A business trip to Canada does not necessarily require a work visa or special permit. The eTA Canada is often more than enough.
Business travellers headed to Canada must apply for an eTA Canada, work visa or work permit, depending on the type of work being performed and the length of stay. An eTA Canada allows you to perform a surprising amount of business-related activities in Canada.
Permitted activities with the eTA Canada
Most people are under the impression that they need a visa to do business abroad, but this does not apply to every country. In fact, the Canadian immigration service allows European travellers to apply for an eTA Canada, which allows you to fly to Canada without a visa.
An eTA can be used for holidays, studies, transfers and also for business trips lasting less than six months. The eTA allow you to visit a business partner, attend a business meeting or attend an education or training course. However, you may not be employed by a Canadian employer.
Prepare for a possible random check
Once granted, the eTA is electronically linked to your passport. Upon arrival in Canada, you generally only need to show your passport. However, there is a chance that you will be singled out for a random check. An official of the Canada Border Service Agency will ask you some basic questions to verify that you meet the general conditions of the eTA Canada. You must be able to prove that you will not be in the country for more than six months, that you do not pose a risk to security, and that you have a source of income outside Canada and sufficient financial resources to pay for your stay.
In addition, they will verify if you are permitted to carry out your intended business activities. It is wise to prepare yourself in advance for such a check. This can be done in various ways. For example, you can ask your (potential) business partner to draw up a letter of invitation, which includes personal details, but also an accommodation location, the details of the company you work for, the company you are visiting and the relationship between the two. In addition, a statement from your employer may be useful. This will tell them what you plan to do in Canada and for what purpose. Finally, you can ask your (potential) business partner to be available for a phone call when you arrive in Canada.
Applying for an eTA Canada
In most cases, an eTA is sufficient for a business trip to Canada lasting less than six months, during which you are not employed by a Canadian company. It is therefore not necessary to apply for a work visa or work permit. The advantages of the eTA are that it is cheaper, easier and faster to apply for than a traditional Canada visa and that you do not have to visit the Canadian embassy or consulate. The eTA can be applied for online with the online application form. Filling in the form often takes about ten minutes.
In addition to the visa requirements for business travellers, you must also meet the general requirements of the eTA Canada. Because the eTA Canada is linked to your passport, there are also requirements for your passport. For example, the passport must be valid during the entirety of your stay. If it is not, you will need to apply for a new passport before you can apply for an eTA Canada.
