Alberta Self-Employed Farmer

Alberta Advantage Immigrant Programme (AAIP) intends to recruit farm owners and operators who intend to settle in Alberta in order to buy and run their farming operations.

The AAIP actively collaborates with Alberta’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to determine applicants’ eligibility.

You must intend to start a farming business in Alberta, have farm management skills, and have enough money to invest in a main production farming business in Alberta in order to be eligible for immigration to Alberta under this stream.

Requirement

Minimum Requirements

To be able to apply to this stream, you must fulfil the corresponding minimal requirements:

Demonstrate your proficiency in farm management by providing:

➤ Authentic financial records of your current farm enterprise.

➤ Evidence of your education, training, and professional background.

➤ An outlined business proposal that details your intended agricultural operations in Alberta.

➤ Verification of support from a Canadian financial institution, indicating their readiness to fund your farming endeavours in Alberta.

Demonstrate that you possess enough financial means for this undertaking:

➤ You should be capable of contributing at least CAD $500,000 of personal investment in a primary production farming enterprise in Alberta.

➤ Display a minimum net worth of CAD $500,000 or provide proof of access to comparable funds from alternative origins.

Note: CAD $500,000 represents the minimum investment requirement, although a larger sum may be necessary to exhibit your investment capacity.

Demonstrate their commitment to investing in a primary production farming venture in Alberta by:

➤ Detailing their investment plans in the proposed business plan;

➤ Highlighting that the Government of Alberta gives preference to applications that exhibit the highest potential for growth aligned with Alberta’s agri-food objectives.

Participate in a face-to-face interview with a representative from the Government of Alberta who assesses your eligibility within the AAIP.

Who is not eligible to apply to the AAIP Farm Stream

If you fall into any of the following categories, you cannot apply:

➤ If you are seeking refuge in Canada or going through a federal appeal or removal process.

➤ If you are a live-in caregiver currently living in Canada.

➤ If you are a temporary foreign worker residing in a province other than Alberta.

➤ If you are an international student studying in Canada, even if you are doing a co-op work placement or internship as part of your study program.

Recent changes

In order to be consistent with the investment criteria under other entrepreneur streams, the AAIP reduced the minimum investment for the rural entrepreneur stream from $200,000 to $100,000 on April 3, 2023.

In order to address questions on the conditions and procedures of the programme, AAIP recently launched the AAIP Phone Line. The phone line, run by AAIP staff, is an addition to the program’s already-available online resources and contact forms.

➤ AAIP Phone Line: 780-644-7534

➤ Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm Monday to Friday (closed statutory holidays)