Business Visitors
Work in Canada without a work permit.
Certain Applicants may be exempt from applying for a work permit to conduct business in Canada. Entering Canada as a business visitor allows Applicants to engage in certain business activities for up to 6 months without the need to apply for an LMIA and work permit.
Are You a Business Visitor?
You are a business visitor if you:
- Would like to enter Canada to participate in international business activities without entering the Canadian labour market
- Would like to visit Canada temporarily to
- Explore ways to grow your business
- Invest
- Advance your business relationships
Evidence to Provide as a Business Visitor
In order to qualify as a business visitor to Canada, Applicants must prove that they:
- Plan to stay for less than 6 months;
- Don’t plan to enter the Canadian labour market;
- Have a main place of business and source of income/profits outside Canada;
- Have documents that support their application; and
- Meet Canada’s basic entry requirements, because they
- Are in possession a valid travel document, such as a passport
- Have sufficient funds for the stay and return home
- Plan to leave Canada at the end of the visit
- Are not a criminal, security or health risk to Canadians.
Eligible Activities
Activities that are eligible to be conducted as a business visitor include:
- Purchasing Canadian goods or services for a foreign business or government;
- Taking orders for goods or services;
- Attending meetings, conferences, conventions or trade fairs;
- Providing after-sales services (managing, not doing hands-on labour);
- Training employees of a Canadian branch of a foreign company; and
- Being trained by a Canadian company that has sold the Applicant equipment or services.
Note: Under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), U.S. and Mexican nationals may also take part in business activities such as research, marketing and general services as business visitors.
Requirements for Entering Canada
In order to enter Canada as a business visitor, applicants may need a visitor visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). Our associates at Pace Immigration would be pleased to help you figure out what type of authorization you need. Contact us today for more information.
What to Bring With You to Canada
Applicants arriving at the border as business visitors must have the following documents on them (not packed away in their suitcase):
- A passport or travel document that is valid for the entire stay;
- A valid visitor visa, if required;
- If an eTA is required, Applicant must travel using the same passport as specified in the eTA application;
- Letters of support from the parent company and a letter of invitation from the Canadian host business or a Letter of Recognition from the Canada Border Services Agency;
- Other documentation such as warranty or service agreement or contracts;
- 24-hour contact details of the business host in Canada; and
- Evidence of sufficient funds for the stay in Canada and for the return home.