Business visitor visas

Business visitor visas

All visitors to Canada, except those who are visa-exempt, require a visitor visa to enter the country regardless of the type of activity they are going to undertake once they arrive in the country. So every business visitor to Canada must also apply for a temporary resident visa (TRV), or visitor visa to enter the country. A business visitor can be described as someone who comes to the country for international business activities and not to directly enter the Canadian labour market.

How is a business visitor visa different from a work permit?

The significant difference between a business visitor visa and a work permit is that one cannot enter the Canadian labour force with a business visitor visa. A business visa enables the holder to come to Canada and stay in the country for a short period for purposes such as industry conferences, site visits, or training related to business.

You need to have a work permit to come to Canada if you have been transferred to Canada by your company or if you have been employed by a Canadian company. Though you can come to Canada and search for employment if you hold a visitor visa, you can never work in the country without a work permit. Even if you get a job in Canada while holding a visitor visa, You must apply for a work permit first before you start working. Your work permit application has to be processed by the Canadian visa office responsible for the country in which you live or are a citizen. It means you need to leave Canada while your application is under processing. However, you can legally stay in Canada until the validity of your visitor visa expires.

The application process for a business visitor visa to Canada

Canada does not have a separate visitor visa for business. So a business visitor must apply for either a visitor visa or a TRV. The candidate must indicate in the visa application that they are visiting the country for business purposes. They must also demonstrate the activities they are going to undertake to the border services officer at the port of entry. The business visitor may not need a visa if he/she is coming from a visa-exempt country. However, they still need to have electronic travel authorization (eTA) when they come to Canada by air. The family members of the business visitor can accompany him/her. But each of the family members must submit a separate visa application and obtain a visitor visa.

NAFTA Business Visitors

The North American Free Trade Agreement aims to reduce barriers between Mexico, the United States, and Canada. NAFTA business visitors are, in fact, a category of business people under the NAFTA agreement. As per the agreement, the citizens of countries involved in the agreement can enter into other member countries for temporary business or investment purposes.