Business Visitors: Working Without A Work Permit
You’re a business visitor if you:
- come to take part in international business activities without being part of the Canadian labour market
- are visiting Canada temporarily to
- look for ways to grow your business
- invest
- advance your business relationships
Business visitors usually stay in Canada for a few days or a few weeks, but are able to stay for up to 6 months.
Table of Contents
Eligibilities:
To qualify as a business visitor to Canada, you must show that:
- you plan to stay for less than 6 months
- you don’t plan to enter the Canadian labour market
- your main place of business and source of income and profits is outside Canada
- you have documents that support your application
- you meet Canada’s basic entry requirements, because you
- have a valid travel document, such as a passport
- have enough money for your stay and to return home
- plan to leave Canada at the end of your visit
- are not a criminal, security or health risk to Canadians
Note: If you plan to stay for more than 6 months, or plan to work in Canada, you may be considered a temporary worker and have to apply for a work permit.
Types of Activities:
There are a number of reasons why an individual may come to Canada as a business visitor, including:
- Attending business meetings, conferences, conventions, fairs, etc;
- Buying Canadian goods or services on behalf of a foreign entity;
- Taking orders for goods or services;
- Providing after-sales service, excluding hands-on work in the construction trades;
- Being trained by a Canadian parent company for work outside of Canada; and
- Training employees of a Canadian subsidiary of a foreign company.
What you need to enter Canada
You need one of the following:
- a visitor visa
- an electronic travel authorization (eTA)
- other documents such as
- a valid passport from your country of nationality
- letters of support from your parent company and a letter of invitation from the Canadian host business or a Letter of Recognition from the Canada Border Services Agency
- other documents such as warranty or service agreements, or contracts, if relevant to your visit
- 24-hour contact details of your business host in Canada
- proof that you have enough money for both your stay in Canada and your return home