When hosting international business guests, Canadian businesses entity must write a letter of invitation. Business visitors can be any existing or prospective buyers, investors, trade show or conference attendees, partners, employees, or those seeking training at the company's facilities.

A letter of invitation does not ensure that a visa will be given. Visa officers review applicants to determine whether they are eligible to visit Canada. Some visa offices may need these letters to be notarized. Check with the Canadian visa office in your visitor's country to see if this is required.

 SAMPLE

[Company Letterhead]

[Date]

To Whom It May Concern,

 

[Introduce yourself (the inviter): Please introduce yourself with the following info:

·        complete name

·        job title and position in the company

·        address and telephone numbers in Canada and

·        work email address]

 

[Company description: Please write in short about your company. Please mention the below info as applicable.

·        complete name of the company

·        headquarters address

·        the address of all company facilities to be visited

·        the company’s website address, if available

·        the company’s date of registration/incorporation and

·        a short description of the firm’s type of business.] 

 

[Introduction of the visitor / employee: Please introduce the person you want to invite. While doing so, please make sure the following information are there

·        complete name

·        date of birth, if known

·        the company represented and the person’s position

·        the person’s address and telephone number (both work and home)

·        your company’s relationship to the invitee and your business history together

·        whether you know the visitor personally, and if you are related

·        the purpose of the trip (if part of a longer-term project, please provide context)

·        the length of time the person will be visiting your company in Canada

·        accommodation and living expenses that your company will cover and

·        the date the person intends to leave Canada, if known. ]

 

Should you have any inquiries or require further information regarding Mr. CLIENT’s visit at COMPANY, please feel free to contact me via email (xxx-xxx-xxx) or by phone (xxx-xxx-xxx).

 

Yours sincerely,

Signature: _______________________

[Signatory's Full Name]
[Signatory's Designation]

[Phone]
[Company address]
[Website]

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Pro-tips:

·        Be sure to apply well in advance for your visitor’s visa to be processed.

·        Ask the visitor to carry a printed copy of the invitation letter as he might be asked in the airport / port of entry.

·        Please also bring a No-Objection-Certificate from your current employer if you are visiting on behalf of a company.  

·        Please seek legal advice if you are not sure about the process. The legal advisors can advise so that you (the visitor) can present yourself as a legitimate business visitor as described under section 187(1)-(3) of IRPR.  

 

Disclaimer: The above writing is not intended to be a source of legal advice. Please seek legal advice and use your own good judgement before choosing to act on any information provided above. If you choose to rely on this article, you do so entirely at your own accountability.

 

If you find any information is untrue or misleading or think you deserve the credit for the write-up, please reach out to me at: [email protected] and I will adjust as per your request when you are right.