IN THIS GUIDE · Assess the profession before turning an offer into a TN file
Start with the work that will actually be performed
Ask the hiring manager for examples of recurring work and the expected deliverables. Keep occasional tasks distinguishable from the main assignment. Hypothetical example: an offer uses a technical title, but its attached description emphasizes coordinating deliveries. Bring both documents to the review; changing the title would not resolve which profession, if any, fits the actual position. TN requires Canadian or Mexican citizenship, temporary professional activity in a listed profession and that profession’s particular qualifications. A Canadian permanent resident who holds neither citizenship cannot qualify on Canadian residence alone.
Use the listed profession’s own credential rule
Locate the relevant profession and identify the degree, licence or stated alternative being relied on. Different professions have different rules, so an experience alternative for one cannot be assumed for another. Retain original credential names and transcripts where relevant. Translation and credential evaluation answer different questions and should be commissioned according to the selected procedure and the evidence needed. A degree from an institution outside Canada, Mexico or the United States requires evaluation by a reliable service specializing in foreign credentials. Experience replaces a degree only where the particular profession’s rules permit that alternative.
Explain the employer and any participating client
Document the identified position, duties, remuneration and intended period. If an agency or client appears, explain who employs and directs the applicant and what assignment is confirmed. Disclose ownership interests. The TN restriction on U.S. self-employment requires review of the actual arrangement; an interest in a foreign company should not be converted into a blanket conclusion without considering the facts. Providing services to a U.S. entity solely owned or controlled by the applicant is prohibited TN self-employment. A foreign business ownership interest alone does not establish that prohibition.
Prepare for the process that applies to the person
Canadian citizens generally may seek TN admission at an eligible port of entry or preclearance location without a TN visa; an employer may also use a USCIS petition where appropriate. Mexican citizens follow different visa procedures. Confirm the current chosen process and review prior immigration history. Temporary intent, changes in employment and any longer-term residence plan deserve individual assessment before travel.
Sources reviewed 2026-09-07. This guide covers a preparation focus; it is not an individual eligibility assessment.