IN THIS GUIDE · Find the listed profession first, then test the credential and the independent work against it
Start with the TN eligibility and application overview
Which listed profession fits the actual work
Appendix 2 lists occupations, not industries. A seed company can employ an agriculturist, an accountant, a computer systems analyst or a management consultant, and each of those has a different credential rule. Read the duty list the employer actually proposes and match it to one listed profession. If the work is a blend — field trials in the morning, sales calls in the afternoon — say so and ask which function dominates. A role built mostly around selling product is unlikely to fit a scientific listing even if the applicant holds the right degree.
What the credential rule demands for that profession
Once the profession is identified, its own rule governs. Agriculturist calls for a baccalaureate; Scientific Technician or Technologist relies on theoretical knowledge and problem-solving experience in a supporting role; Management Consultant accepts five years of experience as an alternative. Do not borrow the alternative from one listing to rescue another. Gather the original diploma and transcript, and only order an evaluation if the degree was earned outside Canada, Mexico or the United States or the reviewing officer's procedure requires one.
Independent consulting and ownership need to be disclosed
An applicant who keeps a sideline practice cannot carry it into the United States on TN, because self-employment there is not permitted. Decide before the application whether the independent work stops, stays with Canadian clients served from Canada only, or is wound down. Similarly, if the applicant owns shares in the U.S. employer or in a client, list the percentage and the role. An undisclosed interest discovered later damages credibility far more than a disclosed one that turns out to be immaterial.
Where and how a Canadian applies
Canadian citizens may apply directly at a port of entry or through a Form I-129 petition filed by the employer; no visa stamp is required. The choice affects which documents must be in hand on the day, how long an answer takes, and what happens if a question cannot be answered on the spot. Employers used to hiring from other countries sometimes assume a consular step exists; correct that early so nobody books travel around a procedure that does not apply. Choose the procedure before setting the employee's first day. A border review leaves little opportunity to supplement a missing record, whereas a petition process lets the employer create a dated filing record before travel. Neither option changes the need for a genuine, temporary professional assignment.
Sources reviewed 2026-09-07. This guide covers a preparation focus; it is not an individual eligibility assessment.