Foreign students who have graduated from a post-secondary institution outside of Canada can now apply for permanent residency through a third entrepreneur immigration stream in Alberta. The stream is now accepting applications from interested and eligible applicants through the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program. .
Eligible and qualified international graduates from abroad can now submit Expressions of Interest in Alberta’s newly announced immigration pathway.
Launched on January 27 2021, the pathway called the Foreign Graduate Start-Up Visa Stream (FGSVS) is a collaboration between the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) and approved designated agencies.
FGSVS is an economic immigration program and has been designed to attract talented students and graduates who studied outside of Canada. Through this stream, qualified candidates can be nominated for permanent residence when they launch a start-up or innovative business in the province.
The AINP is currently accepting applications for FGSVS.
What are the eligibility requirements?
This are some of the criteria that must be met in order to be eligible for FGSVS:
- A minimum of 6 months of full-time work experience.
- Successful completion of a degree from post-secondary degree institution outside of Canada within the past two years in a credential which is equivalent to a Canadian degree.
- A detailed business plan complete with financial forecasts.
- A ten-minute presentation outlining the applicant’s business pitch.
- Minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 in English or French.
- Must have 34% to 51% ownership of the business venture, depending on the location.
Wondering if you meet the requirements? The AINP Self-Assessment Tool is a good place to start.
Getting started:
Interested applicants are required to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) online through the AINP Portal, indicating their interest in being considered for a provincial nomination under an immigration stream.
Profiles will be ranked using the FGSVS points grid which are based on factors such as education, work experience, language proficiency etc. A number of the highest ranked candidates will then be selected to submit a Business Application.
As of right now, there is no quota for how many applications AINP will accept nor how many invitations may be issued, however, this may change at any moment, at their discretion.
This is quite an exciting development and opens the doors for rapid economic growth in the province of Alberta while also helping Canada reach its immigration targets for this year set out in the 2021-2023 Immigration Levels Plan.