TN Visa Eligibility — One-Page Briefing
TN status is list-based: a Canadian or Mexican citizen qualifies only if the job offer fits one of the USMCA Appendix 2 professional categories and the applicant's credentials match that category. The title alone doesn't qualify. Duties, degree, and category must all line up.
Key points
- TN is list-based, not title-based. The job must fit an official USMCA category. "Software developer" or "product manager" are not categories. "Engineer," "Computer Systems Analyst," "Geologist," and "Management Consultant" are.
- Duties + credentials + category must align. The support letter must describe duties that fit the chosen category, and the applicant's degree, license, or experience must support it.
- Tech roles need careful framing. Computer Systems Analyst is explicit. Engineer is explicit. Bare "software developer" is not. Programmers and product managers face the highest scrutiny because their titles don't map to a category.
- Management Consultant is powerful but watched. Frequently scrutinized because it gets overused as a catch-all. Use only with a real consulting agreement and supporting background.
- Founder / self-employed framing is excluded. The regulation explicitly excludes professionals effectively self-employed through a corporation they control.
Key facts
Authority8 CFR § 214.6 (USMCA, App. 2 to Annex 16-A, Ch. 16)
Eligible citizensCanadian or Mexican only
Stay durationUp to 3 years, renewable
Canadian applicationPort of entry or preclearance
Mexican applicationRequires TN visa stamp before entry
Reference list~60 named professions in the regulation
Caveats
- Border and consular outcomes are fact-specific. This is not legal advice.
- Categories and minimum requirements can change. Verify against current 8 CFR § 214.6 before applying.
- Foreign degrees outside Canada, Mexico, or the U.S. may need credential evaluation.