If you receive a request to submit a Business Application, you can submit your Business Application online using the AAIP Portal. A draft of the Business Application will be created in the AAIP portal with the information you provided during your EOI. Make sure you update this information and upload all the required forms and supporting documents in the AAIP Portal and pay the $3,500 non-refundable fee.
A complete Business Application includes all of the required documents listed on the Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream Business Application Document Checklist (PDF, 437 KB). If any documents are missing, your application may be declined. A complete Business Application must be submitted within 90 days of receiving the email from the AAIP requesting you to submit a Business Application.
AAIP approved designated agency and Qualified Service Provider
The following reports must be submitted with your Business Application:
- Business Plan Evaluation Report
- Qualified Service Provider Report
Business plan evaluation report
Your business plan must be evaluated through a business plan evaluation report completed by an AAIP approved Designated Agency. Contact the Designated Agency for Business Plan Evaluation Report as soon as you receive the request to submit a Business Application from the AAIP.
Qualified Service Provider Report
You may be required to have your net worth and business investment assessed by the Qualified Service Provider. Refer to your request to submit Business Application email, to determine if the AAIP requires you to have your net worth and business investment assessed by the Qualified Service Provider.
Contact the Qualified Service Provider for a Qualified Service Provider Report as soon as your receive the request to submit a Business Application from the AAIP. The AAIP will only accept a Qualified Service Provider Report from one of the following Qualified Service Providers:
Grant Thornton LLP
1701 Scotia Place 2
10060 Jasper Avenue NW
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 3R8
Phone: 780-422-7114
Fax: 780-426-3208
Email: [email protected]
KPMG LLP
3100, 2005 5 Avenue SW
Calgary, Alberta T2P 4B9
Phone: 416-777-3887
Fax: 403-691-8008
Email: [email protected]
MNP LLP
Suite 1600, MNP Tower
10235 101 Street NW
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 3G1
Phone: 587-441-6021
Fax: 403-269-8450
Email: [email protected]
Only candidates who receive a request to submit a Business Application will be able to access the AAIP Portal to start Business Application process. A request to submit a Business Application will be sent by email. After logging into the AAIP portal, click on ‘Check Existing Applications'. A draft Business Application is automatically created for you. Review and update the Business Application and provide all additional required documents. Your Business Application must be current and complete.
If you do not submit your Business Application within the specified deadline, your draft will be cancelled in the AAIP portal. If you are still interested in applying to the AAIP, you will have to submit a new EOI under the relevant criteria in place at the time of submission. EOIs that are cancelled due to failure to submit a Business Application by the deadline are not eligible for a Request for Reconsideration.
The AAIP will not accept changes to an EOI submitted after the request to submit a Business Application has been sent. You may only submit a Business Application if you can demonstrate you meet criteria. You will be assessed against the criteria in place at the time your Business Application is received.
When the AAIP selects candidates, it expects that information contained in the AAIP Portal is accurate. The information and documents you identified in the AAIP Portal must be provided to the AAIP at the time your Business Application is submitted. Documents and information provided in the Business Application must support the information provided in your EOI in the AAIP Portal. If there are discrepancies between the information provided in the EOI and the Business Application, your submission may be declined.
Application fee
Fee conditions
A $3,500 non-refundable fee applies to all online Business Applications.
The Business Application fee is non-refundable once a Business Application has been submitted to the AAIP. The Business Application fee covers the cost of processing your Business Application and is required whether your Business Application is approved or not. There is no guarantee you will be issued a nomination certificate.
Note: refund requests for Business Application fees will not be considered. Each Business Application requires a separate Business Application fee and the fee will not be refunded.
Paying the Business Application fee
Instructions on how to pay your fee are available in the AAIP portal. For any online fee payment issues, contact the Service Alberta Contact Centre at:
Phone: 1-844-643-2788
Email: [email protected]
You will need to pay your fee within 24 hours of submitting your Business Application in the AAIP portal.
The $3,500 fee must be paid online using a single credit or debit card.
If you do not pay your fee within 24 hours of submitting your Business Application, your Business Application will be cancelled. Cancelled Business Applications cannot be reinstated. Your Business Application is linked to your EOI. If the Business Application is cancelled, you must submit a new EOI for consideration and selection.
Confirmation of Business Application receipt and payment
Check the status of your Business Application on the MyApplications page of the AAIP portal to confirm your Business Application fee has been paid:
- Your Business Application has not been accepted for processing by the AAIP and your fee has not been paid if the ‘Pay Fees’ button shows in the portal and the status of your Business Application is ‘Payment Pending’ on the MyApplications page.
- Your Business Application has been accepted for processing by the AAIP if the ‘Pay Fees’ button is not showing in the portal and the status of your Business Application on the MyApplications page in the portal is ‘Submitted’. You will also get an email from eServices with your fee payment receipt.
After you apply
Notification of Business Application
Emails from the AAIP will always come from a Government of Alberta account (@gov.ab.ca). The Alberta government does not use email accounts such as Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, etc. If you receive a suspicious email, contact your local police and report the incident to the AAIP by email at [email protected].
Once you submit a complete Business Application, the AAIP Portal will automatically generate a file number. If any documents are missing, your Business Application will be declined.
If you use an immigration representative to submit your Business Application, your notification email will be sent to you and copied to your representative.
Update your information
Keep your Business Application information up to date while you wait for it to be completely assessed by an AAIP officer.
You must update the AAIP to:
- correct or update information or documents in your Business Application
- provide required updates on your contact information – address, email address or phone number – or changes to your family status
- provide any changes to your immigration status including renewed work permits, study permits or visitor records
- update your use of a representative
- request your Business Application be withdrawn
If you are requesting to withdraw your Business Application, updating your contact information (excluding email address), updating your family information or changing your representative, you must use the AAIP portal.
If you need to change your email address for corresponding with the AAIP, you must update your Alberta.ca Account.
For all other updates, you must email the updated information or change request to [email protected], along with your AAIP Business Application number. You must advise of the update or change that is required and attach the relevant documents. You will receive an automated email response indicating your email is received. Please keep track of the requests you email to the AAIP. The AAIP will update its internal system with changes.
Forms to notify the AAIP of updates
- A signed Use of Representative form (PDF, 303 KB) must be provided to change your third-party representative for your AAIP application
Withdrawing an application or updating your contact information (excluding email address), family information, employment information and representative
Complete the online request
- Log into the AAIP portal
- On the AAIP portal main page, click on 'Create New Request'.
- Find the AAIP Business Application number for the Business Application for which you want to make a request.
- Once you click on the Business Application number, you will be directed to a page with detailed information. You can only see request options that are available to you for this Business Application.
- Withdrawal: If you are eligible to withdraw the Business Application, a blue 'Withdraw Application' button will be available above the Business Application number.
- Update contact information: You can update contact information for all active or nominated Business Applications.
- Update family information: You can update spouse/common-law partner and dependent information for all active and nominated Business Applications.
- Request change of representative: You can update your representative for all Business Applications, including withdrawn and declined Business Applications.
- Click on the blue button for the type of request you want to submit.
- Next, read the FOIP clause and other important information about completing a request. Check off the box and click on 'Continue'. A draft is automatically saved once you click on the 'Continue' button. If you experience any technical issues or leave the request section while creating the request, you will need to go to the 'Check Existing Requests' page to retrieve the draft request to continue.
- Read the information provided on submitting the request and follow the instructions to complete the request.
- Withdrawal: Once a Business Application is withdrawn, it cannot be re-activated. Enter your reason for requesting the withdrawal of the Business Application.
- Update contact information: The current contact information the AAIP has will be displayed. Only update the information that is no longer correct. Do not delete any existing information that is correct. Include only your contact information. Do not provide anyone else’s information, including that of your third party representative.
- Update family information: Provide details on the spouse/common-law partner and/ or dependent you need to add or remove from the Business Application and upload supporting documents.
- Request change of representative: If you are removing a representative and representing yourself, fill out the fields as directed in the portal. If you are appointing a representative or changing from one representative to another representative, read the provided AAIP Use of Representative policy and upload a signed Use of Representative form (PDF, 303 KB). Read the instructions in the form to determine which pages must be completed for the change to representative you are requesting.
- Click on 'Submit Request' button.
The AAIP will review your request to withdraw and notify you by email after the review is completed.
We will make the changes to your contact, family, and representative information in our internal system. Changes will only be reflected in the individual requests in the Check Existing Request section in the portal. Changes to your information will not be reflected in the online Business Application.
If more information is needed
A Program Officer with the AAIP will contact you by email or phone if they require more information to assess your Business Application. You must submit this information in the format requested by the Program Officer to their government email address. The only other information you should send to your assigned Program Officer are documents showing changes to your contact information, employment, work permit status or family situation.