Business visitor (Canada)
Statutory definition
IRPR s 186(a) provides that a business visitor may work without a permit if their primary source of remuneration is outside Canada, the activity does not directly enter the Canadian labour market, and the business is primarily international in nature. The CBSA Operations Manual defines business visitor activities: attending meetings or conferences; conducting negotiations; purchasing Canadian goods/services; receiving training; taking orders.
Explanation
The business visitor category allows short-term cross-border business activities without a work permit. The key limits are: the person must be paid by a foreign entity; the activity must be truly international business (not performing services for a Canadian client); and the visit must be brief. Installation technicians, after-sales service, and technical support visits for purchased equipment can qualify if the work is incidental to a foreign sales transaction. After-installation maintenance contracts are more likely to require a work permit.