The category in brief
Your TN visa packet should document the professional work offered by the U.S. employer, the credential route in this list entry, and the requested temporary stay. Bring facts that agree across the signed letter and your supporting documents.
Keep every duty teaching or research — not patient care, clinical practice, or residency or fellowship training.
Build your Physician TN visa packet
Answer plain-English questions, then preview your letter free before you decide.
What the TN list requires
M.D. or Doctor en Medicina; or state/provincial license.
TN profession list, Appendix 2 to Annex 16-A of USMCA Chapter 16 (8 CFR 214.6(c))
The “or” matters: the quoted routes are alternatives, not a demand to hold every credential. Copy the credential exactly from the documents you actually hold; do not add an alternative the entry does not name.
What to explain at the counter
- Describe teaching and/or research duties using the employer’s real responsibilities.
- State the temporary period requested, up to three years, with actual start and end dates.
- Keep the letter, résumé, offer details and interview answers consistent.
- Keep every duty teaching or research — patient care, clinical practice, and residency or fellowship training as the main work fall outside what the entry describes.
TNPath doesn't assess whether your evidence is sufficient; that's the officer's call
If the role or credential route is unclear, consider speaking with a U.S. immigration lawyer.
Describe the actual duties
These occupational examples are prompts, not facts about your job. Use only responsibilities your employer confirms; write them in the employer’s own terms.
- Teach medical students in classroom and laboratory courses
- Develop curriculum for graduate medical education programs
- Supervise doctoral candidates’ dissertation research
- Design and conduct clinical research studies
- Analyze research data and prepare findings for publication
- Write grant proposals to fund research programs
- Present research findings at scientific conferences
- Collaborate with faculty on interdisciplinary research
- Evaluate student performance in medical training courses
Never add, inflate or reword duties to fit a category. Every line in the letter should be something your employer will confirm and you can describe in your own words at the counter.
Job titles that draw questions
Titles such as Resident, Fellow, Hospitalist, Attending Physician, Staff Physician or Family Physician can describe clinical roles rather than teaching or research. Keep the real title and describe the responsibilities honestly. TNPath’s wording flags are prompts for review, not USCIS category rulings.
Your employer must verify, approve and sign the final letter
Documents to bring
- Canadian passport
- Signed employer letter on company letterhead, original and copy
- Résumé matching the letter
- Offer letter, if any
- Means of paying the applicable CBP fee
- Degree route: your M.D. certificate and transcripts, using the exact names on your records
- Licence route: your state or provincial physician licence, using the exact name on the licence
See the full document checklist. Only include licence details you affirm holding and can document.
Organize your Physician TN visa packet
Answer with your own facts, then inspect the free preview before deciding.
Common questions
What credential does the Physician entry require?
An M.D. or Doctor en Medicina; or a state/provincial licence. The entry names no diploma or experience alternative — the degree or the licence is the route.
Does this category cover patient care or clinical practice?
The list title says teaching or research only. Patient care, clinical practice, and residency or fellowship training as the main work fall outside what the entry describes. Keep every duty in the letter teaching or research. TNPath does not decide whether a particular role fits the category.
Can I use a state licence instead of an M.D.?
The entry lists a state/provincial licence as an alternative to the degree. Enter the exact licence name and issuing state or province, and bring the licence document. TNPath does not decide which route fits your case.
As a Canadian, do I need a TN visa before I go to the border?
Generally, no. Canadian citizens are visa-exempt and apply for TN status directly at a U.S. port of entry or airport preclearance, with their documents in hand. The officer decides at the counter. People still search for "TN visa", but for Canadians it's a status granted at entry, not a visa stamp. One exception: if you live outside Canada and will enter with a spouse or children who are not Canadian citizens, the State Department says you need a TN visa so they can apply for TD visas.
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
- USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 2, Part P: USMCA Professionals (TN)
- 8 CFR 214.6(c): TN profession list (eCFR)
- USMCA Chapter 16, Appendix 2 to Annex 16-A (USTR)
- CBP: Traveling on a TN or L-1 from Canada
Last reviewed October 3, 2026. General information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change; confirm with official sources before you travel.