Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (SOR/2002-227)

Marginal note:Business visitors

• 187. (1) For the purposes of paragraph 186(a), a business visitor to Canada is a foreign national who is described in subsection (2) or who seeks to engage in international business activities in Canada without directly entering the Canadian labour market.

• Marginal note:Specific cases

  (2) The following foreign nationals are business visitors:

  • (a) foreign nationals purchasing Canadian goods or services for a foreign business or government, or receiving training or familiarization in respect of such goods or services;

  • (b) foreign nationals receiving or giving training within a Canadian parent or subsidiary of the corporation that employs them outside Canada, if any production of goods or services that results from the training is incidental; and

  • (c) foreign nationals representing a foreign business or government for the purpose of selling goods for that business or government, if the foreign national is not engaged in making sales to the general public in Canada.

• Marginal note:Factors

  (3) For the purpose of subsection (1), a foreign national seeks to engage in international business activities in Canada without directly entering the Canadian labour market only if

  • (a) the primary source of remuneration for the business activities is outside Canada; and

  • (b) the principal place of business and actual place of accrual of profits remain predominately outside Canada.

Marginal note:No permit required

• 188. (1) A foreign national may study in Canada without a study permit

  • (a) if they are a family member or a member of the private staff of a foreign representative who is properly accredited by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and who is in Canada to carry out official duties as a diplomatic agent, consular officer, representative or official of a country other than Canada, of the United Nations or any of its agencies or of any international organization of which Canada is a member;

  • (b) as a member of the armed forces of a country that is a designated state for the purposes of the Visiting Forces Act, including a person who has been designated as a civilian component of those armed forces; or

  • (c) if the duration of their course or program of studies is six months or less and will be completed within the period for their stay authorized upon entry into Canada.

• Marginal note:Exception

  (2) Despite paragraph (1)(c), a foreign national may apply for a study permit before entering Canada for a course or program of studies of a duration of six months or less.

Marginal note:Expired study permits

189. A foreign national who has made an application under subsection 217(1) is authorized to study without a study permit until a decision is made on the application if they have remained in Canada since the expiry of their study permit and continue to comply with the conditions, other than the expiry date, set out on the expired study permit.