Citizeo Expand your global options
Pathway

U.S. Work Status for Canadians or Mexicans

United States Residency
Pathway overview

At a glance

Canadian and Mexican citizens with a qualifying U.S. professional job may be able to work temporarily under TN status. The profession must be on the U.S.–Mexico–Canada Agreement's list, and you need the education, license, or other qualifications specified for it.

Citizenship
Canadian or Mexican citizenship
Job offer required?
Yes, for a profession on the treaty’s list
Qualifications
The education, license, or credentials required for that profession

Summary

TN status is a work route for Canadian and Mexican professionals under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. It is temporary and employer-tied, but it can be a practical U.S. work option when the profession and job match the treaty list.

The actual job duties must fit the listed profession. A professional title alone is not enough, and permanent residence in Canada or Mexico does not replace the citizenship requirement.

Could this pathway work for you?

Eligibility

The applicant generally must show:

Self-employment in the United States does not qualify. Working for a business you solely own or control counts as self-employment under the TN rules. Any minority ownership needs careful review.

Match the real job duties to a listed profession
  1. Check citizenship and the profession You must be a Canadian or Mexican citizen, and the work must fit a listed TN profession.
  2. Check duties and qualifications Match the actual work to the profession's exact degree, license, or accepted alternatives.
  3. Document the arranged U.S. job Get an employer letter describing duties, duration, pay, location, and why the professional is needed.
  4. Review the application circumstances Check plans for a temporary stay and any business ownership, multiple employers, or past immigration issues.

A professional job title alone is not enough. Self-employment in the U.S., including working for a business you solely own or control, does not qualify.

What This Route Allows

TN status can be granted for up to three years and renewed while the job remains temporary and the person still intends to leave when their stay ends. Canadian citizens can often apply directly at an eligible border entry point or airport location where U.S. officers check travelers before departure; Mexican citizens generally need a TN visa before seeking admission. Either nationality can use a USCIS petition in appropriate cases.

Spouses and unmarried children under 21 may receive TD status but cannot work in TD status.

Beginning October 1, 2026, TN and TD visa applicants will also undergo online-presence review. The State Department instructs affected applicants to make social-media profiles public for this review.

What This Route Is Not

TN is not available to Canadian or Mexican permanent residents who are not citizens. It is not a general route for every degree-based position, and it does not allow you to run your own U.S. business or work outside the approved arrangement. A contract to provide listed professional services to a U.S. client may qualify if it meets the TN rules.

TN does not give permanent residence; you must show that your stay is temporary. A green-card application or long-term plans do not automatically mean refusal, but they can complicate a visa or entry decision. Applicants abroad must also check current nationality-based entry rules.

Next Steps

  1. Match the real duties—not only the title—to one listed TN profession.
  2. Check the profession's exact credential language; some allow alternatives and others require a specific degree or license.
  3. Obtain a detailed employer letter describing duties, duration, pay, location, and professional need.
  4. Gather degrees, transcripts, licenses, evaluations, and citizenship proof.
  5. Review business ownership, work for multiple employers, green-card applications, or previous immigration violations before applying.

Stay up to date on this pathway

Get an email when something important changes.

No account needed. Unsubscribe anytime.

Discussed in these reports

Similar skilled worker pathways in other destinations.

Sources