TN: NAFTA Professionals from Canada or Mexico

This guide is published by Tukki, a global immigration service provider that helps professionals and companies navigate work visas and green cards like the TN, H-1B, L-1A, O-1A, EB-1A, EB-2 NIW, and more. Tukki offers dedicated immigration attorney support, visa eligibility assessments, and full case management from petition preparation through approval.

The TN visa is a U.S. nonimmigrant work status that lets citizens of Canada and Mexico work in the United States in a professional occupation under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the trade agreement that replaced NAFTA. The category was created as "Trade NAFTA" (TN) when NAFTA took effect on January 1, 1994, and when USMCA came into force in 2020 it kept the same immigration provisions, so the TN continues to work exactly as it did before.

The TN is one of the most efficient work options available to Canadian and Mexican professionals. It has no annual cap and no lottery, unlike the H-1B, it can be renewed indefinitely, and for Canadians it can often be obtained at a U.S. port of entry the same day. In exchange for that speed, the TN comes with clear boundaries: the job has to fall within a fixed list of professions, the applicant has to hold the specific credential that profession requires, and the category does not allow dual intent. This guide breaks down every TN visa requirement, walks through the full USMCA occupation list, and covers costs, processing times, dependents, and the longer-term green card options.

Who is eligible for the TN visa?

TN eligibility rests on three things: your citizenship, the profession you are being hired for, and the credential you hold. To qualify, you must:

One important distinction from the H-1B: the TN does not allow you to combine education and experience to make up for a missing degree. If the occupation requires a baccalaureate or degree, you generally need that degree, not an equivalent built from partial studies plus years of work. Canadian, Mexican, and U.S. degrees do not require a credentials evaluation, though degrees earned elsewhere do.

Why choose the TN visa?

For professionals who hold Canadian or Mexican citizenship, the TN is often the fastest and most flexible route to working in the United States. Here is what works in your favor and what to plan around.

Advantages:

Limitations:

TN visa occupation list

The heart of the TN category is the USMCA professional occupation list. Your job has to match one of these professions, and you have to hold the minimum credential shown for it. The list is grouped into general professions, medical and allied professionals, scientists, and teachers. A three-year degree is generally accepted, and the degree should be in the field of the TN occupation or a closely related field.

General professions

Medical and allied professionals

Scientists

Teachers

Thirteen of these occupations accept a state or provincial license as an alternative to a degree. Holding the required degree means you are not also required to have a license. For a plain-language walkthrough of how to match your role to the list and document it, see our guide on what a TN visa is and how to apply.

TN visa key requirements

Beyond citizenship and a qualifying profession, a strong TN case turns on a few core elements. Each one is a common point of questioning from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers and USCIS adjudicators.

Occupations that draw extra scrutiny

Some professions on the list are questioned more closely than others, usually because the occupation is easy to misread or the qualification rules are looser. Knowing the pressure points ahead of time is the best way to prepare.

TN visa duration, extensions, and dependents

Validity and renewals

TN applicants are generally admitted in increments of up to three years, or for the length of the assignment if it is shorter. There is no maximum number of renewals: the TN can be extended indefinitely, as long as you continue to hold a qualifying job and can still show nonimmigrant intent. You can renew either by filing an extension with USCIS or, for Canadians, by applying again at a port of entry.

TN holders are also eligible for a 10-day grace period added to the start and end of the authorized stay, and a grace period of up to 60 days following the end of employment. Employment is not authorized during these grace periods. It is worth specifically asking the CBP officer to add the 10 days, since it is often left off the I-94.

TD dependents

Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can accompany you in TD (Trade Dependent) status. TD dependents do not need to be Canadian or Mexican citizens. They may live and study in the United States, but they are not authorized to work in TD status. For a broader look at which visas do allow a spouse to work, see our spouse work authorization guide.

How to apply for the TN visa

The qualifying requirements are the same for Canadians and Mexicans, but the application procedures are different. There is no special TN application form for the port-of-entry route.

1. Secure a qualifying job offer

Confirm the role is on the USMCA occupation list and obtain a detailed support letter from the U.S. employer describing the position, its professional level, the assignment length, and how your credential fits.

2. Gather your documents

Prepare proof of citizenship, your degree, license, or experience evidence, the employer support letter, and any occupation-specific documentation (for example, a health care worker certificate). Have evidence of nonimmigrant intent ready as well.

3. Choose your route based on citizenship

Canadian citizens are visa-exempt and can apply directly for TN status at a U.S. Class A port of entry, an international airport, or a preclearance station, and are typically issued an I-94 the same day. Alternatively, the employer can file Form I-129 with USCIS in advance.

Mexican citizens must first obtain a TN visa at a U.S. consulate. Complete Form DS-160 and attend a consular interview. Once the visa is issued, you seek entry at a port of entry and are issued an I-94 the same way a Canadian is.

4. File Form I-129, if using the USCIS route

For applicants inside the United States seeking a change of status or extension, or for employers who prefer to file in advance, the employer submits Form I-129 with USCIS. Premium processing is available on this route for a faster response.

5. Enter and keep your status

Confirm your I-94 shows the correct TN classification and end date, and ask the officer to add the 10-day grace period. Track your expiration date and plan any renewal ahead of time.

For a full walkthrough of the application from either country, see our guide on what a TN visa is and how to apply.

How much does the TN visa cost?

TN costs depend on which route you use. The port-of-entry route for Canadians is built around a small CBP application fee, while the consular route for Mexicans is built around the visa application fee, and the USCIS route adds petition fees.

Tukki quotes one end price that already folds in government fees and any Request for Evidence response the case needs, rather than billing each step separately. Attorney fees otherwise vary by firm and case complexity. For a personalized cost and timeline estimate based on your route and nationality, check the pricing tool.

TN visa processing time and timeline

Timelines depend on the route you choose.

The USCIS route is slower than applying at the border, which is why many Canadians prefer a quick trip to a port of entry over filing Form I-129. When speed matters on the USCIS route, premium processing guarantees an initial response within 15 business days, filed on Form I-907.

Does the TN visa lead to a green card?

The TN does not offer a direct path to permanent residency, and because it is not a dual intent category, moving toward a green card has to be planned carefully so it does not undercut a future TN renewal or entry. That said, many TN holders do transition to a green card through a separate category once they qualify. Common routes include:

Because the shift from a nonimmigrant TN to an immigrant intent case is the trickiest part, it is worth mapping the timing with an immigration attorney early. We walk through the strategy in detail in our guide on TN visa to green card.

Tukki is a U.S. immigration services provider that helps Canadian and Mexican professionals prepare TN cases and plan longer-term green card strategies, with dedicated immigration attorney support and full case visibility from preparation through approval.