Business people (from the US and Mexico) include certain people entering Canada under the following free trade agreements:
- North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
- Other Free Trade Agreements
- General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS)
Important: Business visitor is a separate category with separate requirements. Business visitors do not require a work permit.
Under NAFTA Canadian, American and Mexican business people can gain faster and easier access to these countries to conduct their business. You also won’t need a labour market opinion from HRSDC
NAFTA applies to four specific categories of business people: business visitors, professionals, intra-company transferees, and traders and investors. There are certain requirements which define which of these you are considered as.
Other free trade agreements such as the Canada-Chile FTA and the Canada-Peru FTA are modelled after the NAFTA making it easier for business persons from one country to temporarily enter the other country. The rules and requirements are similar to those under NAFTA and cover categories of business people such as: business visitors, professionals, intra-company transferees, and traders and investors.
Under GATS, Canada has made it easier for certain business people who are foreign service providers in certain sectors to access the Canadian market. The commitments apply to service providers from more than 140 World Trade Organization member countries. Three categories of business people are covered: business visitors, professionals and intra- company transferees. Qualified business people can enter Canada more easily because they do not need a labour market opinion from HRSDC or, in the case of business visitors, a work permit.
For more in depth information or a personal assessment feel free to contact us.