If you are interested in living in one of the best countries in the world temporarily, you can apply for a Canadian business visitor visa.
Why would anyone want to live in Canada temporarily and not permanently? Well, while most people want to permanently move to Canada, others only want to seize an opportunity to do business, namely engage in international business activities without entering the country’s labor market. A business visitor from anywhere in the world could be someone that visits Canada ever so often but has a business based outside of the country.
Should that person be you and you wish to apply, first, you must meet the business visitor visa eligibility requirements, meaning you can qualify if you want to do the following only:
- Invest
- Seek ways to grow your business
- Network and advance your business relations
How to Apply for a Canadian Business Visitor Visa
Firstly, to enter Canada on business, you require either your visitor visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), either of which must be applied before you come to Canada.
Additionally, you are required to provide your biometric information, including fingerprints and a photo, if you apply for a Canadian business visitor visa.
It is essential to understand that there’s a distinction between a business visitor and a business person, as business people come to Canada to do work under the free trade agreement. Business visitors, however, only visit Canada to invest, grow their business or network, and observe site visits. The reason can be because they were invited by a company in Canada for training in product sales or use, for example, or any other function related to completing a business transaction.
To do business in Canada, you can apply for the Canadian business visitor visa by presenting the following documents and meeting these requirements:
- Plan to stay in Canada for less than six months
- Don’t plan to enter the Canadian labor market (If you wish to, you will be classified as a business person and need to enter Canada under the free trade agreement)
- You have a primary source of income, profit, or your business outside of Canada
- You possess enough money for your stay in Canada and to return home after
- You intend to leave Canada at the end of your visit
- You meet the basic entry requirements with a valid travel document, such as a passport
- Provide a valid visitor visa or eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization)
- Provide proof of a clear criminal and health record
- Letters from your parent company or a letter of invitation from a Canadian host business, or a Letter of Recognition from Canada’s Border Service Agency
- A warranty, service agreements, or contracts (if applicable)
- 24-hour contact details of your business host in Canada (if applicable)
Business Activities You May Conduct with a Business Visitor Visa
- Buy Canadian goods or services for your business or government
- Attend meetings, conventions, conferences, or trade fairs
- Take orders from Canadian businesses for services or goods
- Provide an after-sale service as part of your sales agreement or warranty
- Get trained by a Canadian parent company you work for outside of Canada
- Train employees of a foreign company or Canadian branch
- Receive training from a Canadian company that sells you services or equipment
- Conduct research, or take part in marketing and general services (Only under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, or if you are a U.S. or Mexican national)
Start Your Journey as a Canadian Business Visitor
Coming to Canada as a business visitor presents a great opportunity as it allows you to travel through Canada and visit any place in the country that you want. This also allows you to visit family and friends or travel the country for pleasure purposes. Additionally, you can attend meetings with new clients or attend conferences and trade shows to gain exposure as a person doing business in Canada.
If you wish to travel to Canada on business and want to learn more, including how to apply for a business visitor visa or other Canadian business immigration streams, visit this page.
