Business Visitor
These are people who come to Canada to engage in business and or trade activities but do not have the intention to enter the Canadian labour market. Their work most times must be international in scope, their primary source of worker’s compensation is outside of Canada, their principal place of employment is located outside of Canada and employer’s profits are accrued outside of Canada.
Examples of what they can come to Canada to do include:
- Buying Canadian goods or services on behalf of a foreign entity.
- Taking orders for goods or services
- Being trained by a Canadian parent company for work outside of Canada
- Training employees of a Canadian subsidiary of a foreign company
- Attending business meetings, conferences, conventions, fairs, etc
- Providing after-sales service, excluding hands-on work in the construction trades
Business Visitors May Fall Into
The Following Sub-Categories:
After Sales Service
After-sales service providers may come to Canada to repair, service, supervise installers, set up and test commercial or industrial equipment. Individuals coming to Canada to train prospective users or maintenance staff in the operation of specialized equipment may also fall under this category.
Board of Directors Meetings
Members of a board of directors who must enter Canada to attend a meeting are eligible to do so as business visitors. Though these individuals may be remunerated for their time in Canada, this does not constitute entry into the Canadian labour market.
Employees of Short-Term Temporary Residents
Individuals who are employed in a personal capacity, on a full-time basis, by temporary residents in Canada may be considered business visitors. An example of professions that may be eligible under this category include domestic servants, personal assistants or live-in caregivers. If the short-term temporary resident, and subsequently their employee(s), extends their stay past 6 months, a Labour Market Opinion and Work Permit may need to be secured for the employee(s).
Employees of Foreign Companies Contracting Canadian Companies
After-sales service providers may come to Canada to repair, service, supervise installers, set up and test commercial or industrial equipment. Individuals coming to Canada to train prospective users or maintenance staff in the operation of specialized equipment may also fall under this category.