What is a TN visa? Eligibility, requirements, and how to apply

The TN visa offers Canadian and Mexican professionals a smoother path to work in the United States. As a nonimmigrant visa category, it allows qualified professionals from these countries to enter the U.S. for temporary employment without going through the H‑1B lottery or another lengthy petition process. Created under NAFTA and effective since 1994, the TN visa has continued under the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) to this day.

What makes the TN visa attractive is its simplicity and speed. There's no annual cap, no lottery, and Canadian citizens can often receive approval the same day they apply at the border. The visa can be renewed indefinitely, making it a practical long-term work authorization option for professionals in eligible occupations.

This guide covers everything you need to know about the TN visa: who qualifies, how to apply (with different processes for Canadians and Mexicans), whether employer sponsorship is required, and realistic paths to a green card for those who want permanent residence.

What is a TN visa and who qualifies

The TN visa is a work visa exclusively available to citizens of Canada and Mexico under the USMCA trade agreement. It allows qualified professionals to work temporarily in the United States in one of more than 60 designated occupations. Unlike the H-1B, which is open to nationals of any country, the TN is limited to North American professionals as part of the broader trade relationship between the three countries.

To qualify for a TN visa, you must meet 3 core requirements.

1. You must be a citizen of Canada or Mexico. Permanent residents of these countries don't qualify, as the TN visa is tied specifically to citizenship.
2. You must have a job offer from a U.S. employer in one of the professions listed in USMCA Appendix 2.
3. You must have the educational credentials or professional license required for that occupation.

Most TN occupations require at least a bachelor's degree or its equivalent (called a licenciatura in Mexico). A three-year degree is generally accepted, and the degree should be in the field of the TN occupation or a closely related field. Unlike the H-1B, the TN category doesn't allow you to substitute a combination of education and work experience for a degree requirement.

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TN visa eligible professions and requirements

The TN visa occupation list covers professionals across several categories: general professions, medical and allied health professionals, scientists, and teachers. This list was established when NAFTA was signed in 1992 and hasn't been updated since, which means that if your job title sounds a bit modern (e.g. AI Ethicist, Cloud Architect, Growth Hacker, etc) it might not appear directly on the list.

Common TN-eligible professions include engineers, accountants, architects, computer systems analysts, economists, management consultants, and various scientists. The table below shows some of the most frequently used TN categories and their requirements:

• If you are an IT professional, know that the "Computer Systems Analyst" category is the most common option and better fit, as it covers professionals who analyze how data processing can be applied to organizational needs and design systems to meet those needs. In that sense, pure programming work doesn't fit this category. Finally, if you have a software engineering degree, "Software Engineer" may qualify under the general Engineer category, though this specific degree can be harder to demonstrate without a state license.

• If you are a Management consultant, you will probably face extra scrutiny because the category allows work experience as an alternative to a degree. USCIS defines management consultants as professionals who improve organizational performance by analyzing and resolving strategic and operating problems. The key distinction is that you should be an independent contractor or employee of a consulting firm, not a regular employee with a "consultant" title.

Does the TN visa require employer sponsorship?

The TN visa requires a U.S. employer to offer you a job, but the process is much simpler than what's required for the H-1B or other employment-based visas. Your employer doesn't file a petition with USCIS. Instead, they provide you with an offer letter that you present when applying for TN status.

This distinction matters because it significantly reduces the employer's involvement and costs. There's no Labor Condition Application (LCA), no prevailing wage requirement, and no filing fees for the employer to pay. The employer simply needs to provide a letter on company letterhead that describes the job, confirms the position is in a TN-eligible occupation, states the salary, and specifies the employment duration.

The offer letter should include:

• the professional category under which you're applying,
• your job duties,
• your qualifications for the position,
• the proposed length of employment,
• and the arrangements for your compensation.

While compensation can come from either a U.S. entity or a foreign entity, most TN holders are paid by their U.S. employer.

You can work for multiple U.S. employers simultaneously on TN status, but you need a separate TN authorization for each employer. If you have offer letters from two companies, you can present them together at the border and pay a single application fee.

Compare your visa optionsSee differences in requirements and eligibility criteria across U.S. visas.

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How to apply for a TN visa as a Canadian citizen

Canadian citizens have a significant advantage when applying for TN status since they don't need a visa stamp in their passport. Instead, Canadians can apply directly at a U.S. port of entry, preclearance facility, or international airport and receive a decision the same day.

If you're a Canadian citizen and would like to apply at the border, you need to bring the following:

• your Canadian passport (or Enhanced Driver's License or NEXUS card),
• your employer's offer letter,
• proof of your educational credentials or professional license,
• and any experience letters that support your qualifications.

The application fee depends on how and where you apply.

For Canadian nationals applying directly at a U.S. port of entry (such as an airport or preclearance facility), the application fee is $50. If applying at a land border, there is an additional $30 government fee. If a Canadian applicant chooses to apply through a U.S. consulate instead, the fee is $185 for the DS-160.

Mexican nationals, on the other hand, must apply through a U.S. consulate and therefore always pay the $185 DS-160 application fee.

Once you present all your documents, the CBP officer will review them, ask some questions about your job and qualifications according to the documents shared, and make a decision in that moment. If approved, you'll receive an I-94 arrival record authorizing TN status for up to 3 years or the length of your employment assignment, whichever is shorter. The I-94 serves as your proof of work authorization.

As you can see, the border application process is fast and convenient. However, if you prefer to opt for a different path, you can also file Form I-129 with USCIS. This takes longer but it's usually more useful for people who are already in the U.S. under another status and wish to change to TN without leaving the country.

Please note that if a CBP officer does not approve your application, you have the option to withdraw it instead of receiving a formal denial. A denial of your TN petition could complicate future applications, so if your case has any potential complications, consider consulting with an immigration attorney before appearing at the border.

How to get a TN visa as a Mexican citizen

Mexican citizens must follow a different process than Canadians since they cannot apply for TN status directly at the border on their first application. If you are a Mexican citizen, you must first obtain a TN visa stamp from a U.S. consulate in Mexico.

The consular application requires completing Form DS-160 (the Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application), scheduling an interview at a U.S. consulate, and appearing in person with your supporting documents. You need to bring the following:

• your Mexican passport,
• the DS-160 confirmation page,
• your employer's offer letter,
• proof of your educational credentials,
• and any experience letters.

The visa fee is $79 for a one-year TN visa or $357 for a four-year visa. Choosing the four-year option may be advantageous, as it decreases the number of consular visits required for renewals. If your visa interview is approved, you'll receive a TN visa stamp in your passport.

Only after obtaining this visa stamp can you travel to a U.S. port of entry and have a CBP officer review your documents to issue an I-94. TN holders are usually admitted for up to 3 years regardless of whether the visa stamp is for 1 year or 4 years. The visa determines how long you can seek entry; the I-94 determines how long you can stay.

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TN visa renewal, green card options, and limitations

Once you have your TN status, you'll want to understand how renewals work, whether you can pursue permanent residence, and what limitations apply. We cover all of these topics in detail in our TN visa renewal and green card guide, including renewal methods for Canadians and Mexicans, dual intent considerations, green card pathways (EB-2, EB-3, EB-1A, EB-2 NIW, and EB-1C), and key limitations like the restricted profession list and dependent work restrictions.