Work visas

The TN visa for Canadian and Mexican professionals

TN status lets Canadian and Mexican citizens work in the U.S. in about 60 listed professions under the USMCA trade agreement. There is no lottery or cap. Canadians usually apply at a port of entry; Mexicans need a TN visa from a U.S. consulate. Each grant lasts up to three years and can be renewed without a set limit.

Updated October 28, 2026 How we research and update

TN visa requirements: who TN is for

TN is a work classification created by the North American free trade agreements, now the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). It is one of several U.S. work visas, open only to citizens of Canada and Mexico; permanent residents of those countries do not qualify. You need a prearranged job or contract with a U.S. employer, in one of the professions listed in the agreement, and you must hold the credentials that the list requires for that profession. Self-employment in the United States is not allowed, although a Canadian or Mexican company may send a professional to provide services under contract to a U.S. client.

Four business professionals in suits meeting around a desk in a bright office

The TN visa professions list

The USMCA list (Appendix 2 to Annex 16-A of the agreement, carried into the regulations at 8 CFR 214.6) contains roughly 60 professions. Most require a bachelor's or licenciatura degree; some accept alternative credentials such as a post-secondary diploma plus experience. Common categories include:

General: accountant, architect, computer systems analyst, economist, engineer, graphic designer, hotel manager, industrial designer, interior designer, land surveyor, landscape architect, lawyer, librarian, management consultant, mathematician (including statistician and actuary), technical publications writer, urban planner, vocational counselor.
Medical and allied health: dentist, dietitian, medical laboratory technologist, nutritionist, occupational therapist, pharmacist, physician (teaching or research only), physiotherapist, psychologist, recreational therapist, registered nurse, veterinarian.
Scientists: agriculturist, animal breeder, animal scientist, apiculturist, astronomer, biochemist, biologist, chemist, dairy scientist, entomologist, epidemiologist, geneticist, geologist, geochemist, geophysicist, horticulturist, meteorologist, pharmacologist, physicist, plant breeder, poultry scientist, soil scientist, zoologist.
Teachers: college, seminary and university teachers.
Scientific technicians and technologists, who must work in direct support of professionals in specific scientific fields.

The job title alone does not decide eligibility. Officers compare the actual duties with the listed profession, and roles that are mainly sales, general business or software development described loosely as "analyst" work often draw questions. "Computer systems analyst" is one of the most used and most scrutinized categories.

Canadian vs Mexican process

Step	Canadian citizens	Mexican citizens
Visa needed?	No visa required	Yes, a TN visa from a U.S. embassy or consulate
Where to apply	At a U.S. land port of entry or a preclearance location at a Canadian airport, or by USCIS petition	Consular interview, then admission at the border
Who decides	CBP officer, often the same day	Consular officer, then CBP at entry
Changing from another status in the U.S.	Employer can file Form I-129 with USCIS	Employer can file Form I-129 with USCIS

Documents to bring

Proof of Canadian or Mexican citizenship, usually a passport.
A detailed employer letter describing the profession, duties, the expected length of stay, pay and the applicant's qualifications.
Degree certificates and transcripts, and licenses where the profession requires them. Foreign degrees may need an evaluation.
For Mexicans: the DS-160 confirmation and appointment documents from the official visa appointment site.

How the process works

Confirm the profession and match the job duties to the USMCA list.
Prepare the support letter and credentials.
Apply: Canadians at the border or preclearance; Mexicans at a consulate; or the employer files Form I-129 if the worker is already in the U.S.
Admission: CBP issues an I-94 for up to three years. Check that the dates and employer are correct before leaving the inspection area.
Renewal: by a new application at the border or consulate, or by an I-129 extension filed with USCIS.

How much does a TN visa cost? (October 2026)

Item	Amount
Form I-129 (USCIS route only)	$1,015; $510 for employers with 25 or fewer FTEs and nonprofits
Asylum Program Fee (USCIS route only)	$600; $300 small employers; $0 nonprofits
Premium processing (optional, USCIS route)	$2,965 since March 1, 2026
CBP TN application fee (Canadians at a port of entry or preclearance)	$50
Form I-94 at a land border (Canadians)	$30 ($6 CBP fee plus $24 under the 2025 law); no I-94 fee when arriving by air
TN visa application fee (Mexicans, at a consulate)	$185; a visa integrity fee of at least $250 under the 2025 law may also apply at issuance once it is put into effect

USCIS fees are from 8 CFR 106; the CBP fees are from 8 CFR 103.7 and DHS's October 1, 2026 fee notice; the visa fee is from the State Department's schedule at 22 CFR 22.1, all as of October 28, 2026. Always confirm against Form G-1055 and the State Department's fee page before filing or traveling. See all current amounts in our USCIS fee guide.

How long can you stay on a TN visa?

Each admission is for up to three years. There is no fixed lifetime maximum, but each renewal must still be temporary. Spouses and unmarried children under 21 receive TD status, which allows study but not employment. Changing employers requires a new TN application or petition before starting the new job.

Can you get a green card on a TN visa?

TN requires temporary intent, so applying for a green card while on TN needs care. Filing a PERM application or an I-140 does not automatically end TN status, but it can make it harder to show temporary intent at the border or when renewing. Many TN workers change to H-1B, which allows dual intent, before filing for adjustment of status, or time their travel and renewals with an attorney's advice. Marriage-based or other routes have their own rules; see adjustment of status vs consular processing.

Common problems

Job descriptions that do not match the listed profession closely enough.
Degrees in unrelated fields.
Roles at a staffing firm where the actual client and duties are unclear.
Signs of immigrant intent at renewal, such as a pending green card case.

TN compared with H-1B

Point	TN	H-1B
Who can use it	Canadian and Mexican citizens only	Any nationality
Lottery	No	Yes for most private employers
Jobs covered	Only the professions on the USMCA list	Any specialty occupation
Length	Up to 3 years per grant, no fixed total	Up to 6 years in total, with green card exceptions
Green card plans	Temporary intent required	Dual intent allowed
Spouse work	Not allowed on TD	H-4 work only in some green card situations

Travel and re-entry

TN workers can travel and re-enter during their approved period by showing their passport, their I-94 or approval details, and a current employer letter. Canadians should carry evidence that they still work in the same role. Mexican citizens need a valid TN visa stamp to re-enter, unless an exception applies. If you change employers, the new job needs its own TN approval before you start working for it.

What a strong employer letter covers

Travelers walking toward U.S. Customs and Border Protection at an airport

Because the officer often decides a TN application in one interview, the employer's support letter carries most of the case. A strong letter generally:

Names the exact USMCA profession being claimed and explains why the role fits it.
Describes the day-to-day duties in concrete terms, showing that they are professional-level work in that field.
States the educational or licensing requirement for the role and confirms that the applicant meets it, with the degree and transcript attached.
Gives the start date, expected length of the engagement (up to three years), work location, salary and whether the role is employee or contractor.
Is signed on company letterhead by someone with authority to make the offer.

Applicants should be able to explain their own duties consistently with the letter. If a TN application is refused at the border, the officer's notes can affect later applications, so it is usually better to prepare carefully the first time than to try repeatedly. Applicants refused entry may also be asked to withdraw their application for admission; an attorney can explain the consequences before you agree.

What to ask an attorney

Which USMCA profession fits this role, and what proof of credentials will the officer expect?
Should we apply at the border or file with USCIS?
How should a green card plan be timed so it does not jeopardize TN renewals?

Not sure TN is the best fit? Compare options in the work visa finder, or email us to be connected with a participating immigration attorney.

Frequently asked questions

Can a Canadian permanent resident get a TN visa?

No. TN is limited to citizens of Canada and Mexico. Permanent residents of those countries must use another category, such as H-1B, L-1 or O-1, unless they also hold Canadian or Mexican citizenship. Dual citizens may apply using their Canadian or Mexican passport.

How long can you stay in the U.S. on a TN visa?

Each admission or approval can be granted for up to three years. TN status can be renewed repeatedly, as long as the job still fits a listed profession and the stay remains temporary. A Mexican citizen's TN visa stamp may have a different validity from the I-94 admission period.

Can I get a green card on a TN visa?

It is possible but requires planning, because TN requires temporary intent. A pending green card process can make TN renewals or re-entries harder. Many people change to H-1B status, which allows dual intent, before filing to adjust status. Discuss timing with an immigration attorney.

Can my spouse work on TD status?

No. TD status allows a spouse and children to live and study in the United States but does not authorize employment. A spouse who wants to work needs their own status, such as their own TN if they are a Canadian or Mexican citizen in a listed profession.

Is software engineer a TN profession?

Software engineer is not listed by that exact title. Applicants often use 'engineer' or 'computer systems analyst', but officers examine whether the duties and degree truly fit. Using the engineer category may require an engineering degree. Prepare a detailed letter and match the duties carefully.

How much does a TN visa cost?

As of October 2026, Canadians applying at a port of entry or preclearance pay a $50 CBP fee, plus a $30 I-94 fee at a land border. Mexicans pay a $185 visa application fee at the consulate. If the employer files Form I-129 with USCIS instead, the fee is $1,015 ($510 for small employers and nonprofits) plus the Asylum Program Fee.

Do you need a degree for a TN visa?

Usually. Most professions on the USMCA list require a bachelor's or licenciatura degree in a related field, and some also require a license. A few allow alternative credentials, such as a post-secondary diploma plus experience. The officer checks that your degree matches the profession claimed, so bring diplomas, transcripts and, for foreign degrees, an evaluation if needed.

Official sources

General information, not legal advice. Immigration rules change and every case is different; talk to a qualified immigration attorney about your situation. USVisa.com is not a government website. Spot an error? Tell us.