Home > Permanent Residence > Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) > Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) > AAIP - Graduate Entrepreneur stream (GE)
The guide below takes a deep look into one of the streams of Alberta's Provincial Nominee Program (AAIP), the Graduate Entrepreneur stream (GE). The guide will go through an overview of the stream, its eligibility requirements, how it works, the documentation needed, its cost and processing times.
Overview of the Graduate Entrepreneur stream (GE)
The Graduate Entrepreneur stream (GE) is one of Alberta's PNP streams that is dedicated to international graduate entrepreneurs already in Canada who would like to establish or buy a business in the province.
When receiving a nomination under the GE, candidates can then apply for Permanent Residence to the federal government of Canada. |
This stream is not aligned with Express Entry, which means that candidates cannot take advantage of the 6-month average processing times of Express Entry. Processing times of Provincial Nominee Programs (not aligned with Express Entry) are usually longer and take at least 1 year.
The GE has minimum eligibility requirements, however, the AAIP does not send Invitations to Apply to every candidate that meets these minimum criteria. Each candidate, when entering the system, has a score (up to 125 points) that depends on multiple factors (explained in detail in the Eligibility Requirements section). In fact, the AAIP selects candidates with the highest scores.
The GE has minimum eligibility requirements, however, the AAIP does not send Invitations to Apply to every candidate that meets these minimum criteria. Each candidate, when entering the system, has a score (up to 125 points) that depends on multiple factors (explained in detail in the Eligibility Requirements section). In fact, the AAIP selects candidates with the highest scores.
Eligibility Requirements
Eligible and ineligible businesses
To be eligible to the Graduate Entrepreneur stream (GE), the proposed business must align with the following general requirements:
Some types of businesses are not eligible for the GE:
Minimum criteria and GE 125-Point Grid:
There are minimum criteria that have to be met in order to be eligible to the GE stream. You need to:
As said earlier, meeting minimum eligibility requirements does not necessarily mean that you will receive an invitation to apply from the AAIP, which will select the highest scores.
There are 3 factors under which you can score points that are explained in detail below. Remember that for each factor you will be claiming points for, you will have to provide supporting documents to prove you satisfy to the criteria of the factor.
To be eligible to the Graduate Entrepreneur stream (GE), the proposed business must align with the following general requirements:
- The purpose must be to make a profit from active or earned income, not passive income, through the sale of goods and/or services.
- The proposed business must comply with any applicable federal, provincial or municipal legal, regulatory or licensing requirements that govern its operation (including Alberta labour laws).
- The proposed business must comply with applicable trade certification requirements in Alberta.
- The proposed business must have a physical place of business in Alberta at all times.
- For franchises, the ownership requirements and all other program criteria are the same as for other businesses. Candidates must also provide evidence that they have received support from the master franchisor to operate a franchise location.
Some types of businesses are not eligible for the GE:
- Any business in contravention of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations
- Businesses without a value-add economic component, including:
- pay day loan, cheque cashing and related businesses
- businesses trading in used goods
- Businesses that would be considered passive investment and/or lack active management, including
- property rental, investment and leasing activities
- real estate development/brokerage, insurance brokerage or business brokerage
- coin-operated businesses, including laundromats and car wash operations
- Project based or seasonal businesses
- Home-based businesses, including:
- businesses that are not zoned for commercial or industrial operations
- bed-and-breakfasts and lodging houses
- Businesses that are part of a succession plan. This includes businesses that:
- are owned/operated by a close relative of the candidate
- were previously owned/operated by a current or former AAIP entrepreneur stream candidates/nominees within the past 4 years
- have changed ownership in the past 3 years prior to GE application
- 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.
Minimum criteria and GE 125-Point Grid:
There are minimum criteria that have to be met in order to be eligible to the GE stream. You need to:
- have completed at least two years of full-time education, resulting in a degree or diploma from an Alberta Advanced Education publicly funded post-secondary institution,
- have a valid Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP),
- have a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of 7 for each English or French language skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking, and
- establish a new business or buy an existing business in Alberta with a minimum 34% ownership (you are not required to establish the business until your application is approved by the AAIP but you will be required to reside in Alberta and be involved in the day-to-day management of the business).
As said earlier, meeting minimum eligibility requirements does not necessarily mean that you will receive an invitation to apply from the AAIP, which will select the highest scores.
There are 3 factors under which you can score points that are explained in detail below. Remember that for each factor you will be claiming points for, you will have to provide supporting documents to prove you satisfy to the criteria of the factor.
GE 125-point grid | Maximum Points |
---|---|
Factor 1 - Business Establishment Factors | 75 |
Sub-Factor 1.1 - Business Management or Ownership Experience or equivalent | 15 |
Sub-Factor 1.2 - Economic Benefit | 40 |
Sub-Factor 1.3 - Total Business Investment | 20 |
Factor 2 - Human Capital Factors | 25 |
Sub-Factor 2.1 - Language Proficiency | 15 |
Sub-Factor 2.2 - Alberta Education | 10 |
Factor 3 - Adaptability Factors | 25 |
Sub-Factor 3.1 - Age | 5 |
Sub-Factor 3.2 - Spouse/Partner characteristics | 10 |
Sub-Factor 3.3 - Alberta relatives | 10 |
Total | 125 |