Visit Visa

Canada has become a hotspot for business travelers. Just within the last few years, the country has developed a special bonding with international businessmen and investors who are looking to either establish or enhance their business in Canada and take advantage of the interconnected North American market and a growing Canadian economy.

For the businesses who are looking to not enter the Canadian labor market and just want to be indirectly involved with the growing economy of the country, the immigration office issues a Temporary Resident Visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization, depending on the country of origin. These visitors are known as business visitors and they do not require a work permit to enter Canada and conduct their business there.

In order to fulfill the requirements under this program, a business visitor must:

• Prove that their company’s main source of income and main place of business is outside Canada.
• Prove that their remuneration is compensated from the source which is outside Canada.
• Have a valid passport for the entire stay and strong ties to their country of origin.
• Prove that their planned visit is for short term and temporary in nature and they intend to leave at the end of their stay.
• Prove that they do not plan to enter the Canadian labour market.
• Prove that visit is solely for international business activities.
• Meet other requirements to issue a temporary resident visa (TRV) or electronic travel authorization (eTA).

Some examples of the businesses conducted by business visitors include:

• Someone planning to attend a business meeting with the representatives of Canadian companies engaged in business in their home country.
• Someone in the process of establishing and expanding their business in Canada and is visiting for critical observations of future sites.
• Someone attending business conferences, conventions, fairs, etc.
• Someone visiting Canada to buy Canadian goods or services on behalf of a foreign entity.
• Someone visiting to take orders for goods or services.
• Someone providing after-sales service, excluding hands-on work in the construction trades.
• Someone being trained by a Canadian parent company for work outside of Canada.
• Someone training employees of a Canadian subsidiary of a foreign company.
• Someone looking to understand the requirements of a Canadian company that has invited them to advance their training regarding operations, sales, or functioning of their products.

This is a basic entry requirement for the visa-exempt foreign nationals traveling to Canada by air. This authorization is not required when these foreign nationals are traveling by any other means of transport. Electronically linked to the traveler’s passport, the Electronic Travel Authorization is valid only for a period of five years from the date of issue or before the expiry of the passport, whichever comes earlier. Upon the expiry of the passport, the traveler has to get a renewed electronic travel authorization on the new passport.

The process for the application of the ETA is quite simple and all you have to do is go on the official website of Canada and simply follow the steps for the application of the ETA. The processing time of the electronic travel authorization is usually up to 72 hours but in some cases, it can take longer. Most of the people who apply for the ETA have claimed that they received the approval within a matter of minutes on their email addresses.

If you are applying for an ETA, there are some things that you should have handy:

• Passport
• Email Address
• Credit or Debit Card for the payment of the fee.

A Visitor Visa, also known as a Temporary Resident Visa, allows every eligible person from around the world to visit the country of Canada. This visa does not allow the people entering Canada to stay there permanently. Unless you are a Canadian Permanent Resident or a Canadian citizen or a US citizen, you will require a Temporary Resident Visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization.

The Temporary Resident Visa allows the people to visit Canada for visiting their family, leisure, conferences, and any other purpose that will require them to stay in Canada for a short while. The Visa officer retains the sole discretion to either refuse or grant the visa. The Canadian Visa Office provides the applicant with a timeline and they can visit the country only within this provided time period. The Temporary Entry Visa can be of two types, Single Entry and Multiple Entry.

With a Single-Entry Visa, the holder can visit the country of Canada only one time. However, if the visa holder leaves the country for the United States of America or St. Pierre and Miquelon, their return to Canada is allowed again and they would not require a new Single-Entry Visa to enter the country.

With a Multiple-Entry Visa allows the holder to enter the country of Canada as and when they require. The visa holder will not have to reapply each time and the validity of the visa is up to 10 years, or one month before the passport expires, whichever comes first.

Before you apply for a Temporary Resident Visa, you have to fulfill a few requirements. The applicant must:

• Be a holder of a valid passport with at least six months of validity.
• Have a residence outside Canada and other ties to their home country, ensuring that they will leave the country once the visa expires.
• Possess the financial resources to support their trip to Canada.
• Have an explicit plan for the visit in Canada or an invitation letter from family members or friends in Canada.
• Not have any criminal records according to the laws which govern Canada.
• Not pose any security risk to Canada or the people staying in Canada and willing to abide by all the laws which govern Canada.
• Be in good health and must be willing to undergo a medical examination to determine that, if required.
• Not intend to engage in employment under any employer or in study (other than short term courses) during their stay in Canada unless authorized to do so.
• Be willing to provide Biometric if required based upon their country of origin.
• Be willing to provide any supporting document as requested by the visa officer.