Home > Permanent Residence > Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) > Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) > AAIP - Rural Entrepreneur stream (RE)
The guide below takes a deep look into one of the streams of Alberta's Provincial Nominee Program (AAIP), the Rural Entrepreneur stream (RE). 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 Rural Entrepreneur stream (RE)
The Rural Entrepreneur stream (RE) is one of Alberta's PNP streams that is dedicated to international entrepreneurs who would like to establish or buy a business in a rural community in the province.
When receiving a nomination under the RE, 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 RE 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 175 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 RE 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 175 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 Rural Entrepreneur stream (RE), the proposed business must align with the following general requirements:
Some types of businesses are not eligible for the GE:
List of Participating Communities:
As of June 20, 2024
Candidates interested in a specific rural Alberta community should connect with the community contact person to discuss their business proposal and schedule an exploratory visit. If the rural community is not participating in this stream yet, you can ask them to contact the AAIP to become a participating community.
Below is the list of current participating communities:
Minimum criteria and RE 175-Point Grid:
There are minimum criteria that have to be met in order to be eligible to the RE 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 5 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 Rural Entrepreneur stream (RE), 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 RE 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.
List of Participating Communities:
As of June 20, 2024
Candidates interested in a specific rural Alberta community should connect with the community contact person to discuss their business proposal and schedule an exploratory visit. If the rural community is not participating in this stream yet, you can ask them to contact the AAIP to become a participating community.
Below is the list of current participating communities:
- City of Brooks
- City of Camrose
- City of Cold Lake
- City of Grande Prairie
- City of Lacombe
- City of Lethbridge
- City of Wetaskiwin
- County of Camrose
- County of Wetaskiwin
- Flagstaff County
- Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo
- Lac La Biche County
- Lac Ste. Anne County
- Lacombe County
- Montana First Nation
- Municipal District of Peace - No. 135
- Municipal District of Smoky River - No. 130
- Municipal District of Spirit River - No. 133
- Red Deer County
- Town of Blackfalds
- Town of Bonnyville
- Town of Claresholm
- Town of Didsbury
- Town of Fairview
- Town of Falher
- Town of Fox Creek
- Town of Grimshaw
- Town of High Prairie
- Town of Innisfail
- Town of Mayerthorpe
- Town of McLennan
- Town of Nanton
- Town of Olds
- Town of Oyen
- Town of Peace River
- Town of Penhold
- 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 Trochu
- Town of Two Hills
- Town of Wainwright
- Town of Whitecourt
- Village of Acme
- Village of Berwyn
- Village of Clive
- Village of Consort
- Village of Donnelly
- Village of Forestburg
- Village of Girouxville
- Village of Vilna
- Westlock County
Minimum criteria and RE 175-Point Grid:
There are minimum criteria that have to be met in order to be eligible to the RE stream. You need to:
- have either a minimum 3 years of experience as an active business owner-manager or a minimum of 4 years of experience as a senior manager within the past 10 years,
- have completed at least the equivalent of a high school studies,
- have a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of 4 for each English or French language skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking,
- have a net worth of $300,000 and invest at least $100,000,
- have a Community Support Letter from a participating rural Alberta community,
- own at least 51% of the business if it is a new business, or have 100% ownership of the business if you are purchasing an already established business (business succession), and
- create at least one full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident if it is new business (no requirements for business succession).
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 5 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.
RE 175-point grid | Maximum Points |
---|---|
Factor 1 - Rural Factor | 25 |
Sub-Factor 1.1 - Business location | 25 |
Factor 2 - Business Experience Factor | 20 |
Sub-Factor 2.1 - Business owner-manager or senior management experience within the past 10 years | 20 |
Factor 3 - Business Establishment Factors | 60 |
Sub-Factor 3.1 - Total Business Investment | 20 |
Sub-Factor 3.2 - Net Worth | 10 |
Sub-Factor 3.3 - Job Creation | 20 |
Sub-Factor 3.4 - Business Successions | 10 |
Factor 4 - Human Capital Factors | 35 |
Sub-Factor 4.1 - Language Proficiency | 25 |
Sub-Factor 4.2 - Education | 10 |
Factor 5 - Adaptability Factors | 35 |
Sub-Factor 5.1 - Canada/Alberta experience from work or studies within the past 10 years | 15 |
Sub-Factor 5.2 - Relative(s) in the community or Alberta | 10 |
Sub-Factor 5.3 - Spouse’s/Common-law partner’s Language Proficiency or Education | 5 |
Sub-Factor 5.4 - Age | 5 |
Total | 175 |