Certain special rights for workers are granted by Canada to business visitors, but these are not extended to all foreign workers entering the country. Exemption of a Canada Work Permit is one such entitlement. Allowing business people from throughout the world to conduct business in Canada is very beneficial to Canada’s economy. It is because Canada supports a global economy that thrives on cooperation and forging alliances with other countries.
Canada maintains reciprocal relationships with several countries, ranging from trade agreements to economic collaborations, allowing Canadians to travel there on business. A small number of business visitors can enter Canada and begin working without a work permit for similar reasons.
Working in Canada as a Business Visitor
However, business visitors may still require an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) or TRV (Temporary Resident Visa) to conduct business in Canada. The following are the conditions to be met for one to be eligible to work in Canada as a business visitor:
- Evidence indicates you plan to stay in Canada for less than six months as a visitor.
- Prove you are not planning to join the Canadian labor force.
- Show that your main place of business, where most of your income comes from, is overseas.
- Provide the supporting documentation that the application requests.
- Meet the requirements to enter Canada.
The requirements needed to enter Canada are as follows:
- Obtain a legitimate travel document, such as a passport.
- Have sufficient money to travel back home and stay in Canada.
- Have a departure strategy in place for when their visit to Canada ends.
- Show that you are neither a criminal nor a threat to Canadians’ safety or health.
Persons in Canada Who Are Considered Business Visitors
Enlisted below are instances where foreigners may be considered business visitors in Canada.
- People who work on industrial and commercial equipment (such as computer software), supervise installers and set up (but do not perform physical installation like pipefitting), and perform maintenance and repairs.
- Those looking to maintain or repair equipment they have hired or bought from abroad, provided that the work is being done by an extended or unique rental, hire, sales warranty, or agreement.
- People update the software on previously purchased or rented equipment.
- People set up, install, or instruct others on using updated software.
- People coming to Canada to handle service and warranty agreements in cases where the work contracts are extensions of initial agreements or have been agreed upon under an original rental, lease, or sales arrangement.
Those Who Are Not Considered Business Visitors
Below are conditions under which a foreign individual visiting Canada for reasons related to business is not regarded as a business visitor.
- Foreign individuals arriving in Canada to work in construction and building-related jobs.
- After the first sales or lease/rental agreement is signed, people coming to this country to work under a service contract arranged by a third party, not the Canadian corporation or a foreign organization, will work together.
- Foreign nationals working in Canada who are not warranted or given any approval.
- For instance, if the foreign worker is coming to Canada to work for a global firm that a Canadian company is directly hired to provide services for, getting into the Canadian labor market can only be determined by a contract between a foreign organization and a Canadian business.
Citing an example from the aforementioned, an organization in the United States and a Canadian company signed a service agreement. A group from the United States travels to Canada to perform on-the-ground operations. This means that the United States team members are working in Canada and are paid by foreign companies for their contributions to the project. In this case, United States citizens will not be considered business visitors.
Business activities that foreigners can engage in as business visitors to Canada
After being certified eligible to work in Canada as a business visitor, here are a few jobs one can take up while still in Canada.
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- Certified persons wishing to work in Canada as business visitors can participate in trade shows, conferences, conventions, and meetings.
- As someone who aspires to work in Canada as a business visitor, you can purchase products or services in Canada on behalf of a foreign company.
- Receive and process orders for products or services.
- Provide post-purchase servicing (except hands-on construction trades work).
- Receive training for work abroad from a Canadian holding company. Provide training to workers at a Canadian subsidiary of an international corporation.
Business Activities a Business Worker is Not Permitted to Do in Canada
There are constraints on what business visitors can and cannot do while in Canada, so they must be aware of these limitations. As an illustration, foreigners who wish to work in Canada as a business worker are not allowed to:
- Execute tasks categorized as manual labor or specialized trades (such as electrical, plumbing, and so forth).
- Be compensated by a Canadian business (expense reimbursement not included).
- Participate in direct sales to the general population.
- Not allowed to work for a Canadian corporation or company if the worker has no legal work permit.
- Should a foreign individual be discovered to be in breach of these limitations, they might be removed from Canada and/or have further challenges in the future.
How to Apply for a Visa to Work in Canada as a Business Visitor
Before traveling to work in Canada as a business visitor or for business, a foreign citizen must ascertain whether they require an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) or a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV). This will vary based on their home nation and the reason for their stay. Should they need a TRV or eTA, they will have to finish the online application and send in the required supporting files.
Depending on the particular circumstances of each applicant, the necessary documentation for a business visitor visa may vary. However, it may include:
- A valid passport.
- An invitation letter from a business in Canada.
- Evidence of funding confirmation and evidence of the return journey.
- Evidence of wealth and employment in their nation of origin.
- A thorough description of the things they intend to do in Canada.
- The length of time it takes to process an application and the required supporting documentation will vary depending on the individual’s circumstances and the volume of work the Canadian visa office is currently dealing with.
Conclusion
For individuals looking to work in Canada as a business visitor and develop connections with Canadian enterprises, traveling to Canada as a business visitor may be an exciting and worthwhile experience. To guarantee a successful visit, it is crucial to comprehend the activity constraints and appropriately prepare the required paperwork.
