TCF Practice

AAIP Rural Entrepreneur Exploratory Visit and Community Support

Connect with a participating community, follow its process, complete an in-person visit or jointly agreed web-based visit, and preserve evidence. Send the complete Business Proposal Summary for community review. The community may issue a Community Support Letter and endorse the summary; only after receiving both and meeting all other criteria may you submit an EOI. The Exploratory Visit Report belongs to the later Business Application.

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Start with an eligible community

A rural Alberta community has a population under 100,000 and is outside the Calgary and Edmonton Census Metropolitan Areas. Each community has its own process, owns scheduling, and may choose which candidates it is prepared to meet.

Agree on the visit format

The exploratory visit is mandatory. The community and the candidate decide together between an in-person visit and web-based video conferencing. A community may decline to meet, endorse or support a candidate, and a visit does not guarantee support, a request or nomination.

Handle entry requirements independently

For an in-person visit, the candidate must meet all applicable entry or visa requirements. AAIP and the community will not provide a support letter for a visa. This page is not legal advice, immigration advice or visa advice.

Prepare before the visit

Research local market opportunities, licensing, registration and business establishment. Meet relevant economic-development contacts, professional business service providers, settlement organizations or other prospects, and keep accurate records for the Exploratory Visit Report. Never publish private or personal contact information.

Capture the four evidence categories

Record professional business service providers or settlement organizations, including mailing addresses, telephone numbers and emails. Describe each activity, meeting or video conference and how it relates to business establishment or settlement. Keep applicable business cards from in-person meetings. If you plan to purchase an existing business, record the business name, location, current owners, contact details, visits and meetings.

Move from visit to EOI

After the exploratory visit, send a complete Business Proposal Summary to the community. The community may review it and, if it sees an economic benefit, issue a Community Support Letter plus an endorsed Business Proposal Summary. Receive both before submitting an EOI, and only if every other eligibility criterion is met.

Use each document at the correct stage

The Community Support Letter and endorsed summary support the EOI. The Exploratory Visit Report is required for either in-person or video visits and is submitted later with the Business Application if requested. AAIP decides provincial assessment and nomination; IRCC decides a work permit, permanent residence and other federal matters.

Language and stream boundaries

Rural Entrepreneur requires NCLC 4. In speaking/listening/reading/writing order, TCF thresholds are speaking 4, listening 331, reading 342 and writing 4; the result must be less than two years old at EOI. Rural Renewal is a worker stream and is different from Rural Entrepreneur; a Rural Renewal endorsement is not this community support. Farm Stream uses a separate paper process and is outside this guide. The live eligibility page controls if any older Community Guide differs.

Frequently asked questions

Can the exploratory visit be virtual?
Yes, when the community and candidate jointly agree to web-based video conferencing. The exploratory visit remains mandatory.
Must a community meet or support me?
No. Each community selects candidates to meet and may decline to support or endorse a proposal.
Can I submit an EOI immediately after the visit?
No. First send the complete proposal summary, then receive both community documents and satisfy all other criteria.
When is the Exploratory Visit Report submitted?
It is later Business Application evidence if AAIP requests that application; it is not a substitute for the EOI documents.
Will AAIP issue a visa support letter?
No. The candidate is responsible for all entry or visa requirements for an in-person visit.
What evidence should I preserve?
Keep records of activities, meetings, relevant contacts, applicable cards and any existing-business discussions while protecting personal information.

Official source

2026-08-22.

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This page provides educational information only and is not legal or immigration advice.