Core documents
- Valid Canadian passport (required to fly; strongly recommended at land crossings).
- Signed employer support letter on company letterhead: original plus a copy. See what it must include.
- Credential evidence for your profession (below).
- Résumé consistent with the letter.
- Offer letter or employment agreement, if you have one.
- A card to pay CBP fees.
Credential evidence by profession
| Profession | Typical evidence |
|---|---|
| Accountant | CPA/CA/CGA/CMA certificate plus a current letter of good standing, or degree diploma and transcripts; U.S. CPA: licence lookup printout. |
| Computer Systems Analyst | Degree diploma and transcripts, or post-secondary diploma/certificate plus employer letters proving three years’ experience. |
| Engineer | Engineering degree diploma and transcripts, or P.Eng./PE licence plus regulator lookup printout. |
| Management Consultant | Degree diploma and transcripts, or letters proving five years’ consulting experience; the consulting agreement if one exists. |
| Economist | Degree diploma and official transcripts showing economics coursework. |
| Registered Nurse | Nursing licence plus registry printout; VisaScreen® certificate; evidence of U.S. state licensure status. |
Degrees earned outside Canada, the U.S. or Mexico are usually presented with a credential evaluation from a recognized U.S. evaluation service. For any other profession, check its requirement on the full list.
Extras for renewals and new employers
- Your current or most recent I-94 record (printed from the CBP website).
- Your previous TN documents.
- For a renewal with the same employer, a few recent pay stubs.
- For a new employer: a new support letter. TN doesn’t transfer between employers.
Extras for family members (TD)
- Each person’s valid passport.
- Marriage certificate for a spouse; birth certificates showing you as the parent for children.
- A copy of your TN documents if they travel separately. See TD status.
How to organize your packet
- Passport(s)
- Signed employer letter
- Credential evidence
- Résumé and offer letter
- Prior I-94 and TN documents (renewals)
- Family documents
Keep originals and copies separated, and everything in your carry-on if you’re flying.
Get a checklist built for your situation
TNPath’s PDF guide personalizes this list to your profession, credentials, crossing and family.
Common questions
Do I need a credential evaluation for my Canadian degree?
Degrees from Canada, the U.S. and Mexico are usually presented as-is. Evaluations are typically used for degrees earned elsewhere.
Do I need to bring my diploma or are transcripts enough?
Bring both where the credential is a degree: the diploma shows the award, the transcripts show the field and coursework. Originals plus copies are best.
What if I hold both a degree and a designation or licence?
You can present both. It gives the officer more than one way to see the credential.
Will TNPath tell me whether I qualify?
No. TNPath is a document-assembly tool. It organizes the facts you provide into templates and gives general information. It doesn’t make eligibility determinations or recommend case-specific strategy. Only U.S. Customs and Border Protection decides whether to admit you.
Sources
- 8 CFR 214.6: Citizens of Canada or Mexico seeking TN status (Cornell LII)
- CBP: Traveling on a TN or L-1 from Canada
- CBP: I-94 official website
Last reviewed September 29, 2026. General information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change; confirm with official sources before you travel.