Canada Business Visa for Indians: Eligibility & Documents

A multiple-entry visa or ten-year validity is not guaranteed. Visa validity is also different from the period you are authorised to remain in Canada on each visit.

You must show that your visit involves international business activities without directly entering the Canadian labour market. Your main place of business and the principal source of income and profits must remain outside Canada. IRCC also requires business visitors to plan a stay of less than six months.

You must meet the usual visitor requirements, including having a valid travel document, sufficient funds and circumstances that demonstrate you will leave Canada at the end of your authorised visit. Health, criminality and other admissibility requirements also apply.

Business Activities and Work Authorisation

Training and after-sales activities have specific conditions. Describe what you will actually do rather than relying only on labels such as “meeting”, “training” or “business trip”.

If your plans involve another travel purpose, compare the available routes in our guide to Canada visa types and requirements.

Government Application Fees

The application fee is the same for single-entry and multiple-entry visitor visas. Biometrics requirements depend on your circumstances; previously provided biometrics may still be usable.

INR estimates use approximately CAD 1 = ₹67.89, calculated from the Bank of Canada’s rate published for 2 November 2026, and are rounded to the nearest ₹10. Your payment provider’s exchange rate and charges may differ.

The following published charges took effect on 1 November 2026:

VFS currently lists discounted standard courier prices of ₹858 one way and ₹1,560 two way, available until 30 April 2027.

The government biometrics fee includes one package transmission through the VAC where biometrics were provided. Separate transmission charges can apply, including when submitting through another VAC, when no biometrics are required or after using the included transmission.

Check the current VFS India service charges before payment.

Start with the personalised checklist generated for your application and any applicable visa-office instructions. The guidance below helps you organise evidence around your circumstances; it does not make every listed example compulsory for every applicant.

Core Application Evidence

Professional Documents for Your Applicant Type

The following are practical examples to help explain your role and its connection to the visit.

For employees, the employer’s letter should identify a contact who can verify the information. Owners and self-employed applicants should explain their own professional circumstances rather than submitting an unsuitable employee-letter template.

Canadian Business Invitation

Ask the Canadian host to provide an invitation explaining:

• Your name, professional position and organisation.
• The relationship between your organisation and the host.
• The purpose of the visit and any relevant project context.
• The proposed duration and facilities you will visit.
• Accommodation or living expenses the host will cover.
• The host representative’s name, position and contact details.
• The Canadian company’s address, business activities and registration or incorporation details.

An invitation supports the explanation of your visit but does not guarantee a visa. Some visa offices may require notarisation, so follow the instructions applicable to your application.

Evidence of the Meeting, Event or Commercial Purpose

Include relevant evidence that explains why the visit is taking place. Depending on the trip, this could include meeting correspondence, an event registration, a conference agenda or documents relating to the commercial relationship.

For training or after-sales assignments, prepare a clear description of the activities and relevant agreements so the proposed duties can be assessed.

If a supporting document is not in English or French, follow IRCC’s translation requirements, including a translator’s affidavit where required. Applicants and their family members must not translate their own supporting documents.

1. Confirm That Your Activities Qualify

Write down the actual duties planned in Canada, including any training, installation, servicing or project work. Resolve questions about work authorisation before preparing the application as a business visit.

2. Obtain the Host and Professional Documents

Request the invitation and prepare the employment, ownership or self-employment evidence relevant to your role.

Check that the documents describe the same purpose, dates, organisations and funding arrangements. For a conference or trade fair, obtain the organiser’s confirmation and relevant event details.

3. Complete the Online Visitor Visa Application

Follow IRCC’s visitor visa application instructions and declare the business purpose accurately.

If your meeting, event or conference is registered with IRCC, obtain the event code from the organiser and include it as instructed. The code identifies the registered event; it does not replace the application requirements.

4. Upload the Required Evidence and Pay

Use the checklist and upload instructions provided for your application. Complete a final consistency check before submitting and pay the applicable government fees.

5. Provide Biometrics if Required

Check whether you need to provide biometrics. If required, follow the biometrics instruction letter and book the collection appointment. Previous biometrics do not automatically mean a new appointment is necessary.

6. Monitor Requests and Follow the Decision Instructions

Check your account and respond to IRCC requests within the stated deadlines.

If an online application is approved, IRCC provides instructions for submitting your passport. You cannot travel using the approval message alone; the visa must be placed in your passport before travel.

Canada visitor visa processing times vary. Use the official IRCC processing-time tool, selecting Visitor visa from outside Canada and India.

The published estimate is not a maximum or a guaranteed decision date. An invitation or fixed conference date does not guarantee that your application will be decided before the event.

Request host documents early and allow time for biometrics, any further requests and passport submission and return. IRCC advises event participants to apply as early as possible and before booking flights. Check cancellation terms before making financial commitments.

Your funding evidence should explain who will pay and whether the available support is appropriate for the proposed trip.

IRCC does not publish one universal minimum bank balance for all visitor applications. The amount needed depends on the length of the visit and accommodation arrangements. Company sponsorship also does not remove the need to meet the remaining visitor requirements.

For bank evidence, IRCC recommends at least six months of account details, including balances. Where funds or sponsorship need explanation, provide relevant records showing their source and availability.

Before submitting, check for these problems:

• Vague activities: “Business visit” does not explain what you will actually do.
• Conflicting dates: The invitation, itinerary and professional letter describe different trips.
• Unclear funding: A letter says “sponsored” without identifying the expenses covered.
• An unsuitable applicant checklist: An owner or self-employed professional submits documents that do not explain their actual role.
• An incorrectly described assignment: Technical or operational duties are presented only as meetings.
• Incomplete or inaccurate answers: Important application history or requested information is omitted.
• Missed correspondence: Further-document or passport requests are not addressed within the specified deadline.

A business application should connect your professional role, the Canadian organisation or event and the activities planned during the visit. Confirm that those activities fit the business-visitor route, then ensure the invitation, professional documents and funding evidence explain the same trip. Prepare around the actual meeting or event dates while allowing for processing uncertainty, further requests and passport return.