TN visa for Canadians: the complete guide

What TN is

TN is a U.S. nonimmigrant work classification created by NAFTA and continued under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). It lets citizens of Canada and Mexico work in the U.S. for a U.S. employer in a professional role on the TN list.

People search for “TN visa”, but Canadians don’t get a visa stamp. Canadian citizens are visa-exempt, so they apply for TN status directly at a U.S. port of entry or at airport preclearance in Canada, and the officer decides on the spot. (Mexican citizens follow a different process through a U.S. consulate.)

Who qualifies

Under 8 CFR 214.6, a Canadian applicant generally needs to show:

1. Canadian citizenship. Permanent residents of Canada who aren’t citizens don’t qualify.
2. A profession on the TN list, and a job that is actually in that profession at a professional level.
3. The credential the list requires for that profession: a degree, a licence, a designation, or in a few cases experience.
4. Prearranged work for a U.S. employer or entity. TN doesn’t allow self-employment in the U.S.
5. Temporary entry. The regulation defines it as entry without the intent to establish permanent residence, and the officer must be satisfied the stay is temporary.

This is general information. Only CBP decides whether a particular person is admitted.

The 63 TN professions

The TN list has 63 professions in four groups: general (accountant, engineer, computer systems analyst, management consultant and more), medical/allied, scientist, and teacher. Each one has its own minimum credential. See the full list with requirements.

TNPath builds packets for the six professions Canadians use most:

How Canadians apply

1. Get the job offer and the support letter. Your U.S. employer writes a letter describing the profession, duties, length of stay, your credentials and your pay. See the TN support letter.
2. Assemble your documents. Passport, the signed letter, credential evidence and supporting documents. See the document checklist.
3. Apply at a port of entry or airport preclearance. Tell the officer you’re applying for TN status. You’ll normally be sent to secondary inspection, where the officer reviews your packet and asks questions. CBP designates certain ports for first-time applicants. See applying at the border.
4. Pay the fee and get your I-94. If admitted, you receive an electronic I-94 record showing TN status and your end date.

A U.S. employer can instead file Form I-129 with USCIS, for example when you’re already in the U.S. in another status. TNPath’s packets are built for the port-of-entry route.

Fees

• US$50 TN processing fee, paid to CBP when you’re admitted.
• I-94 fee at land crossings: US$30 per person since September 30, 2025 (it was US$6).
• No TN fee for TD family members, though the I-94 fee applies to each person at land crossings.

Fees change. Confirm current amounts on cbp.gov before you travel.

How long TN lasts

TN is granted for up to three years at a time, and can be renewed in increments of up to three years. There’s no fixed limit on renewals, but each time you must show the stay is temporary. CBP may admit you up to 10 days before your start date. Your I-94 record, not your letter, controls how long you can stay. See TN renewal.

Family members

Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can accompany you in TD status. TD family members may study but can’t work in the U.S. See TD status for family.

Where applications run into trouble

These are general patterns, not an assessment of any case:

• Duties that don’t match the profession: bookkeeping filed as Accountant, programming filed as Computer Systems Analyst, technician work filed as Engineer, financial analysis filed as Economist.
• A credential that doesn’t match the list for that profession.
• Vague letters that don’t describe the duties, dates or pay.
• Signs of permanent intent, or roles that look like self-employment.
• Inconsistent answers between the letter, the résumé and what you say.

What the 2026 USMCA review means for TN

At the mandatory joint review on July 1, 2026, the United States declined to extend the USMCA for a new 16-year term. That triggers annual joint reviews, and the agreement remains in force through at least July 1, 2036. All current USMCA rights and obligations remain operative, and TN is unchanged as of this guide’s review date. We’ll update this page if that changes.

Common questions

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
• USCIS: TN USMCA Professionals
• USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 2, Part P: USMCA Professionals (TN)
• CBP Help: I-94 payment process
• White & Case: USMCA 2026 joint review, U.S. declines to extend (July 2026)

Last reviewed September 29, 2026. General information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change; confirm with official sources before you travel.