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canada-business-visa

Canada Business visa - Visit Canada for up to 6 months on business.

A maximum stay in Canada of up to six months. Can be extended.

Quick Enquiry

Thinking about how to do business in Canada? Going to Canada on a short visit as a business visitor lets you hold meetings and attend conferences. While you cannot enter the Canadian labour market as a business visitor, you can gain some understanding of the same. 

Here, you will get to know the procedure for applying for Canada Business visa, documents required, processing fee, and other details.

What is Canada Business visa?

what-is-canada-business-visa

A Canada Business visa is a kind of visa that allows you to go to Canada temporarily for business purposes. If you intend to visit Canada on business, you will have to go as a business visitor. 

Which visa to apply for going to Canada on business?

Generally, a foreign national will need any of the following for a short visit to Canada - 

  • A visitor visa, or
  • An Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).

You must have either of the above to enter Canada as a visitor. You can easily find out online if you will require a Canada visitor visa or eTA. Generally, those with Indian passports will have to get a Canada visitor visa.

What is the definition of a business visitor to Canada?

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) defines a business visitor or a business traveller as someone who - 

  • Comes to Canada for taking part in international trade or international business activities, 
  • Has no intent of entering the Canadian labour market, and 
  • Works for and is paid by a company outside Canada or by a foreign government.

Can I set up business on Canada Business visa?

No. You will have to apply to another visa category - such as the Start-Up Visa, Saskatchewan’s Entrepreneur pathway, or British Columbia’s Entrepreneur Immigration route - to be able to set up your business in Canada. A Canada Business visitor visa allows you to do just that, visit Canada for business.

Who can apply for Canada Business visa?

You can apply for the Canadian Business visa, also called the Canada Business visitor visa, if you will be going to Canada temporarily to - 

  • Take part in international business activities, 
  • Look for ways of growing your business, 
  • Investing, or 
  • Advancing your business relationships. 

Those coming to Canada as business visitors cannot enter the Canadian labour market.

How long can I stay in Canada as a business visitor?

how-long-can-i-stay-in-canada-as-a-business-visitor

Generally, a business visitor to Canada remains in the country for a few days or a few weeks at a time. However, the Canada Business visa allows a maximum stay in Canada of up to six months.

What are the Canada Business visa requirements?

A business visitor to Canada must have - 

  • No plans for entering the Canadian labour market, 
  • The intention of staying in Canada for less than six months, 
  • Your main place of business outside Canada, and
  • Documents to support your application. 

You must also meet the basic entry requirements.

What are the basic entry requirements for Canada Business visa?

You must have - 

  • A valid passport, 
  • Sufficient funds to stay and to return home, and
  • Plan of leaving Canada at the end of your visit.

You must not be a criminal and hold any risk, of health or security, to Canadians.

Do I need to apply for a work permit for a Canada Business visa?

Business visitors don’t require a Canada work permit.

Can I work on a Canada Business visa?

No, you can’t work in Canada when in the country as a business visitor. A Canada work permit will be required to work in Canada as a temporary foreign worker.

What can I do on a Canada Business visa?

Activities that you can take part in as a business visitor in Canada include, among others - 

  • Attending business meetings, 
  • Taking part in conferences, 
  • Participating in conventions, 
  • Being part of trade fairs,
  • Being trained by company in Canada that has sold you services or equipment, 
  • Taking orders for services or goods, 
  • Buying Canadian services or goods for a foreign business or government, 
  • Providing after-sales service as a part of a warranty or sales agreement, 
  • Training the employees of a Canadian branch of a foreign company, 
  • Being trained by a Canadian parent company that you work for outside Canada.

Do I require a Letter of Invitation for Canada Business visa?

A Letter of Invitation will be required. This must be from the Canadian company hosting you as a business visor from abroad. A representative of the Canadian company should write the letter of invitation. Each visitor will require two originals of the Letter of Invitation - one of them will be used for the Canada Business visa application. The other will have to be presented on entering Canada.

What should be included in Canada Business visa Letter of Introduction?

The Invitation Letter for Canada Business visa must contain information about - 

  1. The individual being invited, 
  2. The individual extending the invitation, and
  3. The company extending the invitation.

Can my dependents come with me?

No. Dependents can’t be included in Canada Business visa applications.

Where can I apply for Canada Business visa?

where-can-i-apply-for-canada-business-visa

You will have to apply online through the IRCC portal.

How to apply for Canada Business visa?

The basic steps to apply for a Canada Business visa - 

STEP 1: Check your eligibility to travel to Canada. 

You must be fully-vaccinated against COVID-19.

STEP 2: Check the list of documents based on your situation. 

STEP 3: Apply Online

  • Create an IRCC Account 
  • Upload your documents
  • Pay the fee 

STEP 4: Give your biometrics, fingerprint and photograph. 

Biometrics will have to be given at a Visa Application Centre (VAC).

STEP 5: Passport submission, if visa application approved.

STEP 6: Prepare for your travel to and arrival in Canada. 

Keep your documents ready with you to be shown to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer at the port of entry.

Do I have to submit my travel history for Canada Business visa?

A travel history proves that you have been able to secure a visa - from Canada or any other country that you might have travelled to - in the past. Your travel history will include a clear copy of one or more of the following - 

  • Previous passports and visas issued within the last 10 years, 
  • Expired or valid visas, 
  • Entry and exit stamps,
  • Study permits, and
  • Work permits. 

Submission of the travel history is optional and can be included with the visa application.

Do I have to submit my itinerary for Canada Business visa?

An itinerary contains documents showing how long you plan on staying in Canada and what you intend doing while in the country. Your itinerary can include your - 

  • Flight details, 
  • Hotel reservations, and 
  • Registration for an event. 

Submission of the itinerary is optional and can be included with the visa application.

Should I submit my account statement for Canada Business Visa application?

A bank account statement can help IRCC understand that you have enough money for supporting yourself during your stay in Canada. Your account statement must contain - 

  • Bank name and contact information, 
  • Proof that the bank account is in your name (the name and address on the statement should be yours), and
  • Account details of at least six months, including balances. 

Submission of the account statement is optional and can be included with the visa application.

Do I have to submit my employer information for Canada Business Visa application?

A letter from your employer, printed on your employer’s official letterhead, can - 

  • Confirm that you have a stable job and will return to it, and 
  • Show that your employer supports your Canada visit. 

Submission of your employer information is optional and can be included with the visa application. 

Can I extend my stay in Canada as a business visitor?

Yes, you can extend your stay in Canada. Generally, visitors can stay in Canada for up to six months.

How to extend my stay as a Business Visitor in Canada?

If you want to extend your Canadian stay as a visitor, you will be required to apply for a Canada visitor record.

Where do I apply for Canadian Business visitor visa extension?

You will have to apply online through the official IRCC website.

What is the Canada Business visa fee?

$100 is the IRCC fee for processing Canada visitor visas for business purposes.

What is the processing time for Canada Business visa?

As of now, the processing time is 106 days when applying for a Canada visitor visa from India.

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