TN Visa: Temporary Work Visa for Canadian & Mexican Professionals Explained

If you’re a Canadian or Mexican citizen with a job offer in the United States, the TN visa could be your fastest route in. Created under NAFTA (now USMCA), this temporary work visa allows qualified professionals to work for a US employer without undergoing lengthy sponsorship processes or participating in visa lotteries.

However, while the application is simpler than other work visas, success still depends on understanding the rules, preparing the necessary documents, and demonstrating eligibility.

In this guide, we’ll break down how the TN visa works, how to qualify, how it compares to other options like the H-1B, and how Deel can help speed up the process.

What is a TN visa?

The TN visa is a nonimmigrant category that permits Canadian and Mexican citizens to live and work in the United States in a NAFTA profession.

The TN (Trade NAFTA) classification is based on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The treaty establishes unique economic relationships between the US, Mexico, and Canada.

If you're eligible, a TN visa lets you:

• Work in a pre-approved profession (like engineer, accountant, scientist, or teacher)
• Stay in the US for up to 3 years at a time
• Renew indefinitely as long as you meet the requirements

It’s one of the fastest ways to start working in the US, especially for Canadians, who can apply right at the border without needing to go through a consulate or USCIS in most cases.

Your spouse and children can also accompany you on a TD visa, although they won’t be able to work while in the US.

Need help figuring out your eligibility? Deel’s team can review your qualifications and guide you through the TN application process from start to finish.

See also: Worldwide Visa Support for Dependents: A Guide for Businesses

How is the TN visa different from the H-1B visa?

To pick the right visa, determine whether your profession is a TN occupation and how long you plan to work in the United States. A TN visa is ideal if you are a Canadian or Mexican citizen who works in a TN occupation and prefers easy entry into the country.

The Deel platform offers a visa eligibility checker that can help you determine which visa is ideal for you or your worker. Discover which US visas Deel supports with our free US immigration guide.

What do you need to qualify for a TN visa?

You must meet five general requirements to qualify for a TN visa. The eligibility criteria for this status include the following:

Be a citizen of Canada or Mexico

The TN visa is reserved for citizens of Canada and Mexico. It does not apply to permanent residents of either country. Entry into the country as a NAFTA professional is possible for Canadian citizens without a visa, although the USCIS may provide one upon request. This is not true for Mexican nationals.

See also: How to Get a US Work Visa for a Foreign Worker

Have a valid job offer from a US employer

To work in the country, you must prove Canadian or Mexican citizenship and have a valid job offer. You cannot freelance, be self-employed, or start business activities on TN status.

Are you an employer looking to hire talent from Canada or Mexico in the US? Deel’s EOR service includes visa sponsorship support to help you hire employees and acquire visas, even if you do not qualify as a sponsor or have a US entity.

Work in a USMCA-listed profession

The job a US employer offers you must be a TN or USMCA occupation. USMCA governs what professions qualify for this visa and the requirements you must meet for each. A few jobs that qualify include:

• General occupations like lawyer, architect, accountant, engineer, and graphic designer
• Scientist occupations like chemist, biologist, astronomer, and agriculturalist
• Medical occupations like dietician, dentist, and occupational therapist
• Teacher occupations

Physicians who enter the US on a TN visa are limited to working in a teaching or research capacity. View the full list of TN occupations here and learn more about professional visas here.

Meet educational or professional credentials

Most TN roles require:

• A bachelor’s degree (Licenciatura) in a related field
• In some cases, a diploma or certificate and relevant experience
• A foreign degree evaluation if your credentials are from outside North America

Deel’s platform makes document collection and degree evaluations easy. Your case manager will guide you every step of the way.

You may qualify for some TN occupations with a post-secondary certificate or diploma. Others only require a state or provincial license.

You may also qualify for a TN position with a degree, certificate, or diploma from outside Mexico, Canada, and the US. For this, you must submit evaluation documents showing that the degree is equivalent to a US, Mexico, or Canada degree.

With Deel’s Immigration support, preparing and submitting supporting documentation is as easy as tapping a button. Once our experts onboard you onto our user-friendly platform, your case manager will collect your personal details, and you can upload your documentation.

Prove nonimmigrant intent

Finally, you must prove nonimmigrant intent to qualify for a TN visa. This requires demonstrating that your assignment is temporary and has a predictable end date and that you intend to leave at this end date. Where possible, also demonstrate plans to maintain your foreign residence.

Submit the following documents:

• Foreign bank accounts
• A mortgage in your foreign residence filed in your name
• Bills sent to your foreign residence
• A pending job offer in your home country for when your TN assignment ends

How to apply for a TN visa?

You must first gather the necessary documents to apply for TN visa status. The specific documents you must submit depend on your unique educational qualifications, available documents, credentials, etc.

But you must have the following papers at hand:

• Evidence of Canadian or Mexican citizenship – a passport
• Professional and educational qualifications, including your degrees and resume
• An employment contract
• Evidence of nonimmigrant intent
• A job offer and support letter from the US employer
• The support letter should detail your responsibilities at the new job, how long you will work at the company, and why your skills are necessary

Once you have all the documents, you can apply for a TN visa.

The application process is different for Canadian and Mexican citizens, as you will see below.

Not too crazy about visa applications? Deel’s immigration experts can manage your TN visa applications. We handle everything from the paperwork to status tracking.

Watch our on-demand webinar: US work visas to learn how to secure US work visas efficiently so you can get your team operational in the US in a fraction of the time. Watch now.

Canadian citizens

Canadian citizens do not need to apply for a TN visa at a US consulate in their home country. You can do so directly at a US port of entry.

To do this, you should submit the documents listed above to a customs and border protection (CBP) officer and pay the application fee. The CBP officer will analyze the documents and ask questions to determine your eligibility. If they determine you meet the TN requirements, they will grant you TN status and admit you into the country. The CBP website has more on this.

Alternatively, you can file for pre-approval through USCIS before entering the country. Getting I-129 approval does not guarantee that the TN status will go through. However, going through the USCIS first improves your chances of receiving TN status at the port of entry. It also excludes you from paying the $50 processing fee at the port of entry.

To explore this option, the US employer must fill out and submit Form I-129 (Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker) on your behalf. If the USCIS approves the form, submit the necessary documents to CBP at a port of entry alongside an Approval Notice from USCIS for Form I-129.

See also: How to hire international employees without an entity

Mexican citizens

Unlike citizens of Canada, Mexican citizens cannot apply for TN classification as a port of entry. They also cannot apply for pre-approval for initial classification by filing Form I-129 through USCIS.

Instead, as a Mexican citizen, you must apply for and get a TN visa before you attempt to enter the US. You can do this directly at a US consulate in your home country by:

• Creating an online account with the US Department of State
• Completing and submitting Form DS-160 (Nonimmigrant Visa Application Form) online
• Paying the $160 visa fee
• Scheduling an interview appointment with the consulate office
• Attending the meeting with your supporting documents and receipts

The consulate office will review the application and respond accordingly. If approved, the office will issue a TN visa. You must then seek TN classification at a port of entry. You must bring a TN visa stamp, passport, and other important documents.

While the CBP officer at the port of entry will not likely invalidate your petition, they may ask some questions about why you wish to enter the US. You must answer factually and honestly. You will receive a 3-year TN classification if the CBP officer approves the petition.

Mexican citizens do not need to pay a $50 fee at the port of entry.

Employers and applicants can track the TN visa progress through the Deel Immigration dashboard.

Fast-track your TN visa with Deel Immigration

If you or your worker comes from Canada or Mexico and wishes to work and stay in the United States, the TN visa offers relatively easy entry and many nonimmigrant benefits. Employers can use it to import talent at the professional level, and workers can use it to work in TN occupations in the country.

Yet, getting a TN classification is not always easy. Different rules exist for Canadian and Mexican citizens, and the requirements may vary across occupations.

At Deel, we streamline the TN visa application process, handling everything from eligibility checks and applications to sponsorships and onboarding. Contact the Deel immigration team today to expedite your TN visa process and start your US adventure.

Schedule your free consultation.