* OBJECT:
The Alberta Rural Entrepreneur Stream aims to support the economic growth and development of rural Alberta by attracting talented and innovative entrepreneurs who can successfully establish and manage businesses in rural communities.
* BENEFITS:
– Permanent Residency: Successful applicants and their families can obtain permanent residency status in Canada, allowing them to live, work, and study anywhere in the country.
– Lower Investment Requirement: The Alberta Rural Entrepreneur Stream typically has a lower minimum investment requirement compared to other provincial entrepreneur programs, making it more accessible for applicants.
– Flexible Business Ownership: Applicants have the flexibility to either start a new business or purchase an existing business in rural Alberta.
– Fast Application Processing: The Alberta Rural Entrepreneur Stream generally has a faster application processing time compared to other immigration programs, allowing applicants to start their businesses and settle in Canada more quickly.
– Access to Business Support: Successful applicants can benefit from the support of the Alberta provincial government, which provides guidance, resources, and networking opportunities to help entrepreneurs succeed.
– Quality of Life: Rural Alberta offers a high quality of life with beautiful landscapes, a peaceful environment, and a strong sense of community.
– Entrepreneur, spousal work permit: Successful applicants can apply for an entrepreneur work permit to start their business and an open work permit for their spouse or common-law partner, allowing them to work for any employer in Canada. Children at elementary and secondary school can generally obtain a student permit allowing them to study for free.
– Opportunity for Growth and Expansion: Rural Alberta offers a supportive environment for businesses with opportunities for growth and expansion in various sectors, including agriculture, tourism, technology, and more.
Overall, the Alberta Rural Entrepreneur Stream provides a great opportunity for entrepreneurs to establish a successful business in a supportive and vibrant rural community while enjoying the benefits of living in Canada.
* REQUIREMENTS:
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 (ECA).
Language: Have a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of 4 for each English language skill (for example, for the IELTS General exam: CLB 4= Listening: 4.5, Speaking: 4.0, Reading: 3.5, Writing: 4.0 or the equivalent at a French valid test. Official test results must be less than 2 years old at the time your Expression of Interest is submitted. The Alberta Immigration authorities only accept 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.
Net worth: Minimum net worth of 300 000 $ CAD. All assets must be the candidate’s own personal holdings or spouse’s or common-law partner’s.
Business investment: Minimum investment of 100 000 $ CAD 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.
OR: 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
* PROCESS:
- Prepare a business proposal
- Get a community support letter and register your proposal with the ALBERTA PNP and get selected
- Get a work permit- Estimation: 3 months
- Build your business- Estimation: 6 months to 1 year
- ALBERTA PNP nomination
Permanent Residence- Estimation: 12 to 18 months
