​Foreigners may come to Canada as a business visitor for the following reasons:​

• 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
• Training employees of a Canadian subsidiary of a foreign company

The Business Visitor category allows individuals to enter Canada for business or trade activities without the need for a work permit, provided they do not intend to enter the Canadian labour market. Individuals who plan to work in Canada may need to apply for a Temporary Work Permit. Additionally, Business Visitors may still require a Temporary Resident Visa or an eTA (electronic Travel Authorization) to enter Canada on a temporary basis.

While there are several subcategories within this category, all business visitors must meet the following general criteria:

• There must be no intention to enter the Canadian labour market (no gainful employment in Canada).
• The individual’s activities in Canada must be international in scope (business visitors typically engage in cross-border activities).
• For business visitors employed by a foreign company, the following criteria apply:
  • The worker’s compensation is primarily sourced from outside Canada.
  • The worker’s main place of employment is outside Canada.
  • The employer’s profits are generated outside Canada.

When traveling to Canada, business visitors should be ready to provide immigration officials with documentation that verifies their intended status in Canada. The required documents may vary depending on the case, but typically, a letter of support from a parent company or an invitation letter from a Canadian company can strengthen the application.

Business visitors may qualify under the following sub-categories:

After-Sales Service

After-sales service providers are eligible to come to Canada to repair, service, supervise installation, and test commercial or industrial equipment. These services must be outlined in the equipment’s contract of sale in Canada. This category also includes individuals coming to train users or maintenance staff on operating specialized equipment.

Board of Directors Meetings

Members of a board of directors may enter Canada as business visitors to attend meetings. While they may receive compensation for their time in Canada, this does not count as entry into the Canadian labor market.

Employees of Short-Term Temporary Residents

Individuals employed in a personal capacity, full-time, by short-term temporary residents in Canada may also qualify as business visitors. Professions under this category include domestic servants, personal assistants, or live-in caregivers. If the temporary resident and their employees extend their stay beyond six months, a Labour Market Opinion (LMO) and Work Permit may be required for the employees.

Employees of Foreign Companies Contracting Canadian Companies

When foreign companies hire Canadian firms to provide services in Canada, they may send employees to oversee the work. These employees may qualify as business visitors if they meet the following criteria:

• They remain employees of the foreign company.
• They remain on the foreign company’s payroll.
• The foreign company benefits from the employee’s work.
• The foreign company’s main office is outside Canada.

Employees in this category can stay in Canada for up to two years.