Eligibility as a Business Visitor

You are 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.

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

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

If you need a temporary resident visa, you must send certain documents when you apply:

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

You may also need identification cards or proof you have a job.

Please Contact Us for more information on this program.