Pathway guide

Business visitors and short-term work without a permit

Some short trips do not need a work permit. Business visitors can attend meetings, buy goods, take orders, give after-sales service under a warranty, or give or receive training within your corporate group, as long as they stay paid and based outside Canada. Under the Global Skills Strategy, workers in TEER 0 or 1 jobs can also work up to 15 or 30 days, and researchers up to 120 days, without a work permit.

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Who it’s for

Companies hosting foreign colleagues, clients or partners for meetings and events
Corporate groups bringing staff from abroad to train, or be trained, at a Canadian parent or subsidiary
Companies that need a manager or professional (TEER 0 or 1) in Canada for a few weeks
Universities and research institutes hosting visiting researchers

What it asks for

Business visitors must be paid and based outside Canada and stay less than 6 months
Only certain activities are allowed; hands-on work for Canadian clients or filling a role needs a work permit
TEER 0 or 1 work for up to 15 days (once every 6 months) or 30 days (once every 12 months) needs no work permit
Researchers at publicly funded institutions can work up to 120 days, once every 12 months, without a permit
The worker proves eligibility at the border and needs a visitor record marked authorized to work
Repairs not covered by a warranty need a C13 work permit, with the offer submitted by your company

What the employer does

List what the person will do in Canada and confirm who pays them.
For a short-term work exemption, confirm the job is TEER 0 or 1 (or a research role) and check the days and any past use.
Prepare a letter of invitation (2 originals) and ask the foreign employer for a letter of support.
For short-term work, prepare a letter or contract with the duties, NOC code, job title and start and end dates.
Have the person apply for a visitor visa or eTA if required.
If the activity needs a work permit, arrange it before travel; a business visitor cannot switch to a work permit from inside Canada.

Documents you’ll usually need

Letter of invitation from your company
Letter of support from the person's employer abroad
Contracts, warranty or service agreements, if relevant
Job offer or contract with duties, NOC code, job title and dates (short-term exemptions)
Written confirmation from the institution (researchers)
Passport, visitor visa or eTA, and proof of funds

Fees and timing

Visitor visa, if required: $100 per person; no work permit fee applies when no work permit is needed
Official source
After a short-term exemption, wait 6 months before another 15-day exemption and 12 months before a 30- or 120-day exemption
Official source

Watch out for

When a Canadian company contracts a foreign company and its employee does the work in Canada, that employee needs a work permit.
Exemption days run in a row from the date granted, even if the person leaves Canada during that time.
Without a visitor record marked authorized to work, a short-term worker cannot get a social insurance number or be paid by you.
U.S. and Mexican citizens may do more as business visitors under CUSMA; check the trade agreement rules.
IRCC sales instructions are from 2014 and still mention NAFTA; confirm current practice for sales activities.
Business visitor time does not count as Canadian work experience for the Canadian Experience Class.

Official pages

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Checked against official sources on October 16, 2026. The employer assessment checks your answers against these requirements, and a lawyer reviews anything unusual.