IN THIS GUIDE · Explain a Canadian business interest beside the U.S. offer
Identify the actual employer and business links
Hypothetical example: an applicant owns a Canadian company and receives a professional offer from a separately owned U.S. business. Explain whether the entities have contracts or ownership links and who will employ and direct the applicant. Do not assume the Canadian interest makes the offer ineligible without examining the facts.
Review the professional proposal independently
Identify the listed TN profession, actual duties and precise credential requirements, including permitted alternatives. Eligible Canadian or Mexican citizenship is required; Canadian permanent residence alone is insufficient. Business success does not replace the profession’s qualifications.
Address any self-employment issue directly
TN does not provide general authorization for U.S. self-employment. Describe relevant ownership, control and service arrangements accurately so the actual issue can be assessed. Do not conceal an interest or rely on a corporate label to disguise the substantive work relationship.
Keep separate activities distinguishable
Identify what the applicant intends to do for the U.S. employer and any other contemplated business activity while in the United States. An offer or prospective TN authorization should not be assumed to cover unrelated work. Have material changes assessed before relying on the arrangement.
Apply the temporary-work and credential boundaries
TN concerns qualifying temporary professional activity for Canadian or Mexican citizens. Providing services to a U.S. entity solely owned or controlled by the applicant falls outside the permitted arrangement; a foreign business interest alone is not a blanket disqualification. Degrees from institutions outside Canada, Mexico and the United States require a reliable foreign-credential evaluation. Any licence needed to practise the profession in the United States is a separate question from the listed TN qualification. Canadian citizens generally may seek TN admission without a TN visa; Mexican citizens generally require the visa.
Sources reviewed 2026-09-07. This guide covers a preparation focus; it is not an individual eligibility assessment.