TN Visa 2026: NAFTA/USMCA Work Visa for Canadians & Mexicans — Eligibility, List & Limits

The TN (Trade NAFTA) classification is a temporary, professional work category available only to citizens of Canada and Mexico. It was created by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which entered into force on January 1, 1994, and it was preserved when NAFTA was replaced by the United States– Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA), which entered into force on July 1, 2020. For the right professional with a U.S. job offer, TN is faster and cheaper than the H-1B — but it comes with tighter limits, especially around immigrant intent.

Who qualifies: Canadian vs Mexican citizens

Canadian nationals are generally exempt from the visa requirement for TN, so a Canadian typically presents at a land border or airport port of entry with a detailed support letter from the U.S. employer and proof of qualifications. A Mexican national must first obtain the TN visa (a nonimmigrant visa issued by a U.S. consulate after a DS-160 application and interview) and then seek admission at the border. Dependents of either are admitted in TD status (non-Canadian/Mexican dependents need a TD visa).

The designated profession list

TN is not open to any job — only to the professional occupations enumerated in the USMCA Annex (carried over from NAFTA Appendix 1603.D.1). Determining eligibility is about the job duties, not the employer’s job title. Common listed professions include:

• Accountant
• Architect
• Engineer (most disciplines)
• Scientist (multiple fields)
• Economist
• Teacher (certain levels/subjects)
• Computer systems analyst
• Management consultant
• Pharmacist (with state license)
• Lawyer (with a U.S. state license)

Most listed professions require at least a bachelor’s degree (or a licensure/credential that the occupation specifically calls for). Some require a state license or professional registration to practice in the U.S.

Prearranged employment & the support letter

A TN must be tied to a specific, prearranged professional job with a U.S. employer (or, in defined cross-border structures, the foreign employer). The employer’s support letter is the centerpiece of the case: it should describe the professional occupation, the duties, the qualifications required, the length of engagement, and the arrangements. Classic self-employment — being hired by a company you own and control — is generally not permitted under the TN rules, so the employment relationship matters.

Period of stay and renewals

Initial TN admission is generally granted for up to three years. The status can be extended, and Canadians can often seek readmission in additional three-year increments at the port of entry. There is no statutory lifetime limit on the number of extensions, but TN always remains a temporary classification — the expectation is that the worker will depart when the authorized stay ends.

Dependents: TD status

A TN holder’s spouse and unmarried children under 21 may accompany or follow in TD status. TD children may attend school in the U.S. A TD spouse may stay in the U.S. but generally needs to obtain their own separate work authorization or a different status to work.

No dual intent: the 214(b) risk

This is the biggest practical difference from the H-1B. The TN category has no statutory dual-intent protection. Officers evaluate immigrant intent under section 214(b): the applicant must show they intend to return to Canada or Mexico when the temporary work concludes. A pending or even approved immigrant petition (for example, an employer’s I-140 or a family-based case) can raise questions at a TN application or renewal. Many Canadians and Mexicans with long-term U.S. immigration goals therefore weigh TN against the H-1B, which explicitly allows dual intent.

How to apply and fees

• Canadian (port of entry): present the employer letter and credentials at a U.S. port of entry; pay the required CBP processing and I-94 fees. There is no MRV visa fee because no visa is required.
• Mexican (consular): complete Form DS-160, pay the nonimmigrant visa (MRV) application fee, and attend an interview. The Department of State increased the MRV fee for non-petition-based nonimmigrant visas — the category that includes TN — from $160 to $185, effective June 17, 2023. Check the specific U.S. embassy/consulate instructions, as issuance fees vary by nationality.

TN vs H-1B at a glance

Sources & references

• U.S. Department of State, “Employment” / TN (NAFTA Professional) overview — travel.state.gov — Employment Visas (retrieved 2026-08-15)
• U.S. Department of State, “Nonimmigrant Visa Fee Increases to Take Effect June 17, 2023” (MRV $160 → $185) — travel.state.gov — NIV Fee Increase (retrieved 2026-08-15)
• U.S. Department of State reciprocity guidance confirming Canadian TN/TD visa-exempt status and Mexican TN visa requirement — travel.state.gov — Visa Fees & Reciprocity (retrieved 2026-08-15)
• USCIS / DHS regulations: 8 CFR 214.6 (TN) and 22 CFR 41.59 (TN/TD consular classification); USMCA Annex (profession list, formerly NAFTA Appendix 1603.D.1).