Self-employed farmer stream

About the Self-Employed Farmer Stream

The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP), is designed to assist farm owner/operators with proven management skills and significant financial resources, to develop a sustainable growth orientated farming business in Alberta/Canada.

Under the AINP Program, Alberta can nominate farm owner/operators who intend to immigrate, purchase and manage a farming business in Alberta. Farm owner/operators who are considering applying under this category should contact officials in Alberta's Department of Employment and Immigration (E&I) or Alberta Agriculture and Food (AF) for further details on the eligibility criteria for the PNP program.

Criteria for the Self-Employed Farmer Stream (includes but is not limited to):

• The farm owner/operator category is restricted to primary agriculture enterprises. Priority will be given to applicants purchasing farming enterprises representing the best opportunity for growth relevant to Alberta's agri-food growth targets. Applicants should document their investment intentions through their proposed business plans.
   
• Confirmation of proven farm management skills through personal representation of a combination of the following:
   
  • Financial documentation of their existing farm enterprise.
  • Documentation of their education, training and work experience.
  • Proposed business plan for the farming enterprise being considered in Alberta.
  • Canadian financial institution willingness to finance the proposed farming enterprise.
     
• Commitment to invest a minimum of CDN$500,000 of equity in a farming enterprise in Alberta. The applicant must provide documentation which demonstrates that they have a minimum net worth of CDN$500,000 or confirmation of access to a similar amount of funds from other sources.
   
• Sufficient financial resources to develop a sustainable farming operation. This amount may in many instances exceed the minimum investment specified to qualify under the Farmer AINP category.
   
• Applicants must make personal representation to Alberta Agriculture to demonstrate their financial capability and specific interests in investing in a farming enterprise in Alberta.

Successful AINP candidates nominated by the Government of Alberta will be required to meet all Federal Government statutory requirements regarding health, criminal and security checks before an immigration visa is issued.

* All applications must be submitted in English with English translations provided for foreign language certificates and documents.

Date Updated: Oct 28, 2008
RDP-614