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Family visits
Visiting a spouse, partner, child, parent, grandparent or other family member in Canada may require evidence addressing both the visit and the applicant's circumstances abroad.
Visitors & Business Visitors
Coming to Canada starts with identifying what you actually intend to do here.
Visiting family, attending a business meeting, participating in an event and performing work in Canada can involve very different immigration considerations. The purpose of the trip should be assessed before the application is prepared.
A visitor visa or eTA is a travel document or authorization. It does not by itself authorize activities that require a Canadian work permit, and it does not guarantee admission at the border.
Purpose-of-Visit Assessment
Visitor Visa & eTA Review
Business Visitor Analysis
Professional Representation
Reasons for Visiting Canada
Different travel purposes require different supporting evidence.
A visitor application should accurately reflect the real reason for travel and provide evidence appropriate to that purpose.
02
Tourism & personal travel
Tourism applications should clearly establish the intended itinerary, financial arrangements, length of stay and temporary purpose.
03
Business meetings
Foreign business people may be able to attend qualifying meetings and other international business activities without entering the Canadian labour market.
04
Conferences & events
Attendance at conferences, conventions, trade fairs and certain business events may fall within legitimate visitor activities.
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Commercial activities
Certain purchasing, sales, training, after-sales or other international commercial activities may qualify for business visitor treatment.
06
Longer family visits
Parents and grandparents considering extended visits may need to assess whether the super visa or another temporary resident option is relevant.
Visitor or Business Visitor?
A business visitor is still a temporary visitor to Canada.
“Business visitor” describes the nature of certain permissible international business activities. It does not mean that the traveller has unrestricted permission to work in Canada.
General Visitor
Travel for family, tourism or another temporary purpose.
The applicant must satisfy the applicable entry requirements and establish the temporary nature of the visit, including the purpose of travel, financial circumstances and intention to leave Canada at the end of the authorized stay.
Business Visitor
International business activity without entering the Canadian labour market.
The proposed activities, duration of stay, foreign employment or business relationship, source of remuneration and Canadian commercial activity should be reviewed carefully.
Business Visitors
The key question is whether the traveller will enter the Canadian labour market.
A business visitor generally comes to Canada temporarily for international business activities while maintaining the principal place of business and source of income or profits outside Canada.
- Temporary stay Business visitor activity is temporary and normally involves a visit of less than six months.
- No entry into the Canadian labour market The proposed activity should not amount to taking employment or performing work that requires Canadian work authorization.
- Foreign principal place of business The traveller's main place of business should remain outside Canada.
- Foreign source of income or profits The source of the traveller's income and profits is an important part of business visitor analysis.
- Supporting documentation Invitations, meeting details, foreign-employment information, contracts and other commercial evidence may be relevant depending on the activity.
Business Activities
Some international business activities may be conducted without a work permit.
Whether an activity qualifies depends on what the traveller will actually do in Canada. The job title or description “business trip” is not enough by itself.
01
Meetings
Attending meetings with clients, suppliers, affiliates or other business contacts can fall within legitimate business visitor activity.
02
Conferences
Attendance at conferences, conventions and similar events may be consistent with business visitor status.
03
Trade fairs
Participation in certain trade fairs or commercial events may qualify where the activity remains international in nature.
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Purchasing
Buying Canadian goods or services on behalf of a foreign business or government may fall within business visitor activity.
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Taking orders
Taking orders for goods or services in an international commercial context can fall within the business visitor framework.
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Certain after-sales activities
Some after-sales service or training connected to qualifying sales or warranty arrangements may be permissible, depending on the facts.
What We Assess
Visitor applications are assessed in the context of the complete circumstances.
The purpose of travel should be supported by evidence that is consistent with the applicant's personal, financial and immigration circumstances.
Purpose of travel
The proposed visit should be clearly defined, credible and consistent with the evidence.
Duration
The intended length of stay should make sense in relation to the purpose of the visit.
Financial circumstances
The application should address how the visit will be funded and the applicant's broader financial circumstances.
Ties outside Canada
Employment, business, family, property and other circumstances outside Canada may be relevant to temporary-residence assessment.
Immigration history
Previous visas, refusals, travel history and Canadian immigration status may affect preparation of the application.
Canadian connections
Hosts, family members, businesses, events or organizations in Canada may form part of the evidence supporting the proposed visit.
Business Visitor or Worker?
This distinction should be resolved before travel whenever possible.
A person can be travelling for a business purpose and still require a work permit. The analysis depends on the actual Canadian activity rather than the label given to the trip.
Business visitor activity
The traveller remains primarily engaged in international business activity, does not enter the Canadian labour market and continues to have the principal business and remuneration connection outside Canada.
Work in Canada
Where the person will perform activities that constitute work in Canada, a work permit or a specific work-permit exemption may need to be identified before the activity begins.
Invitation Letters
An invitation letter should support the facts, not replace them.
A Canadian host may provide a letter explaining the purpose of a family or business visit, but the applicant remains responsible for establishing eligibility for temporary entry to Canada.
- Identify the host The letter should accurately explain who is inviting the traveller and the relationship between the parties.
- Explain the purpose Family, personal or commercial reasons for the visit should be described consistently with the rest of the application.
- Address timing Proposed travel dates and the expected duration should align with the stated purpose.
- Clarify financial arrangements Where relevant, the letter may explain who is responsible for accommodation or other expenses.
- No guarantee of approval An invitation letter is supporting evidence. It does not compel IRCC to issue a visa or require a border officer to admit the traveller.
Working With Escanto
From purpose-of-travel assessment to temporary residence application.
01
Define the purpose of travel
We begin by identifying exactly why the individual intends to enter Canada and what activities are proposed during the stay.
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Determine the immigration framework
Visitor, business visitor, work authorization and other relevant immigration considerations are distinguished before proceeding.
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Review supporting circumstances
Finances, employment or business circumstances, family connections, travel history, hosts and other relevant evidence are assessed.
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Establish the professional mandate
Where Escanto is retained, the scope of professional advice, application preparation or representation is documented.
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Prepare and represent
The application is prepared and handled within the agreed professional scope and according to the applicable immigration requirements.
Clarify the immigration requirements before you plan the trip.
A consultation can help determine whether your intended activities fit ordinary visitor or business visitor requirements, or whether another form of authorization should be considered.
Discuss Your Visit