Business visitors – CUFTA – [R204(a)] – Agreements or arrangements – International Mobility Program
This section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by IRCC staff. It is posted on the department’s website as a courtesy to stakeholders.
The business visitors category of the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA) is open to citizens and permanent residents of Ukraine.
On this page
- Length of stay for CUFTA business visitors
- Permissible activities for CUFTA business visitors
- Related links
The authorities for the work permit exemption are paragraph 186(a) and section 187 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR).
For citizens and permanent residents of Ukraine, officers should initially assess the applicant against the business visitor provisions found in the CUFTA. In cases where activities are not covered by the CUFTA, officers should refer to the general business visitor provisions found in the IRPR and the Business visitors [R186(a)]: Authorization to work without a work permit program delivery instructions.
Length of stay for CUFTA business visitors
The maximum initial length of stay is 6 months.
Extensions are possible if the applicant is able to provide documentation that satisfies the processing officer of the applicant’s need to have their stay extended.
Permissible activities for CUFTA business visitors
Business visitors are business persons for whom
- the primary source of remuneration for the proposed business activity is outside Canada
- the principal place of business and the predominant place of accrual of profits remain outside Canada
Business visitors are seeking to engage in one of the following business activities:
- Meetings and consultations
- Research and design
- Manufacturing and production
- Marketing
- Sales
- Distribution
- After-sales or after-lease services
- General services
Meetings and consultations
Business visitors in this group may be attending meetings, seminars or conferences or be engaged in consultations with business associates for any purpose. There is no requirement that the meeting or consultation be related to CUFTA business.
Research and design
Business visitors in this group are technical, scientific or statistical researchers conducting independent research or research for a foreign enterprise.
Researchers working for a Canadian enterprise require a work permit.
Manufacturing and production
Business visitors in this group are purchasing or production management personnel conducting commercial transactions for a foreign enterprise.
Marketing
Business visitors in this group are market researchers or analysts conducting independent research or analysis for a foreign enterprise.
These visitors can also be trade-fair or promotional personnel attending a trade convention.
Sales
Business visitors in this group are sales representatives or agents taking orders or negotiating contracts for goods or services for a foreign enterprise in any country, but they are not delivering goods or providing services.
These visitors can also be buyers purchasing for a foreign enterprise.
Distribution
Business visitors in this group are transportation operators who are transporting goods or passengers from Ukraine to Canada or loading and transporting goods or passengers from Canada onward to any other country, with no unloading of goods or passengers in Canada.
These visitors may also be customs brokers providing consulting services regarding the facilitation of the import or export of goods.
After-sales or after-lease services
Eligible personnel are seeking entry to Canada related to a warranty or other service contract resulting from the purchase or lease of commercial or industrial equipment or machinery (including computer software) purchased outside of Canada to
- install a product
- repair a product
- maintain a product
- supervise work of others installing, repairing or maintaining products
- train other personnel to perform the contracted services
Eligible personnel are those who possess specialized knowledge essential to a seller’s or lessor’s contractual obligation under the warranty or service agreement. The seller or lessor may have a third party provide the services if this arrangement was in the initial contractual agreement.
Officers may refer to the Business visitors [R186(a)]: Authorized to work without a work permit program delivery instructions for further details on after-sales and after-lease services.
General services
General services include any of the following:
- professionals who are only engaging in business activities as described under paragraph R186(a)
- management and supervisory personnel engaging in business-related duties (for example, making arrangements to lease office space in Canada) for a foreign business
- financial services personnel (insurers, bankers and investment brokers) engaging in commercial transactions for an enterprise in any country
- tourism personnel (tour and travel agents, tour guides and tour operators) attending or participating in conventions or conducting a tour that has begun outside of Canada
- The tour may end in Canada or outside of Canada, but it must begin outside of Canada.
- translators or interpreters performing services as employees of a foreign enterprise in Ukraine