Alberta Rural Entrepreneur Stream

Live and work in Canada through the C11 program

The Alberta Rural Entrepreneur Stream gives eligible entrepreneurs the opportunity to receive a provincial nomination from Alberta. It allows them to establish a new business or take over an existing business in a rural community in Alberta. The main goal of this stream is to use the experience, skills, and initiative of entrepreneurs to support local economic growth and create employment opportunities for Albertans.

Under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), an entrepreneur is someone who establishes or grows a business for profit. This can include introducing new ideas, products, services, or innovative ways of managing and operating a business.

For a rural Alberta community to qualify under this stream, it must have a population of less than 100,000 and be situated outside the Calgary and Edmonton metropolitan areas.

Entrepreneurs discussing a business plan together

How the Process Works

The Rural Entrepreneur process includes the following steps:

Step 1

Entrepreneurs first undertake an exploratory visit to the community where they are considering establishing their business. During this visit, they connect with local business representatives, economic development officers, and other key stakeholders. It gives them an opportunity to understand the local business environment, explore the requirements for setting up a business, and assess whether the region is suitable for their plans. This step helps prospective entrepreneurs make a well-informed decision about starting and managing a business in rural Alberta.

Step 2

The entrepreneur then shares the Rural Entrepreneur Stream Business Proposal Summary with the designated community contact for review.

Step 3

When the proposed business is considered valuable to the community and is expected to contribute positively to its economic development, the community may issue a Community Support Letter. This letter demonstrates the community's endorsement of the proposed business and confirms its support for the entrepreneur's plans in Alberta.

Step 4

Once the Community Support Letter has been received, the entrepreneur may proceed with submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP).

Eligibility

The Rural Entrepreneur process includes the following requirements:

  • Have completed a post-secondary degree outside Canada within the past 10 years.
  • Obtain a Letter of Recommendation from a government-designated agency, such as Empowered Startups.
  • Intend to establish a business in one of the eight priority sectors.
  • Have at least 6 months of full-time experience managing or owning a business, or experience working with a business incubator.
  • Achieve Canadian Language Benchmark level 5 in each language skill in either English or French.

The following factors may strengthen a candidate's application:

  • The candidate is between 29 and 49 years of age.
  • The spouse or common-law partner has completed at least one year of full-time post-secondary education or has a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark level 4 in English, or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens 4 in French, across all four language abilities, including Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking.
  • The candidate has a relative who is currently living in Alberta.
Entrepreneur planning a new business on a laptop

Our Advantages

Alberta and the Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream provide several advantages:

Low tax rates.
No applicant limit for the FGES program.
High quality of life.
Strong opportunities for entrepreneurs.
World-class services.
A wide variety of cultures and communities.

FAQ

The Alberta Rural Entrepreneur Stream is designed for entrepreneurs who want to start or take over a business in rural Alberta. It supports local job creation and economic growth outside the Calgary and Edmonton metropolitan areas.

Yes. Applicants can plan to start a new business or take over an existing one in rural Alberta. The business must show potential to create jobs and benefit the local community.

Applicants need relevant skills and experience to run a business, be ready to invest in a rural Alberta community, and meet AAIP requirements, including a business proposal and community support.

After receiving a Community Support Letter, applicants can submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the AAIP for consideration for provincial nomination.

A Community Support Letter confirms that the proposed business is supported by the rural community. It shows that the community recognizes the business as beneficial to the local area.

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