Alberta Nominee Program
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The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) is an economic immigration program that nominates people for permanent residence in Alberta. Nominees must have skills to fill job shortages in Alberta or be planning to buy or start a business here. They must also be able to provide for their families. The program is run by the governments of Alberta and Canada.
If you are nominated through the program, you may apply for permanent residence status together with your spouse or common-law partner, and dependent children.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada manages applications for permanent residence. The federal government also makes final decisions on these applications.
Source:https://www.alberta.ca/ainp.aspx
The AINP has 2 streams for foreign workers who are living and working in Alberta, or plan to live and work here:
- Alberta Opportunity Stream: Qualified candidates who live and work in Alberta and have a job offer from an Alberta employer can apply for an AINP nomination
- Alberta Express Entry Stream: Qualified candidates with an Express Entry profile may be invited by AINP to apply for nomination for permanent residence.
The AINP has 3 streams for entrepreneurs who plan to live in Alberta and buy or start a business in the province:
- International Graduate Entrepreneur Immigration Stream: International graduates of approved Alberta postsecondary institutions who want to start a business or buy an existing business can submit an Expression of Interest (EOI).
- Self-Employed Farmer Stream: Experienced farmers who plan to buy or start a farm in Alberta can apply for permanent residence.
- Foreign Graduate Start-Up Visa Stream: Foreign graduates from outside of Canada can apply for permanent residence.
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At the time your application is mailed to the AINP or submitted in the AINP portal, and at the time the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) assesses your application, you must have a valid temporary resident status in Canada that authorizes you to work in Canada, that is, a temporary foreign worker permit
Source:https://www.alberta.ca/ainp.aspx
At the time your application is mailed to the AINP or submitted in the AINP portal, and at the time the AINP assesses your application, you must have a valid work permit – not implied status, automatic extension of status, or restoration status – for an eligible occupation.
Valid work permits are based on one of the following:
- a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
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a LMIA exemption for workers based on one of the following exemptions as determine by Immigration,
Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC):
- international trade agreements
- workers transferred within a company
- International Experience Canada
- Mobilité Francophone
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an open work permit issued by IRCC to:
- vulnerable workers who have demonstrated they are experiencing abuse or are at risk of abuse in the context of their employment in Canada, including under the Vulnerable Workers Open Work Permit (VWOWP) exemption, or
- the family members of a vulnerable worker under the VWOWP exemption
- a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) held by a graduate of an Alberta Advanced Education publicly funded post-secondary institution
The following individuals cannot apply for or be nominated under the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS):
- refugee claimants or individuals involved in a federal appeal or removal process – the AINP does not intervene in the federal refugee claim, appeal or removal process
- temporary residents living or working in a province or territory of Canada other than Alberta, or
- foreign nationals living or working in Canada who do not have valid temporary resident status
At the time your application is mailed to the AINP or submitted in the AINP portal, and at the time the AINP assesses your application, you must work in an eligible occupation in Alberta. Occupation requirements also apply to your work experience and job offer.
You must review the work experience criteria and eligible job offer criteria sections below for details.
The occupation you are working in at the time your application is mailed to the AINP or submitted in the AINP portal is your ‘current occupation'.
Most occupations under National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill levels 0, A, B, C and D are eligible under the AINP.
Individuals working in the following occupations at the time of application and assessment are not eligible to apply for or be nominated under the AOS.
Table 1. List of ineligible occupations
*This National Occupation Classification (NOC) code consists of both eligible occupations and ineligible occupations. The ‘Occupation’ column specifies which occupations are ineligible for each NOC Code listed.
NOC Code (2016) NOC Skill Level Occupation 0011 0 Legislators 0422 0 School principals and administrators of elementary and secondary education *This National Occupation Classification (NOC) code consists of both eligible occupations and ineligible occupations. The ‘Occupation’ column specifies which occupations are ineligible for each NOC Code listed.
NOC Code (2016) NOC Skill Level Occupation 0423 0 Managers in social, community and correctional services 0432 0 Fire chiefs and senior firefighting officers 0651* 0 Escort agency managers, massage parlour managers 4031 A Secondary school teachers 4032 A Elementary school and kindergarten teachers 4154 A Professional occupations in religion 5121 A Authors and writers 5133 Musicians and singers 5135 A Actors and comedians 5136 A Painters, sculptors and other visual artists 1227 B Court officers and justices of the peace 3223* B Dental laboratory assistants/bench workers 4214* B Early childhood educators who do not have certification through Alberta Children's Services – Child Care Staff Certification Office or who have been certified as child development assistant (formerly Level 1) *This National Occupation Classification (NOC) code consists of both eligible occupations and ineligible occupations. The ‘Occupation’ column specifies which occupations are ineligible for each NOC Code listed.
NOC Code (2016) NOC Skill Level Occupation 4216 B Other instructors 4217 B Other religious occupations 5232 B Other performers, not elsewhere classified 5244 B Artisans and craftspersons 5251 B Athletes 6232 B Real estate agents and salespersons 4411 C Home child care providers 4412 C Home support workers, housekeepers and related occupations 4413 C Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants 6533 C Casino occupations 6564 C Other personal service occupations 7513 C Taxi and limousine drivers and chauffeurs 8442 C Trappers and hunters 6623 D Other sales related occupations *This National Occupation Classification (NOC) code consists of both eligible occupations and ineligible occupations. The ‘Occupation’ column specifies which occupations are ineligible for each NOC Code listed
NOC Code (2016) NOC Skill Level Occupation 6722 D Operators and attendants in amusement, recreation and sport 6742 D Other service support occupations, not elsewhere classified 8611 D Harvesting labourers 8612 D Landscaping and grounds maintenance labourers 8613 D Aquaculture and marine harvest labourers 8614 D Mine labourers
If you are a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) holder, your occupation must also be related to your field of study in Alberta
Language requirements changed for some applicants as of January 1, 2020. For information about this planned change in language requirements, read AOS Planned changes below.
If your application is mailed to the AINP or submitted in the AINP portal on or after January 1, 2020, you must demonstrate you meet the following language test score in English or French
Table 2. Language requirements
*This National Occupation Classification (NOC) code consists of both eligible occupations and ineligible occupations. The ‘Occupation’ column specifies which occupations are ineligible for each NOC Code listed
National Occupational Classification (NOC) Skill Level Canadian Benchmark (CLB) test score required Niveaux de compétence linguistique canad If you are working in a NOC 0, A or B occupation Minimum of 5 for each English language skill Minimum of 5 for each French language skill If you are working in a NOC C or D occupation Minimum of 4 for each English language skill Minimum of 4 for each French language skill If you apply to the AINP under NOC code 3413 (nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates), the AINP requires a minimum language test score of CLB of 7 for each English language skill, or NCLC of 7 for each French language skill.
Official test results must be less than 2 years old at the time your application was mailed to the AINP or submitted in the AINP portal. The AINP will not accept confirmation of registration to take a language test in place of a test result.
At the time your application is mailed to the AINP or submitted in the AINP portal, you must have completed a minimum of high school education in your country of origin. Starting January 1, 2021, all candidates except PostGraduation Work Permit holders must have completed a minimum of high school Equivalent to Alberta standards.
Your ‘current occupation’ is the occupation you are working in at the time your application is mailed to the AINP or submitted in the AINP portal.
Your current occupation must also match your work experience at the time your application is mailed to the AINP or submitted in the AINP portal and at the time the AINP assesses your application.
At the time your application is mailed to the AINP or submitted in the AINP portal you must have either:
- a minimum of 12 months full-time work experience in your current occupation in Alberta within the last 18 months, or
- a minimum of 24 months of full-time work experience in your current occupation in Canada or abroad within the last 30 months or both – this work experience can be a combination of experience gained in Alberta, in Canada (outside Alberta) or abroad
Post-Graduation Work Permit holders require a minimum of 6 months full-time work experience in your current occupation in Alberta within the last 18 months.
For all applicants, including Post-Graduation Work Permit holders, work experience in the qualifying period:
- must have been full-time, for a minimum of 30 hours a week
- must be for the same occupation as your current occupation
- must have been authorized by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and with valid temporary resident status if completed in Alberta or Canada
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cannot have been gained while studying in Canada and doing co-op work placements or internships as part
of a study program, unless you are a PGWP holder who completed during paid co-op work terms as a part
of your program of study at an Alberta post-secondary institution. To qualify, the work terms must have
been:
- paid and full-time (minimum 30 hours per week)
- for work experience directly related to your current occupation, and
- for work experience all gained in Alberta
All applicants, including PGWP holders, must meet the following licensing, registration and certification requirements:
- You must have the required licensing, registration or certification to work in your current occupation in Alberta at the time your application is mailed or submitted in the AINP portal and at the time the AINP assesses your application for nomination.
- f you are working in a compulsory trade in Alberta, you must have a valid Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Trade (AIT) recognized trade certificate.
- If you are working as childcare worker, you must have valid certification as a child development worker (formerly Level 2) or child development supervisor (formerly Level 3).
For all applicants, including PGWP holders, at the time your application is mailed to the AINP or submitted in the AINP portal, and at the time the AINP assesses your application for nomination, you must have a bona fide full-time job offer or employment contract from an Alberta employer to work in your current occupation in Alberta. Your Alberta employer must be incorporated or registered by or under an act of the legislature of a province, territory, or the Parliament of Canada and operating as a business that has an established production capability, plant or place of business in Alberta.
Your job offer or employment contract must be signed by you and your Alberta employer and must offer:
- continuous, paid work
- full-time work, defined as a minimum of 30 hours per week
- employment for 12 months or more
- work in your current occupation
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wages and benefits that meet provincial minimum wage and:
- meet or exceed the requirements set out in your LMIA, or
- f you are LMIA exempt, meet or exceed the lowest starting wage for your occupation across all industries in Alberta as set out on the Alis website
- work for an eligible AINP occupation for which you have a work permit that meets AINP work permit requirements
You must meet the terms agreed to in your job offer or employment contract at the time of application and assessment.
The following individuals are not eligible to apply for or be nominated under the AOS, even if they have a job offer to work 30 hours a week or more in a 12-month period:
Your job offer or employment contract must be signed by you and your Alberta employer and must offer:
- part-time, casual or seasonal employees, regardless of their working hours
- independent contractors, business owners or temporary agency workers, including individuals listed as directors, shareholders or agents of the Alberta employer on the Corporate Registry System (CORES)
- employees who work in Alberta in a place of employment that is not zoned for commercial or industrial operations, such as a home-based business
- employees who do not work on premises in Alberta, such as those who work in a ‘virtual’ location or serve the employer by telecommuting from a location outside Alberta
For the Alberta Opportunity Stream, there are planned increases to election criteria for language and education between 2020 and 2021.
Table 3 lists what is expected to change and when it is expected to change. Changes to selection criteria may happen without notice at any time. These changes will be communicated by the AINP. The summary of changes below is for information only and will not be used to assess applications
Table 3. Summary of AOS planned changes
AOS Selection requirements (Applies to all candidates unless otherwise noted) Effective April 1, 2019 Effective January 1, 2020 Effective January 1, 2021 Residency Status/Work Permit No change No change No change Residency Status/Work Permit No change No change No change Occupation No change No change No change Language Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) or Niveaux de competence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) 4 CLB/NCLC 5 for candidates working in NOC 0, A or B occupation. No change for NOC C or D occupations No change Education (for all applicants except Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) Holders) Minimum High School in Country of Origin No change inimum High School equivalent to Alberta standard Education (PostGraduation Work If you started attending an Alberta program on or after If you started attending an Alberta program on or after No change AOS Selection requirements (Applies to all candidates unless otherwise noted) Effective April 1, 2019 Effective January 1, 2020 Effective January 1, 2021 Permit (PGWP) Holders only) April 1, 2019, entry level certificates are no longer eligible. No change to other eligible credentials (postdiploma or post-baccalaureate certificates, diplomas, degrees and graduate level. certificates/diplomas) April 1, 2019, entry level certificates are not eligible. Eligible credentials include post-diploma or postbaccalaureate certificates, diplomas, degrees and graduate level certificates/diplomas) Work Experience (for all applicants except PostGraduation Work Permit (PGWP) Holders) No change No change No change Work Experience (Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) Holders only) Eligible post-graduate certificate holders must show occupation/work experience is related to their prior postsecondary field of study outside Canada No change No change
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Based on available profile information in the federal Express Entry portal, Alberta may select candidates and send them a Notification of Interest letter in their federal Express Entry profile. Profile information is self-declared by candidates in the federal Express Entry pool.
If you receive a Notification of Interest letter from Alberta and you are interested in being considered for this stream, you must send a copy of the letter along with additional information to the AINP by email within 2 weeks of receiving the letter.
There is no guarantee that if you meet the selection requirements you will receive a Notification of Interest letter or be asked to apply. Notification of Interest letters and requests to apply are affected by the volume of potential candidates meeting these requirements, the type (occupation or sector) of submissions in AINP processing queues, and the number of available nominations
You may receive a Notification of Interest letter if you:
- have an active Express Entry profile in the federal Express Entry pool
- have stated an interest in immigrating permanently to Alberta
- are working in an occupation that supports Alberta’s economic development and diversification
- have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 300
Source:https://www.alberta.ca/ainp.aspx
Meeting one or more of the following adaptability factors may also increase your likelihood of receiving a Notification of Interest letter:
- you have an Alberta job offer and/or work experience
- you are a graduate of a Canadian post-secondary institution
- you have a parent, child, brother and/or sister who is a permanent resident living in Alberta, or a Canadian citizen living in Alberta
If you meet one or more of the following factors, this may decrease your likelihood of receiving a Notification of Interest letter:
- your Express Entry profile expires in 5 months or less
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you work in an occupation:
- on the list of High-wage and low-wage occupations in the province of Alberta set out on the online Government of Canada Refusal to Process Labour Market Impact Assessment list
- on the Alberta Opportunity Stream Ineligible Occupations List
- that has a high volume of submissions across all AINP streams
The AINP will advise you by email if you are invited to submit an application.
You will not be invited to apply if:
- You have an active nomination which has not expired and/or is eligible for extension under another AINP stream. Candidates are only eligible for one AINP nomination certificate.
- You have been issued a letter on a previous AINP application that stated you are not eligible to re-apply to the AINP for a specified period of time. It is recommended you keep your Express Entry profile up to date so that you remain eligible for consideration under the Alberta Express Entry Stream in the future.
If you are invited to submit an application, you must also meet assessment criteria. You must review the assessment criteria before applying
Alberta Express Entry Stream criteria applies at the time:
- your application is submitted in the AINP portal or was submitted before October 1, 2020
- the AINP assesses your application
To be considered for nomination you must meet the following criteria at the time your application is mailed (if before October 1, 2020) or submitted in the AINP portal, and at the time your application is assessed. You must:
- have an active Express Entry profile in the federal Express Entry pool
- meet the criteria of at least one of the federal immigration programs:
- intend to and be able to live and work in Alberta
- be working in an occupation that supports Alberta’s economic development and diversification
- have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 300
If you have one or more of the following adaptability factors, this may increase your likelihood of being assessed or nominated:
- you have an Alberta job offer and/or work experience
- you are a graduate of a Canadian post-secondary institution
- you have a parent, child, brother and/or sister who is a permanent resident living in Alberta, or a Canadian citizen living in Alberta
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The International Graduate Entrepreneur Immigration Stream (IGEIS) allows Alberta to nominate qualified international graduates from Alberta post-secondary institutions who want to establish or operate a business in Alberta to apply for permanent residence.
Source:https://www.alberta.ca/ainp.aspx
TTo be eligible for this stream, candidates must meet the following criteria:
Table 1. Requirements for IGEIS
Area Requirement Education Have completed at least two years of full-time education in Alberta, resulting in a degree or diploma from a designated postsecondary institution in Alberta. Completion of program of study must result in a Post-Graduation Work Permit.
See the list of designated post-secondary institutions in Alberta.
Work Permit Have a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) valid for at least 2 years at the time of your Expression of Interest (EOI) submission
Language Have a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of 7 for each English language skill or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) of 7 for each French language skill: reading, writing, listening and speaking. Official test results must be less than 2 years old at the time your EOI is submitted. AINP only accepts the following language tests:
- Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) General Test
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) General Training Test
- • Test d'évaluation de français (TEF) Canada
- Test de connaissance du français (TCF) Canada
Check the federal guideline on CLB/NCLC equivalencyfor each of the tests
Business Establishment Must establish a new business or buy an existing business in Alberta with a minimum 34% ownership. The proposed business type must not be on thelist of ineligible businesses.
Area Requirement Business Partners must be Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents.
Work Experience Have a minimum of 6 months of full-time work experience that can be a combination of actively managing or owning the business or equivalencies. Equivalencies include experience with a business incubator or business accelerator, or completion of entrepreneurship program courses.*
Check the federal guideline on CLB/NCLC equivalencyfor each of the tests
* Approved post-secondary institution (PSI) entrepreneur programs and suggestions for work experience equivalencies may include:
- 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
Note: There are several entrepreneurship courses and programs available through different post-secondary institutions in Alberta but not all courses will be considered for work experience equivalencies. In general, courses that are extracurricular and not part of a formal academic program may not be eligible for consideration as work experience equivalencies.
If you have one or more of the following adaptability factors, this may increase your likelihood of receiving a Request to submit Business Application:
Table 2. Factors that increase your chances
Criteria Adaptability factors Economic benefit Can provide economic benefit to Alberta through:
- job creation
- economic sector
- business location (for example, rural)
- business succession
- investment
- developed intellectual property
- partnership or support from business incubator/accelerator, venture capital or angel investor
Age 21 to 49 years Spouse Your spouse or common-law partner has at least one of the following:
- at least 1 year of continuous full-time employment in Alberta
- completed at least 2 years of full-time study at a postsecondary institution in Alberta
- a minimum level CLB 5 in English or NCLC 5 in French in all 4 language abilities (Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking)
Alberta relative e You, or your spouse or common-law partner, have one or more of the following relatives living full-time in Alberta: father, step-father, mother, step-mother, child, step-child, sister, stepsister, brother, step-brother
Business operations that began before submitting an EOI may not be eligible and do not guarantee EOI pool selection or AINP approval. It is your responsibility to ensure your proposed business meets the criteria for eligible businesses. If it is not an eligible business or does not clearly demonstrate a significant economic benefit to Alberta, your Business Application may be declined.
Business must have the potential for creating economic benefit to Alberta, as assessed by the AINP. A proposed business must align with the following general requirements to be eligible under the IGEIS:
- The purpose of the proposed business must be to make a profit from active or earned income, not passive income, through the sale of goods and/or provision of services.
- The proposed business must comply with any applicable federal, provincial or municipal legal, regulatory or licensing requirements that govern its operation. This includes Alberta labour laws, including but not limited to employment standards, occupational health and safety and labour relations legislations.
- 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.
- You must own at least 34% of the business. You are required to reside in Alberta and be involved in the dayto-day management of the business. You may not do this remotely, or from another Canadian province or territory or from another country and you are required to demonstrate residence in Alberta while on a work permit.
- Any business in contravention of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations (for example, immigration-linked investment schemes or passive investment).
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Businesses without a value-add economic component, including:
- pay day loan, cheque cashing and related businesses
- businesses trading in used goods
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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
- Project based or seasonal businesses
- Home-based businesses, including bed-and-breakfasts and lodging houses
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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 AINP entrepreneur stream candidates/nominees within the past 4 years
- have changed ownership in the past 3 years prior to IGEIS 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 AINP and the Government of Alberta into disrepute.
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This stream is for individuals who have the financial resources and farm management experience to purchase and establish a farm in Alberta.
There are 2 steps to applying to this stream:
- Candidates submit their business plan to Alberta Agriculture and Forestry.
- A Ministerial Recommendation Letter is issued to candidates with a business plan approved by Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. Candidates can then apply to the AINP.
Note: If the AINP discovers fraud or misrepresentation in an application, a candidate may be banned for up to 5 years from reapplying to the AINP.
Source:https://www.alberta.ca/ainp.aspx
Applicants to the Self-Employed Farmer stream must meet the following criteria at the time their application is mailed to the AINP and at the time of assessment by the AINP. Meeting this criterion does not guarantee a nomination or permanent residence.
Farm management skills - Applicants must prove that they have farm management skills.
- Proof of this may include, but is not limited to:
- financial documentation of an existing farm business
- documentation of education, training and work experience
- a proposed business plan for the farming enterprise you are considering in Alberta
- proof that a Canadian financial institution is willing to finance your proposed farming business
Sufficient financial resources - Applicants must be able to invest a minimum of CDN $500,000 of equity in a primary production farming business in Alberta.
- Documents must be provided that show a minimum net worth of CDN $500,000, or confirmation of the ability to access a similar amount of funds from other sources
- Applicants may be required to show the ability to invest more than the minimum.
Primary production investment - Applicants must document their investment plans in a proposed business plan. Applications representing the best opportunity for growth relevant to Alberta's agri-food targets will be given priority.
The following individuals are not eligible to apply under the AINP Self-Employed Farmer Stream:
- refugee claimants, or individuals involved in a federal appeal or removal process; it is not the mandate of the AINP to intervene in the federal refugee claim, appeal or removal process.
- live-in caregivers currently living in Canada
- temporary foreign workers working and residing in a province other than Alberta
- international students studying in Canada, including students doing co-op work placements or internships as part of their study program
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The Foreign Graduate Start-Up Visa Stream (FGSVS) is an economic immigration program that nominates talented and qualified foreign educated graduates from outside Canada for permanent residence upon launching start-up enterprises and innovative businesses in Alberta. The FGSVS is a collaboration between the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) and approved designated agencies.
Foreign graduates who are interested in applying under the FGSVS must work with a designated agency. The designated agency will issue a letter of recommendation if it deems that the foreign graduate meets the AINP requirements. The foreign graduate must submit the letter of recommendation with their Expression of Interest (EOI) through the AINP Portal.
The designated agency will review business plans based on the foreign graduate’s ability to demonstrate market need or demand, the potential for successful market entry in the short-term to medium-term, customer acquisition, business development, key partnerships and financial plans to fund the development and operation of the start-up. The designated agency will provide a written report on their assessment of the proposed business plan. Foreign graduates must submit this report with their FGSVS Business Application.
The role of the designated agency is to:
- support the marketing of FGSVS
- determine the entrepreneurial readiness of a foreign graduate and the potential success of the start-up by reviewing the business idea and provide support on the development of a business plan
- select foreign graduates to recommend for the AINP
- connect foreign graduates with the appropriate networks, and provide business counselling, coaching and guidance when launching their business in Alberta and while they are trying to achieve the requirements of the Business Performance Agreement (BPA)
Source:https://www.alberta.ca/ainp.aspx
To be eligible for this stream, candidates must meet the following criteria:
Table 1. Requirements for FGSVS.
Area Requirements Work experience Minimum of 6 months full-time work experience that can be a combination of actively managing or owning the business or equivalent (equivalencies are work experience with business incubator or business accelerator). Education Completion of a degree from a post-secondary institution outside of Canada within the last 2 years with an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) . Education credential must be equivalent to a Canadian degree.
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website lists the designated organizations for ECAs
Business plan A business plan with projected financials. Refer to the Business Plan Guidelines. Pitch deck A 10-minute presentation (slides only) that outlines the proposed business venture and focuses on what an investor would want to see. Language Minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of 7 for each English language skill or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) of 7 for each French language skill: reading, writing, listening and speaking. Official test results must be less than two years old at the time of EOI submission. The AINP only accepts the following language tests: - Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) General Test
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) General Training Test
- Test d'évaluation de français (TEF) Canada
- Test de connaissance du français (TCF) Canada
Check the IRCC website on CLB/NCLC equivalency for each of the tests.
Business establishment Must have a minimum of 34% ownership if the business is located in an urban centre or a minimum of 51% ownership if located in regional area outside Calgary and Edmonton Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs). Business investment A minimum level of investment from candidate’s (or spouse or common-law partner) own equity or from a recognized Canadian financial institution, venture capital, or angel investment firm prior to coming to Alberta. The mandatory minimum investment for an urban centre is $100,000 while the mandatory minimum investment for a regional area is $50,000. Higher levels of investment prior to coming to Alberta will be awarded more points. Points are awarded for urban centre or regional area, not both. Letter of recommendation Must have a letter of recommendation from an AINP-approved designated agency. Settlement funds Candidates must demonstrate that they have the funds needed to set up their business and support themselves while they are on a work permit and launching their start-up. Minimum settlement funds requirements will be based on the Low Income Cut-Offs (LICOs).
Refer to Table 2 below.
The amount of settlement funds required in Table 2 is based on the number of family members (including yourself) and the population size of the community where you intend to establish your business. The amount stated in the chart are the funds needed for at least the next 6 months to settle and support yourself (and your family, if applicable) while establishing your business venture in Alberta.
Table 2. Settlement funds requirement for FGSVS in Canadian dollars.
Population size of community and funds required Source: Statistics Canada Number of family members Less than 1,000 1,000 to 30,000 30,000 to 99,999 100,000 to 499,999 500,000 and over 1 $8,922 $10,151 $11,093 $12,961 $12,960 2 $11,107 $12,636 $13,810 $16,135 $16,135 3 $13,655 $15,534 $16,977 $19,836 $19,836 4 $16,579 $18,861 $20,613 $24,084 $24,083 5 $18,803 $21,392 $23,379 $27,315 $27,315 6 $21,208 $24,127 $26,367 $30,807 $30,806 7 $23,611 $26,861 $29,356 $34,299 $34,299
You are not eligible to apply under FGSVS if:
- you have an active nomination, which has not expired and/or is eligible for extension under another AINP stream – candidates are only eligible for one AINP Nomination Certificate
- you have been issued a letter on a previous AINP application that stated you are not eligible to re-apply to the AINP for a specified period of time – if you submit an application during the specified period, it will be declined
- persons who have had a removal order issued against them by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) or Canada Border Services Agency
- refugee claimants or individuals involved in a federal appeal or removal process – the AINP does not intervene in the federal refugee claim, appeal or removal process
- you are a foreign national living or working in Canada with no valid temporary resident status
- your business is on the list of ineligible businesses listed below
It is your responsibility to ensure your proposed business meets the criteria for eligible businesses. If it is not an eligible business or does not clearly demonstrate a significant economic benefit to Alberta, your Business Application may be declined.
The proposed business must have the potential for creating economic benefit to Alberta, in the opinion of and as determined by the AINP. A proposed business must align with the following requirements to be eligible under the FGSVS:
- The purpose of the proposed business must be to make a profit from active or earned income, not passive income, through the sale of goods or provision of services.
- The proposed business must comply with any applicable federal, provincial or municipal legal, regulatory or licensing requirements that govern its operation. This includes Alberta labour laws, including, but not limited to, employment standards, occupational health and safety, and labour relations legislations.
- The proposed business must comply with applicable trade certification requirements in Alberta. For example, businesses in a compulsory trade must have a valid Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Trade (AIT) recognized trade certificate. See the list of designated trades in Alberta(PDF, 314 KB)
- The business plan or pitch deck must indicate the proposed business is connected to one of the following sectors: technology
- 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.
- You must own a minimum of 34% of the business in an urban centre, or a minimum of 51% of the business in a regional area. You are required to reside in Alberta and be involved in the day-to-day management of the business. You may not do this remotely, or from another Canadian province or territory or from another country, and you are required to demonstrate residence in Alberta while on a work permit.
Ineligible businesses include
- any business in contravention of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations – for example, immigration-linked investment schemes or passive investment
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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 or lack active management, including: insurance brokerage or business brokerage
- project based or seasonal businesses
- home-based businesses, including bed-and-breakfasts and lodging houses
- businesses that are part of a succession plan
- 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 AINP and the Government of Alberta into disrepute, in the opinion of and as determined by the AINP
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