The International Student Entrepreneur Program will allow foreign graduates of Alberta post-secondary institutions to start or acquire their own business with a provincial nomination pathway to permanent residency. Foreign business owners and entrepreneurs who create jobs for Albertans and improve the economic activity of this province will have a pathway to permanently resettle here. When an international student graduates from a post-secondary institution in Canada, they are usually eligible to apply for a post-graduation work permit that allows them to enter the workforce. This can offer a pathway to permanent residency after they have obtained some work experience in Canada. However, the International Student Entrepreneur program is positioned to encourage international students upon graduation, instead of entering the workforce to possibly create it, by starting a business. 

There are numerous benefits to start a business in Alberta; (1) Open up undeveloped markets; for example, a business that’s extremely popular in Japan, a dog café where you can enjoy your brunch or coffee while your pet dog gets to socialize with other dogs in the café could be introduced in Alberta. Launching a base of operations in Alberta could open a completely new string of customers. (2) Fresh business environment; it is wonderful that this policy was introduced as it means that Alberta is not restricting any foreign nationals from following their entrepreneur dreams. Countries like India and Philippines have very strict business laws and therefore makes it quite difficult for national applicants to be entrepreneurs. (3) Canada has a highly skilled workforce; Canada being one of the countries in the 
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is *“ranked second for highest share of  25-34 year old (61%) with tertiary education, and first in terms of foreign-born adults with a tertiary degree (65%).” (4) The market in Alberta is ready for innovation and this is a major opportunity for international students as they see things from a brand new perspective. (5) Greater business recognition; many companies have been set up in an international student’s home country and they can open a branch in Alberta and this brand recognition will make it easier to gain customers from the same countries and gives the brand a sense of credibility. 

Being an international student in Alberta, one will find these reasons absolutely appealing and would certainly love the opportunity to start a business in Alberta. It only seems reasonable to have the chance to be an entrepreneur in a province that one has studied in for years. An international student has learned the way of the Albertan life, the cultures, learned to master the English and possibly French language(s) and these will be more than enough to be eligible for the program.  

We believe that every province in Canada and Western nation in the world will soon want to model their economic immigration policy after Alberta’s brilliant upcoming provincial immigration programs. We wish to thank the powerful team in the Alberta government that is committed to working for the success of the people of Alberta and for newcomers to this great province.

  • The Honourabale Muhammad Yaseen – Parliamentary Secretary of Immigration 
  • Yaseen – Parliamentary Secretary of Immigration  
  • The Honourable Jason Copping – Minister of Labour and Immigration  
  • Shawn Mcleod – Deputy Minister Labour and Immigration 
  • Janet McEachern – Chief of Staff of Minister of Labour and Immigration 
  • Percy Cummins – Executive Director, Evidence, Polic and Governance 
  • Lori Zaparniuk – Director, Labour Market Evidence 
  • Simrat Slade – Senior Economist, Government of Alberta 
  • Piotr Weclaw – Director, Department of Labour 
  • Lenore Neudorf – Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministry of Labour, Alberta 
  • The Honourable Jason Kenney – Premier and Champion of Alberta 

References:*Velocity Global

Contact Us

For more information on International Student Entrepreneur Program,contact us.

Sean G McKinsley, Managing Partner & Founder
RCIC & ICCRC Member R529731
Office: +1-587-400-3350
Fax: +1-587-400-4515
WhatsApp: +1-587-703-9805
Email: sean.mckinsley@civs.ca

Nikola Misina, Partner
RCIC & ICCRC Member R524218
Office: +1-587-400-3350
Fax: +1-587-400-4515
WhatsApp: +1-587-893-7427
Email: nikola.misina@civs.ca

Steve Paolasini, Senior  National Vice-President, B. Eng
Office: +1-587-400-3350
Fax: +1-587-400-4515
WhatsApp: +1-587-703-9805
Email: steve.paolasini@civs.ca