In many cases, business visitors headed to Canada are not required to obtain a work permit. A business visitor is someone who comes to Canada for international business activities, but does not directly enter the Canadian labour market.

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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.

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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.

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Business visitors must demonstrate the following:

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• they plan to stay for less than six months,

• they do not plan to enter the Canadian labour market,

• the main place of business, and source of income and profits, is outside Canada,

• they have documents that support their application and

• they meet Canada’s basic entry requirements because they

  • have a valid travel document, such as a passport,

  • have enough money for their 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.

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There are a number of reasons why an individual may come to Canada as a business visitor, including:

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• 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; and

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