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Canada
United StatesThe TN is the quickest US work permit for Canadian professionals. If your job is on the USMCA list and you have the right credentials, you can be approved at the border or at a Canadian airport, often the same day, for up to 3 years at a time. Getting it right the first time is what matters.
Updated November 2026 with the latest USCIS and US Customs and Border Protection rules.
If any of these fit, a short review before you go to the border can save you a refusal on your record.
You need all five.
Citizenship is required. Canadian permanent residents who aren’t citizens can’t get a TN.
The US job has to be in one of the USMCA professions and actually require a professional in that role. The duties matter more than the title.
Usually a bachelor’s degree in a related field. Some professions accept a licence, or a college diploma plus 3 years’ experience.
Full-time or part-time work arranged in advance. You can’t use a TN to work for your own US company. If that’s your plan, look at the E-2 visa.
A TN is a temporary status. You must not intend to stay permanently while you hold it, which matters if a green card is part of your plan.
A criminal record, a past overstay or a previous refusal can block entry. Sort this out before you go to the border.
The full list from the USMCA, as set out in US regulations. Professions in bold also accept a college diploma plus 3 years’ experience, a licence, or other credentials instead of a degree.
Software developer, project manager, sales manager and other common job titles are not on the list by name. Many people in those jobs still qualify under a listed profession, such as Engineer, Computer Systems Analyst or Management Consultant, if the duties and credentials match. This is where most TN problems start, so get it checked.
Most Canadians apply directly at the border or at a US preclearance office at a Canadian airport, such as Toronto Pearson, Vancouver, Calgary or Montreal.
Prefer a decision before you travel? Your US employer can instead file a petition (Form I-129) with USCIS, with the option of faster premium processing. You then show the approval at the border.
The TN still works the same way. In July 2026, the US chose not to extend the USMCA trade agreement for a new 16-year term, but the agreement remains in force and the TN rules have not changed. What has changed is the border itself: officers ask more questions and look harder at whether the job truly fits the profession. A clear offer letter and consistent answers matter more than ever.
A refusal is recorded, and it can follow you to your next attempt. These are the most common reasons.
The title says Engineer, but the duties read like sales, project management or general IT support.
Your degree is in an unrelated field, or the officer can’t see how it qualifies you for the role.
Vague duties, a missing end date, or wording that doesn’t name a TN profession.
A pending green card process, or answers that suggest you plan to stay for good, can lead to a refusal.
Working for a US company you own or control isn’t allowed on a TN.
What you say at the counter doesn’t match the paperwork. Know your own offer letter.
Already refused? It’s often fixable. What to do after a TN refusal
Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can come with you, or join you later, on TD status for the same length of time as you.
TD family members can go to school and university, but they can’t work in the US. If your spouse needs to work, plan that separately.
When you extend inside the US, your family can extend their TD status at the same time.
| Route | Best for | Spouse can work? | Green card? |
|---|---|---|---|
| TN | Professionals with a US job offer in a listed profession | No | Not directly, and green card plans need care |
| E-2 investor visa | Canadians who want to own and run a US business | Yes | Not directly, but renewable with no limit |
| L-1 | Managers or specialists moving within the same company from Canada to the US | Yes | Can lead to one for managers and executives |
| H-1B | Professionals whose job isn’t on the TN list | Only in some cases | Yes, it allows green card plans |
Not directly. The TN requires temporary intent, so applying for a green card while on a TN takes careful timing. Many Canadians do it successfully, often through an employer-sponsored green card, sometimes by switching to a status like H-1B first. Get advice before your employer starts any green card process.
It isn’t required, and many people apply on their own. But you usually get one chance at the counter, and a refusal stays on your record. Here’s how we help:
We review your duties, degree and experience and pick the profession that fits best, before you go to the border.
We draft or review the employer’s letter and organize your documents so the officer sees a clear, consistent case.
We use legal technology to keep costs down, typically less than a traditional law firm. VisaPlace Immigration works with licensed and experienced immigration lawyers, who are independent and operate separately from VisaPlace Immigration.
Yes. The USMCA remains in force and the TN rules haven’t changed. In July 2026 the US chose not to extend the agreement for a new 16-year term, so it now faces regular reviews, but Canadians can still apply as before.
At a US port of entry that processes TN applications, or at a US preclearance office at a major Canadian airport. You don’t need a visa stamp from a consulate.
The US government fee is US$50. If you cross by land, there’s also a US$30 fee for the I-94 arrival record. Professional fees are separate.
Up to 3 years per approval. You can renew as many times as you need, as long as the job remains temporary and you still qualify.
For some professions, yes. Computer Systems Analyst, Graphic Designer, Hotel Manager, Interior Designer, Industrial Designer, Technical Publications Writer and Medical Laboratory Technologist accept a college diploma plus 3 years’ experience. Management Consultant can be based on 5 years’ experience, and some professions accept a licence.
No. TD spouses and children can live and study in the US but can’t work. If your spouse needs to work, they need their own status.
No. A TN is for working for a US employer. If you want to run your own US business, the E-2 investor visa is usually the route to look at.
Yes, but you need a new TN for the new employer before you start. You can get it at the border, or the new employer can file with USCIS.
Software developer isn’t on the list by name. Many developers qualify as an Engineer or Computer Systems Analyst if their degree and duties fit, but this is one of the most refused areas, so get it checked first.
Tell us about your job offer and background. We’ll tell you plainly whether you qualify, which category fits, and what to fix before you go to the border.
VisaPlace Immigration works with licensed and experienced immigration lawyers, who are independent and operate separately from VisaPlace Immigration. VisaPlace Immigration does not provide legal advice. This page is for information purposes only and reflects information available in November 2026. Rules can change. For legal advice, consult a licensed immigration lawyer. Sources: USCIS, TN USMCA Professionals; 8 CFR 214.6 and Appendix 1603.D.1 (list of professions); US Customs and Border Protection, I-94 land border fee; Federal Register, Certain DHS Immigration Fees Required by HR-1 (2025 and 2026); Congressional Research Service, USMCA Joint Review: Process and Role of Congress (2026).
