Immigration Ineligibility

• Are under removal order
• Are inadmissible to Canada
• Are living in Canada illegally
• Are working without authorization
• Have an unresolved refugee or humanitarian and compassionate application
• Have a valid nomination under any AAIP stream or eligible for extension
• Have been refused for the AAIP for a specified period of time and submit the application during that period

List of Ineligible Businesses

• Any business in contravention of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations (immigration-linked investment schemes or passive investment)
• Businesses without a value-add economic component (lending, trading of used goods)
• Businesses that would be considered passive investments or lack active management (leasing, real estate development, laundromats)
• Project based or seasonal businesses
• Home-based businesses (bed-and-breakfasts and lodging houses)
• Businesses that are part of a succession plan (owned and operated by family members or former provincial nominees in the last 4 years, or change the ownership in the last 3 years)
• Production, distribution or sale of pornographic products or services
• Any businesses that tend to bring the Nominee Program or the Government of Alberta into disrepute

Basic requirements

• Have graduated an equivalent foreign post-secondary program outside Canada, with the education credential assessed by Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) within the last 10 years
• Also eligible to foreign graduates who currently own and operate a business in Alberta
• 6 months full-time worker experience of actively managing and/or owning the business or equivalent
• Have a letter of recommendation from an AAIP-approved designated agency (Empowered Startups or Platform Calgary) after reviewing the proposed business plan
• Have a 10-minute presentation (slides only) about the applicant and their business plan

Language

Minimum CLB 5, assessed by 1 of 4 language proficiency tests within the last 2 years:

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) General Training
• Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP-General)
• Test d'évaluation de français (TEF)
• Test de connaissance du français pour le Canada (TCF Canada)

Settlement fund

Proof of funds to support yourself and family members during the period of adaptation after your arrival, based on Low Income Cut-Off threshold, residential area and family size:

Investment requirements

• Include the investments made before and after coming to Alberta
• Be assessed by aAAIP-approved designated agency (Grant Thornton, KPMG, or MNP)
• Changes in the submitted EOI will not be accepted after the request to submit a Business Application has been sent
• Demonstrate the main purpose of business operation is generating profits by selling products or providing services instead of passive investment
• Fully comply with federal and provincial laws and regulations in employment, labor, immigration
• The proportional share of ownership must be at least 34% or 51% depending on the investment region
• Have been operating the business for more than 1 year, if currently own and operate the business
• Have the business plan evaluated by an AAIP-approved designated agency (Empowered Startups or Platform Calgary)
• Directly involved in the day-to-day management of the business on a valid work permit
• Have a valid Trade Certificate recognized by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Trade (AIT) if required
• Maintain a place of business in Alberta at all time
• For franchises, the ownership requirements and all other program criteria are the same as for other businesses
• Business plan or pitch deck must indicate business connected to one of the following key or priority sectors:
  ○ Technology, or
  ○ Aerospace, or
  ○ Financial services, or
  ○ Energy, or
  ○ Agriculture, or
  ○ Tourism, or
  ○ Life sciences, or
  ○ Pharmaceuticals

Immigration Ineligibility

• Are under removal order
• Are inadmissible to Canada
• Are living in Canada illegally
• Are working without authorization
• Have an unresolved refugee or humanitarian and compassionate application
• Have a valid nomination under any AAIP stream or eligible for extension
• Have been refused for the AAIP for a specified period of time and submit the application during that period

List of Ineligible Businesses

• Any business in contravention of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations (immigration-linked investment schemes or passive investment)
• Businesses without a value-add economic component (lending, trading of used goods)
• Businesses that would be considered passive investments or lack active management (leasing, real estate development, laundromats)
• Project based or seasonal businesses
• Home-based businesses (bed-and-breakfasts and lodging houses)
• Businesses that are part of a succession plan (owned and operated by family members or former provincial nominees in the last 4 years, or change the ownership in the last 3 years)
• Production, distribution or sale of pornographic products or services
• Any businesses that tend to bring the Nominee Program or the Government of Alberta into disrepute

Basic requirements

• Education equivalent to Canadian high-school
• Net worth of $300,000 CAD, including all assets owned by applicant and applicant-spouse after debt deduction
• Also eligible to foreign graduates who currently own and operate a business in Alberta
• At least 3 years full-time of work experience as a business owner or 4 years as a senior business manager within the last 10 years
• Have a Community Support Letter and endorsement of the Business Proposal Summary from a participating rural Alberta community (population under 100,000), such as:
  • City of Brooks
  • City of Lacombe
  • City of Wetaskiwin
  • County of Wetaskiwin
  • Red Deer County
  • Lacombe County
  • Town of Bonnyville
  • Town of Blackfalds
  • Town of Didsbury
  • Town of High Prairie
  • Town of Millet
  • Town of Olds
  • Town of Provost
  • Town of Sedgewick
  • Town of Slave Lake
  • Town of Stettler
  • Town of Sundre
  • Town of Sylvan Lake
  • Town of Taber
  • Town of Three Hills
  • Town of Trochu
  • Town of Wainwright
  • Village of Clive
  • Village of Forestburg

Language

Minimum CLB 4, assessed by 1 of 4 language proficiency tests within the last 2 years:

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) General Training
• Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP-General)
• Test d'évaluation de français (TEF)
• Test de connaissance du français pour le Canada (TCF Canada)

Investment requirements

• At least $100,000 CAD
• The proportional share of ownership must be at least 51% if investing or 100% if purchasing a business
• Demonstrate the main purpose of business operation is generating profits by selling products or providing services instead of passive investment
• Fully comply with federal and provincial laws and regulations in employment, labor, immigration
• Directly involved in the day-to-day management of the business on a valid work permit
• Have a valid Trade Certificate recognized by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Trade (AIT) if required
• Maintain a place of business in Alberta at all time
• For franchises, the ownership requirements and all other program criteria are the same as for other businesses
• Have the business plan evaluated by an AAIP-approved designated agency (KPMG or MNP)
• Have the Qualified Service Provider Report assessed by an AAIP-approved designated agency (Grant Thornton, KPMG, or MNP)
• Changes in the submitted EOI will not be accepted after the request to submit a Business Application has been sent
• Have been operating the business for more than 1 year, if currently own and operate the business

Business requirements

• Create at least 1 full-time job or equivalent for Canadian or Permanent Resident (not including family members) for at least 6 months if establishing a new business
• Operate the business for at least 12 months before submitting the final report
• Submit a progress report every 6 months and the final report after 12 months as required by the province
• Continue to own, manage and provide financial support for the business throughout the necessary time period
• Demonstrate the main purpose of business operation is generating profits

Actively operate and manage business activities at the place of business in the province

Immigration Ineligibility

• Are under removal order
• Are inadmissible to Canada
• Are living in Canada illegally
• Are working without authorization
• Have an unresolved refugee or humanitarian and compassionate application
• Have a valid nomination under any AAIP stream or eligible for extension
• Have been refused for the AAIP for a specified period of time and submit the application during that period

List of Ineligible Businesses

• Any business in contravention of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations (immigration-linked investment schemes or passive investment)
• Businesses without a value-add economic component (lending, trading of used goods)
• Businesses that would be considered passive investments or lack active management (leasing, real estate development, laundromats)
• Project based or seasonal businesses
• Home-based businesses (bed-and-breakfasts and lodging houses)
• Businesses that are part of a succession plan (owned and operated by family members or former provincial nominees in the last 4 years, or change the ownership in the last 3 years)
• Production, distribution or sale of pornographic products or services
• Any businesses that tend to bring the Nominee Program or the Government of Alberta into disrepute

Basic requirements

• Have graduated a 2-year program from a publicly funded post-secondary institution in Alberta
• Have a valid post-graduation work permit at the time of submitting an EOI
• From 21 to 49 years old
• Have the business plan evaluated by an AAIP-approved designated agency (KPMG or MNP)
• Have the Qualified Service Provider Report assessed by an AAIP-approved designated agency (Grant Thornton, KPMG, or MNP)

Business management experience

• Inside or outside Canada, accumulate before or after completing the educational program in Alberta
• 6 months full-time as a business manager or owner or combination of both, or
• Have completed an approved post-secondary institution entrepreneur program, such as:
  ○ Aboriginal Entrepreneurship
  ○ Artisan Entrepreneurship
  ○ Culinary Entrepreneurship
  ○ Entrepreneurship
  ○ Bachelor of Commerce – Entrepreneurship and Innovation
  ○ Bachelor of Commerce – Small Business and Entrepreneurship
  ○ Master of Business Administration – Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Language

Minimum CLB 7, assessed by 1 of 4 language proficiency tests within the last 2 years:

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) General Training
• Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP-General)
• Test d'évaluation de français (TEF)
• Test de connaissance du français pour le Canada (TCF Canada)

Spouse or common-law partner

Must meet one of the following requirements:

• 1 year of full-time work experience in Alberta, or
• Have completed a 2-years post-secondary program in Alberta, or
• Language proficiency of CLB 5 in all 4 language abilities

Investment requirements

• Establish or purchase a business with a minimum of 34% ownership
• Not required to establish the business until receiving the Business Application Approval Letter
• Co-owner must be Canadian or Permanent Resident
• Demonstrate the main purpose of business operation is generating profits by selling products or providing services instead of passive investment
• Fully comply with federal and provincial laws and regulations in employment, labor, immigration
• Have a valid Trade Certificate recognized by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Trade (AIT) if required
• Maintain a place of business in Alberta at all time
• For franchises, the ownership requirements and all other program criteria are the same as for other businesses
• Directly involved in the day-to-day management of the business on a valid work permit

Immigration Ineligibility

• Are under removal order
• Are inadmissible to Canada
• Are living in Canada illegally
• Are working without authorization
• Have an unresolved refugee or humanitarian and compassionate application
• Are currently living in Canada and in live-in caregivers program
• Are working and residing as a temporary foreign worker outside Alberta
• Have a valid nomination under any AAIP stream or eligible for extension
• Have been refused for the AAIP for a specified period of time and submit the application during that period

Agricultural experience

• Successful experience in farming production

Investment requirements

• At least $500,000 CAD
• The province may require applicants to demonstrate the ability to invest above the minimum

Basic requirements

• Net worth of $500,000 CAD, including all assets owned by applicant and applicant-spouse after debt deduction