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What is a business visitor?

A business visitor is someone who comes to Canada to engage in international business activities without directly entering the Canadian labour market. For example, someone who comes to Canada to meet people from companies doing business with his or her country would be a business visitor.

Visitors may come to Canada to observe site visits. Alternatively, a Canadian company may have invited them to Canada for training in product use, sales or other functions related to a business transaction.

Business visitors must prove that their main source of income and their main place of business are outside Canada.

There is a difference between coming to Canada as a business visitor and coming to Canada as a business person. For information about coming to Canada as a business visitor, see Jobs that do not require a work permit. For information about coming to Canada as a business person, see Special categories.

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