Business people

If you are a citizen of a country which signed a trade agreement with Canada and want to participate in an international business activity in Canada, you may be able to enter and work in Canada with a work permit. Generally, qualified businesspeople do not need an LMIA but a work permit is still required.

Please don’t confuse the immigration concept of businesspeople with business visitors who can stay in Canada for up to 6 months without applying for a work permit. If you are not sure, please consult with an experienced consultant.

Some of these trade agreements are:

• Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA)

• the Canada-Chile FTA,

• the Canada-Peru FTA,

• the Canada-Colombia FTA, and

• the Canada-Korea FTA

• General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS)

Under each of these trade agreements, there are different sub-categories that you can apply to. Examples are:

• business visitors,

• professionals,

• intra-company transferees and

• traders and investors

If you are not sure which category you are falling under, please consult with our consultants before applying because each category has a different set of requirements.

Let us help

If you need any help with your work permit applications, you are more than welcome to fill out the assessment form and book a free consultation session with one of our RCICs. We are here to help and support you throughout your journey.