Business people

Business people and business visitors are different categories with different requirements.

Business visitors

Every year, thousands of international business visitors come to Canada to do business with Canadian companies. There are requirements you must meet to be allowed into Canada.

Business visitors do not require a work permit. Find out more about business visitors.

Conducting business under a free trade agreement (business people)

Business people can enter and work in Canada if they qualify under one of the following free trade agreements:

• North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
• Other Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)
• General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS)

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

Under Chapter 16 of NAFTA, citizens of Canada, the United States and Mexico can gain quicker, easier temporary entry into the three countries to conduct business or investment activities.

Business people covered by NAFTA do not need a labour market opinion (LMO) from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC). This means that Canadian employers do not need to have a job offer approved by HRSDC to hire an American or a Mexican business person, as set out in NAFTA.

Business people covered by NAFTA must, however, comply with the general provisions on temporary entry to Canada.

NAFTA applies to four specific categories of business people:

• business visitors
• professionals
• intra-company transferees
• traders and investors

Business visitors

A business visitor is someone who comes to Canada to engage in international business activities without directly entering the Canadian labour market. Business visitors usually stay in Canada for a few days or a few weeks but are able to stay for up to 6 months. A business visitor is a separate category with separate requirements. Business visitors do not require a work permit. For more information, see information for business visitors.

NAFTA Professionals

A professional must:

• be qualified to work in one of the more than 60 professions listed in Appendix 1603.D.1 of Chapter 16 of NAFTA (for example, accountant, computer systems analyst, engineer, management consultant and technical publications writer); and
• have pre-arranged employment with a Canadian enterprise in an occupation that matches the qualification;
• have a work permit.

Intra-company transferee

An intra-company transferee must:

• have worked continuously for at least one year in the preceding three years for the same or affiliated employer in the United States or Mexico;
• be transferred to Canada to work temporarily for the same or an affiliated employer; and
• work in a capacity that is managerial, executive or that involves specialized knowledge.
• have a work permit.

Traders and investors

A trader or an investor must:

• be seeking to carry out substantial trade in goods or services, mainly between Canada and her or his country of citizenship, or conduct substantial investment activities in Canada, in a supervisory or an executive capacity, or in a capacity that involves essential skills;
• meet additional requirements under NAFTA; and
• have a work permit.

Learn more about all categories of business people.

Other Free Trade Agreements

Additional Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), such as the Canada-Chile FTA and the Canada-Peru FTA, are modelled after the NAFTA to make it easier for business people from one country to temporarily enter the other country. The rules and requirements are similar to those under NAFTA and cover categories of business people such as: business visitors, professionals, intra-company transferees, and traders and investors.

Learn more about rules and requirements for business people under other free trade agreements.

General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS)

Under GATS, Canada has committed to making it easier for foreign business people to access the Canadian services market. The commitments apply to service providers from more than 140 World Trade Organization member countries.

Three categories of business people are covered: business visitors, professionals and intra-company transferees. Qualified business people can enter Canada more easily because they do not need an LMO from HRSDC or, in the case of business visitors, a work permit.

Learn more about requirements for business people under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS).