Every year, thousands of international individuals come to do business in Canada under a Business Visitor Visa. This visa allows you to attend events, training or meetings and explore opportunities to expand your business with Canadian partners.
Who is a Business Visitor?
A person with a business visitor visa in Canada is someone who comes to do activities related to international trade, meet business partners, or provide a service. This person has the right to enter Canada temporarily but can not join the Canadian workforce.
Business Visitor Visa Requirements
If you need a business visitor visa for Canada, you need to prove you meet the following criteria:
- Demonstrate that your primary source of income and businesses are outside of Canada.
- Show you don’t have criminal records or health-based inadmissibility.
- Indicate that the intent of your visit is temporary
What Activities Can you Do on a Business Visitor Visa?
If you are in Canada under a business visitor visa, you are allowed to:
- Attend business meetings or conferences
- Conduct site visits
- Experience a product or sales training meeting
- Dealing with an after-sales agreement
- Buy goods in Canada for your foreign company
- Do other business visit activities
Documents For Your Business Visitor Visa
If you are applying to get a business visitor visa, you need to prove you will conduct business in Canada. T do it, you should :
- Bring the invitation of a Canadian organization
- Have the Letter from an international company certifying that you are hired on a full-time basis
- Prove you will not come to Canada to join the workforce or for employment purposes.
- If applicable, include a copy of the After-Sales Agreement.
- Have a copy of your Passport data page.
- If it is for a training visit, include a resume indicating you have enough experience to perform training and are only entering Canada for that particular purpose during a specific period.
- Include an itinerary showing all the activities while in Canada.
- Proof you have good ties with your home country
Benefits of a Business Visitor Visa in Canada
Once you hold a Business visitor visa, you are free to travel across Canada during the time of your permit. So, if you have family or friends, you can visit them and explore Canada’s life and nature.
Also, as long as you are in Canada with a Business Visitor Visa, you can participate in business sessions, go to trade shows, meet with clients, attend conferences, and pursue lucrative business opportunities.
Overall, during the time of your visa, you are free to travel the country and participate in business activities without requiring a work permit.
Also, if you want, you may explore options to extend your visa in Canada. Therefore, you can stay longer and even start thinking about pathways to start your immigration journey.
How To Qualify As A Business Visitor
To get a business visitor visa, you must demonstrate that you plan to visit Canada temporarily to do business. It means you want to connect with potential partners, find clients, seek investment or expand existing business agreements.
It is also vital to know that you should apply for a temporary resident visa if you are from a country that requires it. In fact, there is no separate application for business visitors. The temporary resident visa covers all visitors, including those in Canada on business.
How to Obtain a Business Visitor Visa?
In this case, applications usually happen at a Canadian port of entry. But, again, if you are from a country that requires a visa, you first need to obtain a temporary resident visa to come to Canada.
Upon arrival, talk to an immigration official and tell them you want to apply as a business visitor. Here is when having all the correct documents can save you much time and worry when entering Canada as a business visitor. Some people have had disappointment and difficulty at the port of entry.
We always encourage applicants to hire an immigration consultant from the beginning of their process.
Business Visitor Visa Canada
Usually, business visitors stay in Canada for a few days or even for a couple of months to attend their events and meetings. Therefore, it is essential to have your schedule and prove that you won’t stay longer than six months in Canada.
To be considered a business visitor, you must demonstrate that:
- You won’t enter the Canadian workforce and will stay less than six months.
- Proof that your incomes are outside of Canada.
- Bring proper documentation of your business.
- Hold a valid travel document.
- Prove you can support yourself while in Canada and going back to your home country.
- Have genuine intentions of leaving Canada after your business is completed.
Apply for a Business Visitor Visa
Again, there isn’t a special visa for business visitors to Canada. Then, you should follow the standard application for a visitor visa, or TRV, and indicate that you will enter Canada for international business activities. If you are from a country that doesn’t require a visa, you still need an electronic travel authorization (eTA) to come to Canada by air.
Another advantage is that business visitors can bring their family members to Canada. In this case, each family member must complete their own application.
Is it Necessary to Hire an Immigration Consultant?
As we mentioned before, it is not mandatory, but it is always better to have the assistance and guidance of an immigration consultant during your application process. This way, you can ensure you correctly do everything and meet the datelines required.
You may think the procedure for a business visitor visa in Canada is straightforward. However, there is a higher risk of refusal if you don’t properly prepare your application and carefully review all the required documents and criteria. So, we will always suggest hiring a Canadian immigration consultant or lawyer to take care of all your process and paperwork and guide you through it.
At mana immigration, we are experts in all types of Canadian visas. Contact and follow us to explore your options.
