Business Visa

What Is a Canada Business Visa?

"Canada Business Visa" is the term most applicants search for, but in Canadian immigration terminology, short-term business travelers are classified as business visitors.

• Business meetings & negotiations
• Conferences, conventions & trade fairs
• Purchasing Canadian goods or services, or taking orders
• Certain training activities and after-sales service

Business Visitor vs. Work Permit

This is the single most important distinction. A business visitor may undertake permitted activities — meetings, conferences, negotiations, training, purchasing — while remaining outside Canada's labour market. If you're actually going to work for a Canadian employer or perform duties that require work authorization, you'll need a work permit instead. The correct category depends on your actual activity in Canada, not your job title.

Who Can Apply

• Company directors & managers travelling for meetings
• Startup founders & investors exploring Canadian opportunities
• Employees attending conferences, training, or trade shows
• Exporters, importers, manufacturers & consultants doing business with Canadian companies

Documents Typically Required

• Personal documents — passport, travel history, photographs where required
• Business documents — company registration, business license, tax documents, company bank statements
• Employer letter — job title, salary, joining date, approved leave, purpose of travel
• Canadian host documents — invitation letter, company profile, meeting or conference schedule
• Financial documents — personal and business bank statements, income tax records
• Travel documents — itinerary, accommodation, and return arrangements

How Long Can a Business Visitor Stay?

Business visitors generally need to plan a stay of less than six months to qualify under the standard business visitor criteria — though the actual authorized period depends on the border officer's decision on arrival. A valid visa does not automatically guarantee entry.

Processing Time & Fees

A business visitor who needs a visitor visa pays the standard visitor visa fee, not a separate "business visa" fee — currently CAD $100 per person, with a maximum family fee of CAD $500 for an eligible family of five or more applying together. Processing times vary by visa office, application completeness, and verification needs; we don't guarantee a specific processing period.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Calling every business trip a "business visa" without checking if the activity actually qualifies
• Using business visitor status to perform ordinary employment duties
• A weak invitation letter that doesn't clearly explain the business purpose
• Missing evidence of the foreign business connection paying for the trip
• An excessively long proposed stay that raises questions about the category

Why Choose MIGOVA IMMIGRATION?

• Business activity assessment — confirm you fit the business visitor category before applying
• Invitation letter and business documentation guidance
• Employer and foreign-business support letter preparation
• Refusal review and reapplication support

Application Process — Step by Step

1. Business profile assessment — your occupation, employer, company, and Canadian connection
2. Business activity assessment — confirm your proposed activities fit the business visitor category
3. Visa requirement assessment — determine whether you need a visitor visa or an eTA
4. Document collection — personal, business, financial, and Canadian host documents
5. Business invitation and employer support letters prepared, where applicable
6. Application submitted through the IRCC portal
7. Biometrics completed, if required, and any additional IRCC requests addressed
8. Decision issued — if approved, carry your business documentation when travelling to Canada