The TN visa, created under NAFTA and continued under USMCA, provides Mexican and Canadian professionals with a simplified way to work in the United States. This visa category supports cross-border collaboration, enabling skilled individuals in qualified fields — such as engineering, science, law, and education — to contribute their expertise to the U.S. economy. With the right qualifications and a valid job offer, the TN visa can open the door to long-term professional growth.
Whether you’re exploring opportunities in the U.S. or helping a professional candidate navigate the process, understanding the TN visa’s features is essential. Here’s a breakdown of what sets this visa apart:
Only citizens of Mexico or Canada may apply. The applicant must have a prearranged job offer in a USMCA-approved profession and meet the required educational standards (typically a bachelor’s degree or higher).
Canadians: May apply directly at a U.S. port of entry. Mexicans: Must apply through a U.S. consulate or embassy. Required documents include proof of citizenship, credentials, and a formal job offe
No employer sponsorship needed.
Valid for up to three years with unlimited renewals.
Spouses and dependent children may apply for TD visas.
No lottery or annual cap like the H-1B.
Not limited to intra-company transfers like the L-1.
More accessible and cost-effective for eligible applicants.
Employment loss = loss of visa status.
Only specific professions are accepted.
Immigration policies may change, impacting eligibility.
Profession | Minimum Educational Requirements and Alternative Credentials | ||
Accountant | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree / C.P.A., C.A., C.G.A., C.M.A.N. A business person seeking temporary employment may also perform training functions relating to the profession, including conducting seminars. | ||
Architect | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial license. The terms “state/provincial license” and “state/provincial/federal license” mean any document issued by a state, provincial, or federal government, as the case may be, or under its authority, but not a local government, that permits a person to engage in a regulated activity or profession. | ||
Computer Systems Analyst | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or Post-Secondary Diploma or Post Secondary Certificate and three years experience. (a) “Post Secondary Diploma” means a credential issued, on completion of two or more years of post secondary education, by an accredited academic institution in Canada or the United States.
(b) “Post Secondary Certificate” means a certificate issued, on completion of two or more years of post secondary education at an academic institution, by the federal government of Mexico or a state government in Mexico, an academic institution recognized by the federal government or a state government, or an academic institution created by federal or state law. | ||
Disaster Relief Insurance Claims Adjuster | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree and successful completion of training in the appropriate areas of insurance adjustment pertaining to disaster relief claims; or three years experience in claims adjustment and successful completion of training in the appropriate areas of insurance adjustment pertaining to disaster relief claims. | ||
Economist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. | ||
Engineer | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial license. | ||
Forester | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial license. | ||
Graphic Designer | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or Post-Secondary Diploma and three years experience. | ||
Hotel Manager | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree in hotel/restaurant management; or Post-Secondary Diploma or Post-Secondary Certificate in hotel/restaurant management and three years experience in hotel/restaurant management. | ||
Industrial Designer | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or Post-Secondary Diploma or Post-Secondary Certificate, and three years experience. | ||
Interior Designer | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or Post-Secondary Diploma or Post-Secondary Certificate, and three years experience. | ||
Land Surveyor | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree or state/provincial/federal license. | ||
Landscape Architect | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. | ||
Lawyer | L.L.B., J.D., L.L.L., B.C.L., or Licenciatura degree (five years); or membership in a state/provincial bar. | ||
Librarian | M.L.S., or B.L.S. (for which another Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree was prerequisite). | ||
Management Consultant | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or equivalent professional experience as established by statement or professional credential attesting to five years experience as a management consultant, or five years experience in a field of specialty related to the consulting agreement. | ||
Mathematician | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. | ||
Range Manager / Range Conservationist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. | ||
Research Assistant (working in a post-secondary educational institution) | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. | ||
Scientific Technician / Technologist | Possession of (a) theoretical knowledge of any of the following disciplines: agricultural sciences, astronomy, biology, chemistry, engineering, forestry, geology, geophysics, meteorology, or physics; and (b) the ability to solve practical problems in any of those disciplines, or the ability to apply principles of any of those disciplines to basic or applied research. A business person in this category must be seeking temporary entry for work in direct support of professionals in agricultural sciences, astronomy, biology, chemistry, engineering, forestry, geology, geophysics, meteorology or physics. | ||
Social Worker | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. | ||
Sylviculturist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. | ||
Technical Publications Writer | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree, or Post-Secondary Diploma or Post-Secondary Certificate, and three years experience. | ||
Urban Planner | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. | ||
Vocational Counselor | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. | ||
Medical/Allied Professionals
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Dentist | D.D.S., D.M.D., Doctor en Odontologia or Doctor en Cirugia Dental or state/provincial license. | ||
Dietician | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial license. | ||
Medical Laboratory Technologist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or Post-Secondary Diploma / Post Secondary Certificate, and three years experience. A business person in this category must be seeking temporary entry to perform in a laboratory chemical, biological, hematological, immunologic, microscopic or bacteriological tests and analyses for diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of diseases. | ||
Nutritionist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. | ||
Occupational Therapist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state provincial license. | ||
Pharmacist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state provincial license. | ||
Physician (teaching on research only) | M.D., Doctor en Medicina; or state/provincial license. | ||
Physiotherapist / Physical Therapist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial license. | ||
Psychologist | State/provincial license; or Licenciatura degree. | ||
Recreational Therapist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. | ||
Registered Nurse | State/provincial license or Licenciatura degree. | ||
Veterinarian | D.V.M., D.M.V., or Doctor en Veterinaria; or state/provincial license. | ||
Scientist
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Agriculturist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. | ||
Animal Breeder | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. | ||
Animal Scientist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. | ||
Apiculturist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. | ||
Astronomer | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. | ||
Biochemist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. | ||
Biologist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. | ||
Chemist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. | ||
Dairy Scientist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. | ||
Epidemiologist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. | ||
Geneticist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. | ||
Geochemist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. | ||
Geologist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. | ||
Geophysicist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. | ||
Horticulturist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. | ||
Meteorologist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. | ||
Pharmacologist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. | ||
Physicist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. | ||
Plant Breeder | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. | ||
Poultry Scientist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. | ||
Soil Scientist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. | ||
Zoologist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. | ||
Teacher
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College | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. | ||
Seminary | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. | ||
University | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. | ||
