This page will provide news or special information instructors will need to know before traveling.
International Mobility Program: Authorization to work without a work permit – Public speakers
This section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada staff. It is posted on the Department’s website as a courtesy to stakeholders.
Paragraph R186(j) includes both guest speakers for specific events (such as an academic speaker at a university or college function) and commercial speakers or seminar leaders provided the seminar to be given by the foreign speaker entering under this provision does not last longer than five days.
A seminar is defined as a small class at a university, etc. for discussion and research, or a short intensive course of study, or a conference of specialists. Commercial speakers are people who sell tickets or registrations to people who come to hear them speak on a particular topic.
Commercial speakers have a vested interest in the event at which they are speaking. Typically, they rent commercial space in a hotel, advertise, charge admission, deliver the event and then leave Canada. If they are doing this for no more than five days on one trip, they can enter under R186(j). This regulation covers situations where the speaker is speaking to multiple groups, as long as the duration of the speaking events is no more than five days, not counting travel time in the case of multiple engagements.
Not included in R186(j) are commercial speakers who are hired by a Canadian entity to provide training services, or guest instructors of a particular sport coming to teach weekend seminars. Training activities are viewed as providing a service to Canadians, and therefore are considered an entry into the labour market. In these cases, other entry options must be explored including ESDC/SC Labour Market Impact Assessments or the NAFTA Professional category which allows for professionals to provide training services under some circumstances.
Canada
From: David
Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2012 12:51 PM
Dear Friends,
Today I received a call from Wayne who just flew into Canada to teach a class in Saskatoon. He was detained and experienced a great deal of difficulty upon his arrival. He was asked the purpose of his visit and there are three choices: 1) Tourist, 2) Business and 3) Study. Wayne said he was there to study and was then questioned about his trip. After an extensive interview, the officer went through his immigration manual and found the correct and acceptable way for an instructor to enter Canada. I am not sure if this pertains only to US citizens or other nationalities, as well.
What was explained to Wayne is that it is allowable to enter Canada as a "public lecturer", for a maximum of 5 days, stating you are in Canada for business. This status is listed as R-186(J). It is also important to know the address of where you will be staying. This status does not require a visa.
Please take note of this information which Wayne believes it will resolve the issues of instructors entering Canada to teach classes. It also sounds like it would not be possible to teach more that a 5-day class during one visit.
Love, David
Switzerland
Instructors need to check with their organizers in Switzerland to obtain a work permit before teaching a class in Switzerland. Europeans need a work permit if they teach for more than 8 days a year and non-European instructors need a permit to teach for even one day. Switzerland does not generally charge VAT for classes. One exception is if classes are combined with private sessions. Then the entire class falls under a VAT of 8% for "advice with service".