Self-employed farmers must meet the following minimum requirements in order to be eligible to apply to this stream:

• Prove that they have farm management skills with:
  • Financial documentation of existing farm business;
  • Financial documentation of existing farm business;
  • Proof of education, training, and work experience;
  • A proposed business plan that describes the Alberta farming business the applicant plans to operate; and
  • Proof that a Canadian financial institution is willing to finance the applicant's farming business operations in Alberta.
• Prove that they have sufficient financial resources for this venture:
  • Must be able to invest a minimum of CAD $500,000 of equity in a primary production farming business in Alberta; and
  • Show a minimum net worth of CAD $500,000 or confirmation of access to similar funds from other sources.

  Note: $500,000 is a minimum investment amount. A larger amount may be required to demonstrate investment ability.

• Prove that they will invest in a primary production farming business in Alberta:
  • Document investment intentions in the proposed business plan; and
  • The Government of Alberta prioritizes applications that show the greatest opportunity for growth based on Alberta’s agri-food targets.
• Attend an in-person interview with a Government of Alberta representative who determines the applicant's eligibility under the AINP.

Who is not eligible to apply to the AINP Self-Employed Farmer Stream

Candidates are not eligible to apply if they are:

• Refugee claimants, or individuals involved in a federal appeal or removal process;
• Live-in caregivers currently residing in Canada;
• Temporary Foreign Workers working and residing in a province other than Alberta; and
• International students studying in Canada, including students doing co-op work placements or internships as part of their study program.