Business travellers
Make safer and better-informed decisions when travelling outside Canada for work.
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Planning your work trip
As a business traveller, it is important to understand the considerations for travelling for work outside Canada, as these can differ from one country to another. Being informed and well-prepared helps reduce delays, ensures compliance with local regulations and supports a safe and successful business trip.
Check the entry requirements for your destination
Before travelling outside Canada for business, ensure you understand the entry requirements for your destination. Check whether you need a business visa or other authorization before travelling. Visa requirements vary by destination and the type of business activity you plan to undertake.
To confirm specific requirements related to visas for business travel, consult the entry and exit requirements section of the Travel advice and advisories for your destination. Be sure to allow enough time to obtain the necessary documents and review Visas, biometrics and electronic travel authorizations, which includes information on passport validity and documents you may need.
You can also contact the relevant embassy or consulate in Canada, as well as those of transit countries, before you travel.
List of foreign representatives accredited to Canada.
Check to see whether your destination is covered by a Canadian free trade agreement
Some of Canada’s free trade agreements include temporary entry provisions for certain categories of business travellers to enter participating countries.
These travellers include:
- business visitors
- professionals
- investors
- intra-company transferees
If you are travelling to a country covered under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) or the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), consult the guides on temporary entry into these markets.
These guides explain how the agreements apply to eligible business travellers, outline applicable immigration processes, and provide links to relevant domestic laws and authorities:
- Guides on temporary entry under CUSMA
- Guides on temporary entry under CETA
- Guides on temporary entry under the CPTPP
Even where a trade agreement is in force, you must still comply with the destination country’s immigration and entry requirements. Depending on your activities and length of stay, you may need a visa, work permit or other authorization. Consult the destination country’s official immigration authority and Travel advice and advisories for your destination before travelling.
Smoother border crossings
Trusted traveller and border-clearance programs can help business travellers save time, reduce delays and make cross-border travel more efficient.
Use smart and secure border tools for travel and trade (Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)) to help streamline your business travel and the movement of goods across the border. These tools improve and speed up traveller processing while maintaining the safety and security of Canada’s borders.
Check your eligibility to enrol in programs for trusted travellers (CBSA) to make your business travel border crossings—whether via land, air or sea—faster and easier.
Register your trip
Sign up for the Registration of Canadians abroad service so that the Government of Canada can contact and assist you in case of an emergency abroad. Through this service, the Government of Canada can also help your family or friends reach you in case of a personal emergency at home.
Verify your travel insurance
If you are travelling for work outside Canada, validate with your employer what travel insurance is provided for your trip. Travel insurance can help cover unexpected costs, such as hospitalization, medical treatment, medical evacuation, and disability or death abroad. Medical expenses can be very expensive, and in some countries, you may not receive treatment if you do not have enough insurance coverage or cannot afford to pay the bill.
Confirm what coverage applies to your trip and whether any other coverage may apply, such as workers’ compensation benefits, group benefits, credit cards used for work travel or other insurance policies.
Verify the terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions and requirements of the insurance policy before you leave Canada. Make sure you understand what is covered, how to access assistance while travelling, and whether you need to take any action before receiving medical treatment.
Learn more about travel insurance.
Research responsible business conduct abroad
When travelling abroad for business, it is important to understand the local context, regulations and business environment. Companies and travellers are expected to comply with the rules and customs of the countries they visit.
Consult Responsible business conduct abroad for guidance, tools and dispute-resolution mechanisms to support your activities abroad. These resources also highlight good practices for due diligence, supply chain accountability and international standards, helping you manage risks and conduct business responsibly in foreign markets.
Check for Canadian sanctions
Stay informed about Canadian sanctions and how they can affect your business. Sanctions place restrictions on or prohibit certain activities between individuals and entities in Canada and Canadian persons abroad, and listed foreign states, individuals or entities. They can encompass a variety of measures, including restricting or prohibiting trade, financial transactions or other economic activities.
Consult Canada’s guidance on sanctions for compliance best practices and red flags.
Advice for media workers
Access specific Advice for media workers on accreditation and permit requirements, security considerations and the use of recording and communication equipment when working outside Canada.
Additional resources
Explore more resources for conducting business abroad:
- The Trade Commissioner Service’s country insights and reports on markets and industries worldwide will help you research your next destination by accessing information by industry, country, market, region, theme or trade agreement.
- Read Export Development Canada’s international market assessments, which provide information on the business environment, country risk and global trends for your destination.
- Learn more about exporting and importing, as well as investing in international markets, at International trade and investment resources.
- Learn about local laws, legal risks, cultural norms and behaviours that may have legal or social consequences for your destination in the laws and culture section of Travel advice and advisories.
- Contact the Trade Commissioner Service for market advice and tailored planning for exports.
Health and safety considerations
Travel and your health
Make informed choices and learn about the precautions you can take to stay healthy while travelling outside Canada. Review Travel health information and consult the health section of Travel advice and advisories for your destination.
You can also find advice on maintaining your well-being and preparing for or managing mental health challenges while abroad.
Prior to travelling, your employer should assess the risks associated with work-related travel (Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety) to identify the potential health and safety issues you may encounter and the measures that need to be in place to address them.
Consult these resources from the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety for information on how to stay safe and healthy during work-related travel:
- Travel health and safety – Considerations for work-related travel
- Staying healthy and safe before, during and after work-related travel
- Travel safety
Safety and security outside Canada
Consult Travel advice and advisories for your destination to learn if any advisories are in place.
You will also find information on safety and security risks such as:
- crime
- natural disasters
- laws and penalties that significantly differ from those in Canada
Take the time to prepare. Staying aware of your surroundings and following local advice can help you protect yourself and travel more safely while abroad.
Cybersecurity and espionage
Travelling with corporate or personal devices such as phones, tablets and laptops offers convenience, and connectivity. However, these devices are also at risk of cyber threats, including data breaches and theft.
Learn more about how to reduce risks when travelling with electronic devices.
You can also consult Far from home: A travel security guide (Canadian Security Intelligence Service), which outlines the security risks Canadian travellers may face abroad, including espionage and criminal activity, and provides practical guidance on how to plan, protect sensitive information, and follow recommended security practices before, during and after your trip.
If you need help
If you need consular assistance while you are outside Canada, contact the Canadian embassy, high commission, consulate or office in your host country or the Government of Canada’s 24/7 Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa, Ontario.
Know what to do if you become sick or injured while travelling outside Canada, including how to access medical care and who to contact for assistance.
Other things you can do to stay safe:
- Create and carry an emergency contact card with information on how to reach the nearest Government of Canada office in your host country in case you have problems while abroad.
- Stay in touch with your workplace colleagues, family and friends in Canada to let them know how you are doing.
- Learn more about how the Government of Canada can help you if things go wrong while you are travelling outside Canada.
- Find out what we can and cannot do to help if you need assistance during your travels.
Returning to Canada
Entry requirements can change suddenly. Even if you are a Canadian citizen, check for any updated travel requirements before you return to Canada.
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