What Are Business Visitors?
A business visitor includes someone seeking temporary entry into Canada for international business activities who is not directly entering the Canadian labour market.
As a business visitor, you must prove that you plan to stay for less than six months and do not plan to enter the Canadian labour market. As part of this, you will need to show that you work for a foreign company, or that your main place of business and income source is outside of Canada. You will need to provide documents supporting your application.
As always, you must meet Canadian basic entry requirements, including having a valid passport and other required travel documents. You will also need to show that you have enough money for the length of your stay and to return home, and are not a criminal, security, or health risk.
Business visitors and businesspeople are different classifications for distinct purposes. Businesspeople aim to enter the Canadian labour market and earn money from a Canadian source. They come to do work in Canada under a free trade agreement. A business visitor, on the other hand, does not enter Canada to work for a Canadian company or work within the Canadian labour market.
Work Permit and Work for a Canadian Company
A business visitor does not need a work permit to enter Canada. As a business visitor, you must prove your main source of income and your place of business are both outside of Canada.
You will not be considered a business visitor and may need to get a work permit if the work you are doing is for a Canadian company. This includes if you are sent by a foreign company to fulfill a contract with a Canadian company, except as allowed under allowable international business activities.
If you wish to stay for longer than six months, you will probably be considered a temporary worker and will need to apply for a work permit.
Visas and eTAs
You can confirm what travel documentation you need on the Government of Canada website.
A valid passport is required to visit Canada. If you are from a country that does not need a visa for visiting Canada, an eTA will be needed. Otherwise, a visa is required.