Alberta Farm Stream – Here Is All You Need To Know

Entrepreneurs with financial resources and farm management experience can establish or purchase an existing farm in Alberta and apply for permanent residence (PR) through Alberta’s Farm Stream. 

To ensure the business strategy is realistic, viable, and satisfies the requirements of Alberta’s agriculture industry, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) works with Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation.

In this article, learn about the eligibility criteria and how to apply. 

Eligibility criteria for Alberta’s Farm Stream 

Candidates must satisfy the following requirements when their application is submitted and evaluated by AAIP. 

However, only fulfilling these requirements does not ensure nomination or permanent residency. 

Below are the requirements for Alberta’s Farm Stream:

Farm management abilities

Examples of proof that candidates have farm management abilities include:

• Documentation of education, training, and work experience 
• Financial paperwork of an established farming business
• A potential business plan for the farming enterprise in Alberta that you are exploring
• Evidence that a Canadian financial institution is willing to fund your prospective farming business

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Financial requirements 

An investment of at least CDN $500,000 in an Alberta primary production farming enterprise.

In terms of evidence, candidates must demonstrate a minimum net worth of CDN $500,000 or proof of the ability to access an equivalent amount of funds from other sources.

Candidates will need to submit these financial documents with their application. However, applicants may need to demonstrate their ability to invest more than the minimal amount.

Furthermore, applicants need to detail their investment plans in a proposed business plan and submit it to the AAIP along with their application. 

Then, Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation will assess the proposed business plan to ensure that the farming operation meets the requirements of the Alberta farming industry.

Applicants who demonstrate the most substantial chance for growth in Alberta’s agri-food targets gets priority. 

Who is ineligible for Alberta’s Farm Stream? 

If you meet the following criteria, you are ineligible to apply for the AAIP Farm Stream:

• Have an ongoing nomination that hasn’t expired and is eligible for extension through another AAIP stream. Candidates are only permitted to receive one AAIP Nomination Certificate.
• Have received a letter on a previous AAIP application stating that you are ineligible to reapply for a set time period. If you apply during the specified period, your application will be rejected.
• Have been issued a removal order from IRCC or the Canada Border Services Agency. The AAIP does not get involved in federal refugee claims, appeals, or removal proceedings.
• Are a foreign national who lives or works in Canada but does not have a legitimate temporary residence status
• Are live-in caregivers who are currently residing in Canada  
• working as a temporary foreign worker in a province other than Alberta
• You are an international student studying in Canada, including students participating in co-op work placements or internships as part of their studies.

How to apply Alberta’s, Farm Stream? 

Step 1: Go over the terms and conditions.
The availability of AAIP streams, categories, paths, and pilots is determined by the volume of applications received and the labour market needs. 

The AAIP maintains the right to close application intake for any AAIP stream, category, pathway, or pilot at any time and without notice.

Furthermore, regardless of when applications were received, the AAIP may decline to examine applications to closed or suspended streams, categories, paths, or pilots. 

The AAIP is under no obligation to evaluate or process any applications submitted. Applications to the AAIP are treated as expressions of interest.

Accordingly, they will be handled based on the applicant’s quality (completeness, eligibility), labour market information, occupational supply and demand predictions, AAIP application volumes, and any other variables at the AAIP’s discretion. 

By applying for the AAIP Farm Stram, you acknowledge and agree that your application may not be processed in the order in which it was received or at all.

Furthermore, the decision to assess/process any individual application, as well as the outcome of any such assessment/processing, is entirely at the discretion of the AAIP.

Meeting program criteria is an eligibility minimum, and it does not guarantee that a candidate’s application will be examined, processed, or granted.

Regardless of the submission date, the AAIP may evaluate the application using the most recent criterion.

Candidates must have a high likelihood of establishing themselves economically in Alberta.

The AAIP maintains the authority to reject applications if the AAIP believes that the candidate will not establish themselves economically in Alberta.

Step 2: Examine the eligibility requirements.
Before applying, review the Farm Stream eligibility criteria and the AAIP Terms and Conditions (see Step 1 above).

The AAIP cannot guarantee that all full applications received will be evaluated or that all candidates who meet the qualifying criteria will be nominated. 

For more information, please visit the AAIP Terms & Conditions (see Step 1 above).

In addition, the AAIP’s submission of an application or nomination does not guarantee that you will be granted a permanent resident visa.

You are highly urged to review the AAIP Business Plan (Guidelines) before you consider applying to this stream to help you create your business plan.

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Step 3:Download the checklist and fill out the forms.
To complete your application, download and use the AAIP Farm Stream Document Checklist.

All of the forms needed for your application are listed on the checklist.

The following original forms must be filled out and signed in person:

• Application of the Farm Stream

The following Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) forms must be filled out in full and provide copies of the form below:

• IMM 0008 Generic Application Form for Canada 
• IMM 0008 Schedule 4: Economic Classes: Provincial Nominees 
• IMM 0008 Schedule 4A: Economic Classes: Business Nominees 
• IMM 0008DEP Additional Dependents/Declaration Form
  • Only fill out this form if you have more than 5 dependents.

You can read the IRCC Guide for Provincial Nominees for assistance completing IRCC forms.

You, your spouse/common-law partner, and any dependents over the age of 18 must complete the IRCC forms listed below:

• IMM 5669 Schedule A: Background/Declaration 
• IMM 5406 Additional Family Information 
• IMM 5476 Use of a Representative (if applicable)

Step 4: Paying the application fee 
All applicants who mailed their application on or after October 1 must pay the application fee of $500. Applications sent in before October 1, 2020, are free of charge.

The application fee is non-refundable once you submit your application.

It covers the cost of processing your application and is necessary to pay regardless of whether you receive a nomination.

Paying the fee does not guarantee you will receive a nomination certificate. 

Only one AAIP entrepreneur application may be in progress at any given moment.

Therefore, there is a separate application fee for each AAIP application, and this fee will not be returned.

For online payments
At MyAlberta eServices, you can use a debit or credit card to pay your fee online.

Ensure that you include the fee payment receipt in your application. If not, you will have 10 business days to submit payment proof.

Failure to submit payment proof may result in application refusal. 

In case of any online fee payment issues, contact the Service Alberta Contact Centre at:

Phone: 1-844-643-2788
Email: myalberta.eservices@gov.ab.ca

Step 5: Send your application to AAIP by mail. 
Make sure to attach your proof of fee payment to your application. In addition, for your records, keep a copy of your application.

Send your original, complete application, along with a copy of your receipt for the application fee to the following address:

Farm Stream
Alberta Advantage Immigration Program
Government of Alberta
Suite 940, ATB Place North Tower
10025 Jasper Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta  T5J 1S6
Canada

For more information, refer to the Government of Alberta’s Farm Stream page.  

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