Business travel plays a central role in the expansion of international trade, yet immigration restrictions — visa policies in particular — greatly hinder these movements, raising costs for companies and limiting their competitiveness in foreign markets. For Schengen Area member countries, visas reduce trade by 25%, and even more for differentiated goods. In contrast, the business-visa facilitation provisions included in free trade agreements lead to an increase in business travel and, in turn, an average growth of 15% in bilateral trade — all without increasing permanent migration.