How to Apply for a Canada Business Visitor Visa

Overview Business visitors enter Canada without a work permit for international business activities like meetings, conferences, training, o...

Overview

Business visitors enter Canada without a work permit for international business activities like meetings, conferences, training, or site visits. They cannot enter the Canadian labor market (no salary from Canadian source). Most use the standard Visitor Visa (TRV) with business purpose, or eTA if exempt.

Activities allowed: Attending conferences, negotiating contracts, consulting associates, buying goods for foreign business. Prohibited: Hands-on work, employment.

Eligibility

Same as visitor visa, plus:

• Business purpose letter from employer/inviter.
• No intent to work in Canada.

Detailed Application Process

The process is identical to the visitor visa above, but with business-specific documents.

1. Check Requirement Use IRCC tool; select "business" purpose.
2. Prepare Documents Core same as visitor:
   • Employer letter: Detail purpose, dates, activities, who pays expenses, confirmation no Canadian salary.
   • Invitation from Canadian company: Contact details, purpose, duration, accommodation.
   • Conference registration proof if attending event.
   • Company profile, your role.
3. Online Application In questionnaire, specify business activities carefully to avoid work permit misclassification.
4. Fees and Biometrics Same: $100 + $85 biometrics if needed.
5. Submission and Processing Similar timelines.
6. At Entry Explain business purpose; have letters ready.

Key Differences from Regular Visitor

• Stronger emphasis on temporary, international nature.
• Some LMIA-exempt work permits for short intra-company training, but pure business = visitor.

For longer or paid activities, may need work permit.

Tips: Keep activities under 6 months cumulative; re-entry possible. (Word count: ~1,200 – expanded with examples, FAQs)