Business Visitor- TWA

Business Visitor

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Looking for Ways to Grow Your Business, Invest or Advance Business Relationships?

A business visitor is someone who comes to Canada:

for international business activities without being/becoming a part of the Canadian labour market, or
is visiting Canada temporarily to expand business relationships.

Business visitors usually stay in Canada for only a few days or weeks, but are able to stay for up to 6 months.

Examples of a Business Visitor Includes Someone Who Comes to Canada:

to meet people from companies doing business with their country;
to observe site visits; or
because a Canadian company invited them for training in product use, sales, or other business transaction functions.

Business Visitors do not require a work permit to come to Canada, but they must prove that their main source of income and their main place of business are outside Canada.

You aren’t considered a business visitor, and may need to get a work permit if you’re doing work for a Canadian company. For example, you’re an employee sent by a foreign company to fulfill a contract with a Canadian company.

Business visitors and business people are not the same. Business people come to do work in Canada under a free trade agreement.

a passport or travel document that is valid for your entire stay and guarantees re-entry to your country of origin;
a letter of support from your parent company and a letter of invitation from the Canadian host company or a Letter of Recognition from the Canada Border Services Agency;

Does a Business Visitor Need a Special Visa to Enter Canada?

As a business visitor, you need either an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) or a visitor visa that covers all visitors, including those coming to Canada on business. Most people need a visa OR an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to travel to Canada – not both. Some people may only need a valid passport.

When you arrive in Canada, you must show the border services officer several documents. These documents include, but are not limited to:

the passport you used to apply for your eTA;
other documents such as warranty or service agreements, contracts, etc. if relevant to the visit;
24-hour contact details of your business host in Canada; and
proof that you have enough money for both your stay in Canada and your return home.

Types of Activities You May Conduct as a Business Visitor:

buying Canadian goods or services for a foreign business or government;
taking orders for goods or services;
going to meetings, conferences, conventions or trade fairs;
giving after-sales service (managing, not doing hands-on labour);
being trained by a Canadian parent company that you work for outside Canada;
training employees of a Canadian branch of a foreign company; and
being trained by a Canadian company that has sold you equipment or services.

If I Am a Business Visitor, Do I Need a Work Permit to Work in Canada?

You do not need a work permit to carry out business activities related to your job back home, such as meeting clients of your company or visiting job sites.

However, if you plan to:

carry out secretarial, managerial, technical or production activities, or
stay longer than six months in Canada.

You have to apply for a work permit. In both cases, if you are from a country that requires a visa to visit Canada, you must apply for a temporary resident visa as well.