Business Visitors

What is a business visitor?

A business visitor is someone who visits Canada for business purposes:

For international business activities

Without directly entering the Canadian labour market

Examples of this include someone who comes to Canada:

Meeting companies doing business with their country

To observe site visits

Because a Canadian company invited them for training in:

  • Product use
  • Sales
  • Other business transaction functions

It is not necessary for them to have a work permit to come to Canada.
Business visitors must demonstrate that their main source of income and their main business location are outside Canada.
If you are working for a Canadian company, you are not considered a business visitor and may need a work permit. Let’s say you’re an employee sent by a foreign company to fulfill a contract with a Canadian company.

TYPES OF ACTIVITIES

As a business visitor, you may engage in the following activities:

Purchasing Canadian goods or services for a foreign business or government

Taking orders for goods or services

Attending meetings, conferences, conventions, or trade shows providing after-sales service as part of a warranty or sales agreement

Receiving training from a Canadian parent company

Training employees of a Canadian branch of a foreign company

Trained by a Canadian company that supplied your company with equipment or services

It is your responsibility to pay taxes and obey all federal, provincial, and municipal laws.

WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU TO CANADA

When you arrive at the border, make sure you have these documents (don’t pack them in your suitcase):

Valid passport or travel document for the duration of your stay

and, if applicable, a visitor visa

If you need an eTA, you must use the same passport that you used to apply

Support letters from your parent company and letters of invitation from the Canadian host business or a letter of recognition from the Canada Border Services Agency

If applicable, other documents such as service agreements, warranties, or contracts.

With 24-hour contact information for your Canadian business host.

You must have sufficient funds for both your stay in Canada as well as your return home.

And proof of vaccination for COVID-19.