Canadian Business Visitor Visas

You are considered a business visitor if you plan to visit Canada temporarily to:

• Look for ways to grow your business,
• Invest or
• Advance your business relationships.

If you are a business visitor and you need a visa to visit Canada, you must apply for a temporary resident visa, just like any other visitor to Canada. There is no separate application for business visitors.

As a business visitor, you must show that:

• You plan to stay for less than six months,
• You do not 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 and
• 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 and
  • Are not a criminal, security or health risk to Canadians.

Cross-border business can include:

• 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 or
• Being trained by a Canadian company that has sold you equipment or services.

A U.S. or Mexican national can take part in other activities, such as research, marketing and general services. Under the North American Free Trade Agreement

You might be considered a temporary worker if you plan to stay longer than six months or plan to work in Canada,  and have to apply for a work permit.

If a temporary resident visa is needed by you, certain documents must be sent when you apply:

• A letter of invitation from your potential business partner in Canada and
• 24-hour contact details for that person.