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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.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible for this stream, applicants must meet the following criteria:
Table 1: Requirements for IGEIS
| 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. For example, experience with a business incubator or business accelerator, or completion of entrepreneurship program courses.* |
|---|---|
| Education | Have completed at least two years of full-time education in Alberta, resulting in a degree or diploma from a designated post-secondary institution in Alberta. Completion of program of study must result in for 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 in one of the following: Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. Official test results must be less than 2 years old at the time your EOI is submitted.
|
| Business Establishment | Must establish a new business or buy an existing business in Alberta with a minimum 34% ownership. |
* Approved post-secondary institution (PSI) entrepreneur programs and suggestions for work experience equivalencies include:
- Aboriginal Entrepreneurship
- Artisan Entrepreneurship
- Bachelor of Commerce – Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- Master of Business Administration – Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- Bachelor of Commerce – Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- Bachelor of Commerce – Small Business and Entrepreneurship
- Culinary Entrepreneurship
- Bachelor of Commerce – Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Factors that increase your chances
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
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Economic benefit |
Can provide economic benefit to Alberta through:
|
|---|---|
| Age | 21 to 49 years |
| Spouse | Your spouse or common-law partner has at least one of the following:
|
| Alberta relative | 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, step-sister, brother, step-brother |