.
• No limits on applicants to the FGES program.
• High quality of life.
• Abundant opportunities for entrepreneurs.
• World-class services.
• A diverse range of cultures and communities.

Ready to Launch Your Dream Startup?

Reach out for a free consultation where we'll guide you through the Startup Visa Program, EB-2 NIW Startup Program, Alberta Rural Entrepreneur Stream, and our other services.