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Can I come to Canada as a business visitor, without a work permit?

Business visitors come for meetings, events, buying, selling and some training, and don't need a work permit. Staying 6 months or more, or working in the Canadian labour market, can mean you need one. A few questions find IRCC's rule for you.

Answer for your situation

Every quote below was checked word for word on IRCC’s own pages on October 25, 2026. Each answer names its source page and that page’s date.

What IRCC says, situation by situation

Yes

Yes, as a business visitor, if you meet IRCC's conditions

In IRCC’s words:
“going to meetings, conferences, conventions or trade fairs”
“To qualify as a business visitor to Canada, you must show that”
“you plan to stay for less than 6 months”
“you don’t plan to enter the Canadian labour market”
“your main place of business, and source of income and profits is outside Canada”
“you have documents that support your application”
“you meet Canada’s basic entry requirements, because you”
Source: IRCC, page dated August 28, 2026
Yes

Yes, as a business visitor, if you meet IRCC's conditions

In IRCC’s words:
“buying Canadian goods or services for a foreign business or government”
“To qualify as a business visitor to Canada, you must show that”
“you plan to stay for less than 6 months”
“you don’t plan to enter the Canadian labour market”
“your main place of business, and source of income and profits is outside Canada”
“you have documents that support your application”
“you meet Canada’s basic entry requirements, because you”
Source: IRCC, page dated August 28, 2026
Yes

Yes, as a business visitor, if you meet IRCC's conditions

In IRCC’s words:
“taking orders for goods or services”
“To qualify as a business visitor to Canada, you must show that”
“you plan to stay for less than 6 months”
“you don’t plan to enter the Canadian labour market”
“your main place of business, and source of income and profits is outside Canada”
“you have documents that support your application”
“you meet Canada’s basic entry requirements, because you”
Source: IRCC, page dated August 28, 2026
Yes

Yes, as a business visitor, if you meet IRCC's conditions

In IRCC’s words:
“giving after-sales service as part of a warranty or sales agreement”
“To qualify as a business visitor to Canada, you must show that”
“you plan to stay for less than 6 months”
“you don’t plan to enter the Canadian labour market”
“your main place of business, and source of income and profits is outside Canada”
“you have documents that support your application”
“you meet Canada’s basic entry requirements, because you”
Source: IRCC, page dated August 28, 2026
Yes

Yes, as a business visitor, if you meet IRCC's conditions

In IRCC’s words:
“being trained by a Canadian parent company that you work for outside Canada”
“To qualify as a business visitor to Canada, you must show that”
“you plan to stay for less than 6 months”
“you don’t plan to enter the Canadian labour market”
“your main place of business, and source of income and profits is outside Canada”
“you have documents that support your application”
“you meet Canada’s basic entry requirements, because you”
Source: IRCC, page dated August 28, 2026
Yes

Yes, as a business visitor, if you meet IRCC's conditions

In IRCC’s words:
“being trained by a Canadian company that has sold you equipment or services”
“To qualify as a business visitor to Canada, you must show that”
“you plan to stay for less than 6 months”
“you don’t plan to enter the Canadian labour market”
“your main place of business, and source of income and profits is outside Canada”
“you have documents that support your application”
“you meet Canada’s basic entry requirements, because you”
Source: IRCC, page dated August 28, 2026
Yes

Yes, as a business visitor, if you meet IRCC's conditions

In IRCC’s words:
“training employees of a Canadian branch of a foreign company”
“To qualify as a business visitor to Canada, you must show that”
“you plan to stay for less than 6 months”
“you don’t plan to enter the Canadian labour market”
“your main place of business, and source of income and profits is outside Canada”
“you have documents that support your application”
“you meet Canada’s basic entry requirements, because you”
Source: IRCC, page dated August 28, 2026
Yes, if you meet the business visitor rules under CUSMA.

Possibly, under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement

These extra activities are open to US and Mexican nationals only, under the trade agreement; Global Affairs Canada explains which ones.

In IRCC’s words:
“Under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, a U S or Mexican national may also take part in other activities, such as research, marketing and general services. For more information, see the Global Affairs Canada website .”
“To qualify as a business visitor to Canada, you must show that”
“you plan to stay for less than 6 months”
“you don’t plan to enter the Canadian labour market”
“your main place of business, and source of income and profits is outside Canada”
“you have documents that support your application”
“you meet Canada’s basic entry requirements, because you”
Source: IRCC, page dated August 28, 2026
Yes, if your occupation is listed and you meet its requirements.

Possibly: public speakers and convention organizers have their own exemptions

In IRCC’s words:
“You may not need a work permit if you’re working in an occupation included in the list below. However, even if your occupation is listed, you may still need to meet certain requirements to be eligible for a work permit exemption.”

IRCC: find out if you need a work permit

Source: IRCC, page dated May 25, 2026
No

Not as a business visitor for 6 months or more: you may need a work permit

In IRCC’s words:
“If you plan to stay for more than 6 months or plan to work in Canada, you may be considered a temporary worker and have to apply for a work permit .”
“To qualify as a business visitor to Canada, you must show that”
“you plan to stay for less than 6 months”

IRCC: find out if you need a work permit

Source: IRCC, page dated August 28, 2026
No

Not as a business visitor: your business and income must be outside Canada

In IRCC’s words:
“your main place of business, and source of income and profits is outside Canada”
“To qualify as a business visitor to Canada, you must show that”
“you don’t plan to enter the Canadian labour market”
“If you plan to stay for more than 6 months or plan to work in Canada, you may be considered a temporary worker and have to apply for a work permit .”

IRCC: find out if you need a work permit

Source: IRCC, page dated August 28, 2026
No

Not as a business visitor: working in Canada may need a work permit

In IRCC’s words:
“If you plan to stay for more than 6 months or plan to work in Canada, you may be considered a temporary worker and have to apply for a work permit .”
“To qualify as a business visitor to Canada, you must show that”
“you don’t plan to enter the Canadian labour market”

IRCC: find out if you need a work permit

Source: IRCC, page dated August 28, 2026
Yes, but you'll likely still need a visitor visa or eTA.

A visitor visa or an eTA, as for other visitors, depending on your passport

If your event is registered with IRCC and you need a visitor visa, your organizer gives you an event code to enter on your visa application.

In IRCC’s words:
“Even if you don’t need a work permit to work, you’ll likely still need a visitor visa or an electronic travel authorization (eTA) to enter Canada.”
“Most foreign nationals need a work permit to work in Canada. Some workers, such as business visitors, foreign representatives and military personnel, are exempt.”

IRCC: find out if you need a visa or an eTA

Source: IRCC, page dated May 25, 2026
Yes

Your passport, a visa or eTA if you need one, and letters about your visit

In IRCC’s words:
“Make sure that you have the following documents when you arrive at the border (don’t pack them in your suitcase):”
“a passport or travel document that is valid for your entire stay”
“a valid visitor visa, if applicable”
“if you need an eTA, the same passport you used in your application”
“if you’re a lawful permanent resident of the United States (US), a valid green card (or equivalent official proof of status in the U S ) and a valid passport from your country of nationality (or an equivalent document)”
“letters of support from your parent company, and a letter of invitation from the Canadian host business or a letter of recognition from the Canada Border Services Agency”
“other documents such as warranty or service agreements, or contracts, if relevant to your visit”
“24-hour contact details of your business host in Canada”
“proof that you have enough money to cover both your stay in Canada and your return home”

IRCC Help Centre: what documents should a business visitor bring?

Source: IRCC, page dated August 28, 2026

What would change the answer

What you might not have asked yet

Sources

Answer for your situation

Other answers

Written by AHI Life from IRCC’s own pages; the quotes are IRCC’s words, re-read on their pages every day. General information, not legal advice, and not yet reviewed by a licensed consultant (RCIC). Only a licensed representative may charge you for immigration advice.