A Canadian Business Visitor is an individual coming temporarily to Canada with the purpose of engaging in international business activities, without directly entering the Canadian labour market. For example, a business visitor would be someone who comes to Canada to meet Canadian clients doing business with his or her company based outside of Canada.
Visitors may come to Canada to observe site visits. Alternatively, a Canadian company may have invited them to Canada for training in product use, sales or other functions related to a business transaction. As a business visitor, you must show that:
As a Canadian Business Visitor, you will be able to travel anywhere in Canada, while visiting family, friends and enjoying the best attractions along the way. You will also be able to attend any conferences, trade shows and meetings with new clients.
Business visitor who are covered under Visitor Visa are those who are visiting only for international business activities and they do not have any intend to directly enter the Canadian labour market
Business Visitor vs Work Permit
Note that a business visitor visa is different from a Canadian work permit. You cannot enter the Canadian workforce as a business visitor. Business visitor visas are intended to allow short-term stays for business activities such as industry conferences, site visits, or training. If you are transferred to Canada by your company or are otherwise employed by a Canadian company, you will need a work permit. You can come to Canada as a visitor to search for Canadian employment.
However, you cannot legally work in Canada without a work permit. If you secure a job offer from a Canadian employer while in Canada on a visitor visa, you must apply for a work permit before you can begin working. Your application must be processed by the Canadian visa office responsible for the country in which you live or are a citizen, so you may be required to leave Canada during the course of your application processing. However, you can legally remain in Canada for as long as your visitor visa is valid.
Examples include those business visitors who are in Canada:
To have a business meeting with the representatives of those Canadian companies which are doing business in the country of the Visitor.
To execute any future expansion plan in Canada and are here for critical observations or site visits.
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.
To understand the requirements of a Canadian company which has invited them for advance training regarding operations, sales or functioning of their products
Business visitors don’t need a work permit, for these type of activities, to come to Canada. But these visitors must prove that their main source of income and their main place of business is outside Canada. They are paid or are earning from the company or concern who is based and operating outside Canada.
Business Visitor must affirm:
No intent to enter the Canadian labour market means no gainful employment in the Canada
All activities in Canada are of international in scope only
If working for a foreign employer, they must assure that:
Their remuneration is compensated from the source which is outside Canada.
Their company, which they operate or work for, is located outside Canada.
Their company is primarily making profits from its operations, outside Canada.
