The Rural Entrepreneur Stream is a targeted economic immigration pathway designed to attract visionary entrepreneurs from around the world who are eager to establish or acquire a business in Alberta’s rural communities. This stream allows the Government of Alberta to nominate experienced, capable, and business-minded individualswho demonstrate the potential to contribute meaningfully to the economic development and vitality of smaller communities across the province.
This stream not only supports the diversification of Alberta’s rural economy but also fosters job creation and revitalization of local markets through entrepreneurial innovation.
An entrepreneur is more than a business owner—they are innovators, problem-solvers, and risk-takers. Entrepreneurs identify market opportunities, develop business solutions, and invest their time, energy, and capital to build sustainable ventures. Their efforts fuel local economies, generate employment, and often introduce new products, services, and technologies to their communities.
In the Alberta context, entrepreneurs are critical to shaping the future of rural towns and municipalities. By identifying community needs and tailoring business solutions to fill those gaps, entrepreneurs play a vital role in Alberta’s long-term prosperity.
The AAIP defines rural communities as those with a population of fewer than 100,000 people, based on the most recent Statistics Canada census. Additionally, eligible rural communities must fall outside the boundaries of the Calgary and Edmonton Census Metropolitan Areas.
A comprehensive list of qualifying communities, including contact information and economic profiles, can be found in the Rural Entrepreneur Stream Community Guide.
Entrepreneurs are encouraged to explore participating rural communities in Alberta by initiating contact with designated community representatives. Each community has the autonomy to evaluate and decide whether a business proposal aligns with its economic priorities and values. Community participation is a key factor in the application process, and early engagement is strongly recommended.
Communities not yet enrolled may apply to participate by submitting a Community Enrolment Form to Alberta’s Entrepreneur Support Service.
A mandatory exploratory visit serves as a foundational step for building a realistic and community-aligned business proposal. The visit may be conducted in-person or through video conferencing, depending on mutual agreement between the entrepreneur and the community.
During the visit, entrepreneurs are expected to:
This visit is not only a requirement but an invaluable opportunity to develop insights, relationships, and an actionable plan for business success in rural Alberta.
After the exploratory visit, applicants must prepare a detailed Exploratory Visit Report that includes:
Following the exploratory visit, candidates must submit a comprehensive Business Proposal Summary to the community contact. This summary should outline the proposed venture’s structure, market potential, anticipated impact, and long-term sustainability.
If the community supports the initiative, they will issue a Community Support Letter and endorse the proposal. This endorsement signals that:
Upon securing both the Community Support Letter and an endorsed Business Proposal Summary, candidates are eligible to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program.
The EOI is evaluated by the AAIP based on multiple factors, including business viability, community impact, investment readiness, and alignment with provincial economic goals.
Here is a professionally structured and detailed Eligibility Criteria section for the Rural Entrepreneur Stream of the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), based on the information you provided:
To qualify under the Rural Entrepreneur Stream, candidates must meet mandatory eligibility criteria set by the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program. These requirements are designed to ensure that prospective entrepreneurs possess the necessary business experience, financial capacity, and integration potential to successfully operate a business and contribute to the economic growth of rural Alberta communities.
While not mandatory, the following factors may enhance your competitiveness in the selection process:
Additional points may be awarded if your spouse or partner:
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We look forward to helping you achieve your entrepreneurial goals and make Alberta your home!
The Rural Entrepreneur Stream is a pathway under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) for foreign entrepreneurs who want to start or purchase a business in a rural Alberta community. The goal is to attract investment, innovation, and job creation in smaller communities outside Alberta’s major urban centres.
A rural Alberta community is defined as any community with a population of fewer than 100,000 people that is located outside the Calgary and Edmonton Census Metropolitan Areas. The community must be willing to support the entrepreneur through a Community Support Letter, which is a mandatory requirement for this stream.
To be eligible, you must:
The EOI is the first formal step in the RES application process. It is submitted through the AAIP online portal after creating an Alberta.ca Account. The EOI includes business and personal information, and is scored based on the RES Points Grid. A non-refundable $200 fee is required at this stage. Submitting an EOI does not guarantee that you will be invited to apply.
An Expression of Interest remains in the pool for up to 12 months unless it is selected for invitation, withdrawn by the applicant, or replaced with a new submission.
If selected, you will receive an email invitation to submit a Business Application. You must complete the application through the AAIP portal and submit all required documentation, including two third-party evaluation reports. A non-refundable application fee of $3,500 must also be paid within 24 hours of submission. You have 90 days from the invitation date to submit your Business Application.
Key documents include:
Refer to the Business Application Document Checklist provided by the AAIP for a full list.
Two mandatory evaluations are required:
These reports verify the viability of your business plan and validate your claimed net worth and sources of funds.
Yes. The business plan submitted to AAIP must be the same version reviewed by the qualified service provider. Consistency is essential, and discrepancies may lead to refusal.
At least one full-time job must be created for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident (non-family member). This position must be relevant to the business and sustained for at least six months prior to final reporting.
Yes. You must actively manage the business and reside within a reasonable commuting distance of the business location in Alberta.
Yes, you can purchase an existing business if it has been operational by the same owner for the previous three years. The business must not be on the list of ineligible businesses and must meet the minimum ownership and investment requirements.
If approved, you will receive a Business Performance Agreement (BPA). You must sign and return it to AAIP within 14 days. After arriving in Alberta and meeting the BPA terms (e.g., establishing your business and creating jobs), you can request provincial nomination.
You typically have 12 months from the date the Business Performance Agreement is signed to establish your business and meet the conditions required to qualify for nomination.
After receiving a nomination, you can apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence. Note that IRCC will conduct its own assessment, including medical, criminal, and security checks.
No. Nomination is not a guarantee. The final decision on permanent residency is made by IRCC, which assesses admissibility and application completeness independently of the AAIP.
Yes. You may use an authorized immigration representative. If you do, you must submit a Use of Representative Form with your application. Only lawyers and consultants authorized by the relevant regulatory bodies may act as representatives.
Discrepancies or misrepresentations may result in the refusal of your application and a potential ban from reapplying to AAIP for up to five years. It is essential that all information remains consistent and accurate.
British Columbia (B.C.) continues to be a prime destination for global entrepreneurs seeking to establish and grow their businesses in a thriving and supportive economic environment. Through the Entrepreneur Immigration (EI) – Regional Stream, the Province of British Columbia opens its doors to individuals with innovative business ideas, managerial acumen, and a desire to contribute to the economic vitality of the province’s smaller, dynamic communities.
This stream offers a distinctive opportunity to establish a new business in B.C.’s regional communities—areas outside the major urban centres—where entrepreneurs can enjoy a higher quality of life, a strong sense of community, and meaningful business opportunities while playing an integral role in local development.
Initially launched as a pilot in March 2019, the EI Regional Stream is now an established component of the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) and serves as a vital mechanism to stimulate localized economic growth and demographic sustainability.
At the heart of this stream is a collaborative, community-driven approach. Participating communities are entrusted with identifying business priorities specific to their local economies. Each enrolled community defines the sectors and business types it wishes to attract and evaluates candidates based on the relevance of their proposals and professional experience.
Prospective candidates must engage directly with these communities, respecting each one’s unique administrative processes. Some may charge fees for processing or advisory services. Communities assess candidates’ fit based on background, proposed business model, and community needs.
Unlike the EI Base stream, the Regional stream mandates a compulsory in-person exploratory visit to the selected community before registration. This requirement ensures that entrepreneurs have a clear understanding of the location, its opportunities, and its lifestyle. The visit provides a platform to meet with local contacts, explore infrastructure, and assess the support systems available for new business ventures.
The decision to invite an applicant for an exploratory visit remains solely at the discretion of the community, and not all proposals may be selected for a visit.
Following a successful exploratory visit, if both the entrepreneur and the community agree that the business proposal aligns with local priorities and that there is a mutual fit, the entrepreneur may request a referral from the community. This referral is a mandatory prerequisite to submit a registration under the EI – Regional Stream.
| Criteria | EI – Base Stream | EI – Regional Stream |
| Experience (within past 10 years) | At least 3+ years as a business owner-manager OR 4+ years as a senior manager OR combination of 1+ year owner-manager & 2+ years senior manager | Same as Base |
| Minimum Net Worth | CAD $600,000 | CAD $300,000 |
| Education | Post-secondary credential OR 100% ownership and active management of a business for at least 36 of the last 60 months | Same as Base |
| Business Proposal | New business or purchase of an existing business in B.C. | New business only; must be aligned with and referred by a participating community |
| Ownership Requirement | Minimum 33.33% ownership | Minimum 51% ownership |
| Minimum Investment | CAD $200,000 | CAD $100,000 |
| Job Creation | Minimum one full-time equivalent job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident | Same as Base |
| Business Location | Anywhere in B.C. | Only in participating rural/regional communities |
| Exploratory Visit | Not required, but strongly recommended | Mandatory before registration |
| Language Requirement | CLB 4 in English or French. Language test results must be submitted at final report (if not submitted earlier). | CLB 4 in English or French. Language test results must be submitted at registration. |
| Partner with BC PNP co-registrant | Allowed | Not allowed |
| Partner with Local Business/Person | Allowed | Allowed |
| Registration Points | Total: 200 points (120 self-declared, 80 business concept). Minimum 40 points in business concept. Must score at least 115 points overall to qualify. | Total: 200 points (140 self-declared, 60 business concept). No minimum for business concept. Must score at least 105 points overall to qualify. |
| Registration Processing Time | Typically within 6 weeks | Typically within 4 weeks |
| Net Worth Verification | Required after invitation to apply | Same as Base |
| Application Processing Time | Approximately 4 months | Same as Base |
| Interview Requirement | Yes | Yes |
| Final Report Submission | Minimum 18 months after issuance of work permit | Minimum 12 months after issuance of work permit |
Foreign entrepreneurs interested in applying under the EI Regional Stream must meet the following minimum requirements at the time of registration:
Based on the information you provided, here is a detailed and structured eligibility requirements summary for the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) – Entrepreneur Immigration (EI) Regional Stream. This format is designed to be clear, comprehensive, and suitable for inclusion in an official immigration submission or client-facing documentation.
The BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) Entrepreneur Immigration – Regional Stream targets experienced entrepreneurs who intend to establish a new business that contributes to the economic development of a participating community in British Columbia. Applicants must demonstrate their ability to meet federal and provincial legal requirements and a strong intention to settle permanently in B.C.
To be eligible for nomination, you must:
2.1 Active Management and Residency
2.2 Immigration Status and Legal Eligibility
You are not eligible if you:
2.3 Personal Net Worth
2.4 Experience
You must meet one of the following experience requirements within the last 5 years:
2.5 Education
You must have one of the following:
Note: Language training and informal certificates are not accepted. If requested, a credential assessment must be provided.
2.6 Language Proficiency
You must demonstrate minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4 in English or French in all four competencies (listening, speaking, reading, and writing). At this level, you must be able to:
Language results must be submitted at registration.
2.7 Business Proposal Requirements
You must:
2.8 Eligible Business Ownership
2.9 Minimum Investment Requirement
2.10 Job Creation Requirement
Here’s a Step-by-Step Process for immigrating to British Columbia under the Entrepreneur Immigration – Regional (EI-Regional) Stream of the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP). This guide provides a comprehensive breakdown, aligning with the stages of the process from initial preparation to applying for Permanent Residence (PR) through IRCC.
Before registering with the BC PNP, prospective applicants must complete essential preparatory steps:
(A) Research Community and Business Needs in B.C.
(B) Conduct an Exploratory Visit to the Community
Note: An exploratory visit is mandatory under the EI–Regional Stream.
(C) Obtain a Referral from the Community
(D) Use Online Resources
Once preparation is complete, you may begin the registration process:
(A) Registration Overview
(B) Creating Your Profile
(C) Completing the Registration
(D) Submitting Your Registration
(E) Registration Scoring
(F) Qualified Pool
(G) Invitation to Apply (ITA)
If you receive an Invitation to Apply, you proceed to the application phase:
(A) Net Worth Review
(B) Submitting Your Application
(C) Application Assessment
(D) Interview
(E) Performance Agreement
Once approved, you can begin establishing your business in B.C.:
(A) Arrival
(B) Building Your Business in B.C.
(C) Post-Arrival Progress Check-In
Upon meeting the terms of the performance agreement, you may request nomination:
(A) Final Report
(B) Conditions of Nomination
(C) Nomination
Once nominated by BC PNP, you proceed to apply for permanent residence:
(A) Applying to IRCC for Permanent Residence
(B) Work Permit Extensions
Are you ready to take the next step in establishing your farming business in Alberta? Change of Phase Consulting Ltd. is here to help you with every aspect of the BC PNP process.
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The EI – Regional Stream is a program under the BC Provincial Nominee Program that allows experienced entrepreneurs to establish new businesses in participating small communities in British Columbia. The goal is to support regional economic development and population growth.
It’s designed for experienced business owners or senior managers who wish to start a new business in a small B.C. community and are willing to make a significant economic contribution through investment and job creation.
Applicants must:
Active management means being physically present in B.C. and directly involved in the daily operations and decision-making of the business.
You must have one of the following:
Yes, unless you have 100% ownership and have actively managed a business for at least 36 of the past 60 months. Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) may be required if education is obtained outside Canada.
You must meet Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4 in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in English or French.
Yes. You must conduct a visit to explore the business environment and meet with community representatives before registering.
After your visit, the local government must issue a Community Referral Letter indicating support for your proposed business.
Create a profile in the BC PNP online system, complete the registration form, and submit required documents along with a non-refundable fee.
Registrations are scored out of 200 points:
If you meet the minimum score (105 points), your profile enters the Qualified Pool. High-scoring candidates may receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
You must:
It’s a legal document outlining your business commitments (investment amount, job creation, residency, timelines). You must fulfill all terms to be eligible for nomination.
You must invest at least CAD $100,000 from personal funds and create at least one permanent full-time equivalent (FTE) job for a Canadian or PR.
You must:
Yes. You must reside in the community and be physically present in B.C. for at least 75% of your time on a work permit.
After fulfilling the Performance Agreement, submit a Final Report. If all conditions are met, BC PNP will issue a provincial nomination certificate.
Yes. If you fail to meet the conditions outlined in your Performance Agreement (investment, job creation, active management, residency), you may not be nominated.
Submit a PR application to IRCC under the Provincial Nominee Class with your nomination certificate and supporting documents.
Yes. BC PNP can issue a letter of support to help you apply for a work permit extension while IRCC processes your PR application.
You are not eligible if:
Yes, as long as you are legally in Canada and meet all other eligibility requirements.
Some types of businesses are not eligible (e.g., real estate development, holding companies, bed and breakfasts, pay day loans, etc.). Refer to the BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration Guide for a full list.
You may not appeal a decision, but you may choose to reapply if you still meet eligibility and your situation improves.
Contact:
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.copcg.com
Toll-Free: 1-866-960-9296
Change of Phase Consulting provides a strong foundation for your success from the outset.
Change of Phase Consulting ensures your registration is thorough, complete, and strategically competitive.
Our experienced consultants will walk you through the entire application stage to reduce delays and increase success.
Change of Phase Consulting offers ongoing support during your transition to business ownership in British Columbia.
Our consultants will help you meet all requirements for nomination without delay.
Change of Phase Consulting ensures a smooth transition from nomination to permanent residency.
Our experienced consultants have supported thousands of applicants and bring unmatched expertise in business immigration to Canada. We tailor our services to each client’s unique needs and guide you through every step of the process with integrity, transparency, and dedication.
Start your journey with us today.
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.copcg.com
Toll-Free: 1-866-960-9296
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