If you are planning to work in Canada or you are flying to Canada for a business trip, you don't need to apply for a work visa or a work permit most of the times. However, you are always required to apply for an eTA. On this page you can read whether an eTA is enough for your travel plans.

Activities allowed with an eTA

The eTA Canada allows tourists and business travellers to stay in Canada for a maximum of six consecutive months. If you are travelling to Canada for business, the eTA will allow you to carry out the following activities:

• Visiting business partners, like a potential customer or supplier
• Attending a business meeting, for instance a trade show or a conference
• Visiting a company's premises
• Buying Canadian products or services for a company based outside Canada
• Taking orders for products or services
• Providing after-sales services
• Attending a education or training course which does not exceed six months in total
• Providing training to employees of a company based outside Canada

There are a series of jobs that you may exercise in Canada without having to apply for a visa or work permit. An eTA is enough to perfom the professions in the list below.

• Journalist or associate journalist
• Referee
• Athlete or athlete's coach
• Artist or artist associate who is directly involved in the artistic activity
• Guest speaker at an event for a maximum of five days
• Examiner or assessor of research projects or theses
• Corporate trainer for the Canadian branch of your employer's company
• Expert conducting research for an official body or court
• Crew member of a non-Canadian airline company
• Supporter of religious or spiritual gatherings

Manual and physical work in Canada

Will you be performing manual or physical work? In principle, this is not allowed with an eTA. Bear this in mind if you intend to provide after-sales service, for example, or if you are going to present your company at a trade fair. Building and dismantling a trade fair stand is considered as physical work and is therefore not allowed.

When is manual or physical work allowed?

The eTA Canada allows to perform manual or physical work in Canada for a short period of time at university or management level. This is called (short-term high skilled work). However, this is allowed only once for a maximum of 15 consecutive days per semester, or only once for a maximum of 30 consecutive days per whole year. If you are planning perform manual or physical work in Canada more often or for longer periods, you will need a work permit.

Apply for your eTA, visa or work permit

If you meet the eTA requirements and the additional conditions to work in Canada, you can apply for an eTA now.
Apply for an eTA now

Most business travellers can use the eTA Canada. If you are planning to perform a type of work that is not allowed with the eTA, you must apply for a work permit or a visa. This applies, for example, to the following situations:

• You intend to perform manual or physical work for longer than allowed with an eTA
• You plan to carry out an assignment for a Canadian organisation
• You want to establish a company in Canada
• You want to be hired by a Canadian employer

Check here what type of visa you need

Bring an invitation letter with you to Canada

If you are travelling to Canada with an eTA you will only need to show your passport upon arrival. Bear in mind that you may be selected for a spot check. In such a case, an employee of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) will ask you some questions to verify that you meet all the eTA requirements, including the rules about working in Canada.

If you are attending a business meeting in Canada, you'd better make sure you can produce an invitation letter from your Canadian business partner. This is the easiest way to prove your compliance. This applies not only if you are travelling with an eTA Canada, but also if you are travelling with a visa or work permit. For safety's sake, bring also a letter from your employer, stating the purpose of your visit to Canada. Finally, ask your business partner to be available by phone the moment you arrive in Canada.

What should the invitation letter include?

The invitation letter must be written by your business partner in Canada. Make sure it includes at least:

• Your first name or given names, your surname and your date of birth
• Your home address
• Your telephone number (business and personal)
• Your job title and the name of the company you work for
• The name and address of the headquarters of they company you are visiting
• The addresses of other company locations you will be visiting
• The website, founding date and a brief description of the company you are visiting
• The name, address, e-mail address and job title of the person you are visiting
• A telephone number where your business partner can be reached, preferably 24/7
• Your accommodation in Canada and a document showing how the cost of the trip will be shared
• The relationship between your employer and the Canadian organisation you are visiting
• The relationship between yourself and the person you will be visiting
• The purpose of the visit and the expected arrival and departure dates