Business Investment Program - Alberta

The Rural Entrepreneur Stream is an economic immigration program. Entrepreneurs who want to start a business or buy an existing business in a rural Alberta community can submit an Expression of Interest.

Entrepreneurs play a key role in Alberta’s economy, using their skills and initiative to anticipate needs and create jobs for Albertans. Entrepreneurs who prove to be successful in taking on the risks of establishing a business are rewarded with profits and continued growth opportunities. The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) defines rural Alberta communities as any community with a population of less than 100,000. The AAIP uses the most recent census from Statistics Canada to determine a community’s population.

Requirements for the Rural Entrepreneur Stream

Work experience

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.

Education

Completed a minimum of high school equivalent to the Canadian standard with an Education Credential Assessment.

Language

Have a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of 4 for each English language skill of 4 for each French language skill: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Official test results must be less than 2 years old at the time your Expression of Interest is submitted.

Net Worth

Minimum net worth of $300,000. All assets must be candidate’s own personal holdings or spouse's or common-law partner’s.

Business Investment

Minimum investment of $200,000 from candidate’s own (and/or spouse/common-law partner) equity. Higher levels of investment will be awarded more points.

Business establishment

Minimum ownership of 51% for a new business. Business Partners must be Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents.

100% ownership for business succession (the succession buy-out must result in a complete change in ownership where the candidate will assume full control of the business).

Business must not be on the list of ineligible businesses.

Job creation

New businesses must create at least one full-time job for Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents (not including relatives).

More job creation will be awarded more points. Jobs must be created for Canadian citizens or permanent residents (not including relatives) for a period of at least 6 months.

For business succession, job creation is not required.

Community support letter

Candidates must have a Community Support Letter from a participating rural Alberta community.

Factors that increase your chances

Age

Age should be between 21 to 49.

Spouse

Your spouse/common-law partner has one of the following:

1.Completed at least one year of full-time post-secondary education (Certificate, Associate Degree, Diploma, Bachelor’s Degree or higher) (or)

2.A minimum level Canadian Language Benchmark 4 in English or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens 4 in French in all four language abilities (Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking). Language test results must be less than 2 years old at the time the Expression of Interest is submitted.

Relative in Alberta

Relatives are defined as father, step-father, mother, step-mother, child, step-child, sister, step-sister, brother, step-brother of candidate or spouse or common-law partner

Selection and Notification process

Once the AAIP receives your Business Application, it will be assessed against eligibility criteria and your EOI Points will be verified. A Program Officer from the AAIP may contact you for more information.

The AAIP does not guarantee that all complete Business Applications received will be assessed or that all candidates who meet the assessment criteria will be issued a Business Application Approval Letter and/or nomination certificate. Review the declaration for the Rural Entrepreneur Stream available on the AAIP Portal and the Program’s Terms and Conditions for complete information. Submission of a Business Application or nomination by the AAIP does not guarantee you will be issued a permanent resident visa.