TL;DR
Yes. A Canadian registered nurse can work in the US under TN status, the professional category created by the USMCA (CUSMA in Canada). Plan on a job offer from a US employer, a nursing license from the state where you’ll work, and a VisaScreen certificate. You apply at the border, not at a consulate, and each TN admission lasts up to three years.
Sources: 8 CFR 214.6; 8 CFR 212.15
- Status on November 5, 2026: At the July 2026 joint review, the US did not agree to renew the USMCA in its current form, but the agreement remains in force. We know of no change to TN for nurses.
- What TN is: Temporary work status, renewable, tied to a job. It does not lead to a green card on its own.
- A common order: Job offer, US state license and VisaScreen, then the border. Your employer and immigration counsel may sequence it differently.
- What it costs you with us: No recruitment fee. Government, licensing and exam costs can still apply.
Already know the basics? Skip to how the border application works.
Can a Canadian nurse work in the US?
Yes. Registered Nurse is one of the professions listed in the USMCA, the trade agreement Canadians know as CUSMA. Canadian citizens in a listed profession can work for a US employer in TN status. For nurses, the agreement lists the credential as a “state/provincial license; or Licenciatura Degree.” In practice, plan on holding a nursing license from the US state where you’ll work before you apply.
Two things define TN. It is temporary: the regulation describes it as entry “without the intent to establish permanent residence.” And it is tied to a job: you need an offer from a US employer for a registered nurse role.
Source: 8 CFR 214.6(c), list of professions
Is TN still safe after the USMCA (CUSMA) review?
The agreement is still in force. After the first joint review on July 1, 2026, the US Trade Representative said the US “did not agree to renew the USMCA in its current form,” and that the agreement “remains in force pending resolution of these issues or until the Agreement’s termination.”
That is a trade decision, not an immigration rule. As of November 5, 2026, we know of no change to TN eligibility, the list of professions, or the border process. We’ll update this section if that changes.
No one can promise how trade talks will end. What you can control is being ready: have your license, VisaScreen, and paperwork in order so any policy change costs you as little time as possible.
Source: Office of the United States Trade Representative, July 1, 2026
What do you need before you apply for TN?
- A job offer from a US employer. The offer letter describes the registered nurse role, the job’s duration, and the pay. It is the core of your application.
- A nursing license from the state where you’ll work. Each state board sets its own rules for nurses educated outside the US. Many Canadian RNs have already passed the NCLEX-RN, the exam US boards use, so the work is often the state application itself.
- A VisaScreen certificate. Federal rules require a certificate for foreign-educated health care workers, and for most Canadian graduates that means VisaScreen from TruMerit (formerly CGFNS). Its English-test exemption covers nurses educated in Canada, except those educated in Quebec.
- Proof of Canadian citizenship. TN is for citizens, not Canadian permanent residents.
Sources: 8 CFR 214.6; 8 CFR 212.15; TruMerit, VisaScreen
How do you get a US nursing license as a Canadian nurse?
You apply to the board of nursing in the state where the job is. Many boards require a review of your Canadian education, verification of your Canadian registration, a criminal background check, and payment of fees. Documents and timelines vary by state, so start with the board’s own page for internationally educated nurses.
If you plan to live in Canada and commute, don’t assume a multistate license. Licenses under the Nurse Licensure Compact are tied to your primary state of residence, so a nurse who lives in Ontario generally holds a single-state license from the state where they work.
How does the TN application work at the border?
Canadians don’t need a TN visa. You apply in person to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer at a U.S. port of entry, including land crossings and U.S. preclearance at major Canadian airports. You pay a fee there. If the officer approves, you’re admitted in TN status for up to three years. Bring originals of:
- Proof of Canadian citizenship, usually your passport
- Your job offer letter
- Your US state nursing license
- Your VisaScreen certificate
- Your nursing degree or diploma and proof of Canadian registration
The officer decides on the spot. Keep your letter consistent with your license and certificate, and answer questions about your plans plainly. TN is temporary status, and the officer is checking that the job and your intentions match it.
Source: 8 CFR 214.6
Does the October 2026 social media rule apply to you?
For most Canadian nurses, not directly. Since October 1, 2026, the State Department has asked TN and TD visa applicants to set their social media profiles to public. That review covers visa applications made at consulates. Canadians apply for TN at the border without a visa, so most never go through it, although we found no official statement on border applications either way. If you or a family member apply for a TN or TD visa at a consulate, it does apply. A spouse who is not a Canadian citizen may need a TD visa from a consulate.
Source: US Department of State, Announcement of Expanded Screening and Vetting for Visa Applicants
Can you live in Canada and work in the US?
Many nurses do. One survey-based estimate from the Second Street think tank puts the number of Ontario nurses working in Michigan at about 2,218 in 2025. Commuting has practical consequences: border waits, which country taxes your income, health coverage on both sides, and your Canadian registration. Talk to a cross-border tax professional before you sign.
Source: Second Street, August 13, 2026 (survey-based estimate)
Will a US job pay more?
Often, but compare carefully. The US median pay for registered nurses was $97,550 a year in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That is a national median in US dollars, before US taxes and health insurance costs, and pay varies widely by state and setting. Compare the whole offer, not the hourly rate.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Registered Nurses
What about a green card?
TN is temporary and can be extended, but it does not lead to a green card on its own. Permanent residence runs through a separate process, usually employer sponsorship through EB-3, and the timing between the two matters. Talk to an immigration attorney before you take any step toward a green card while you hold TN status. The Three Doors explains how EB-3, TN, and H-1B compare.
Source: 8 CFR 214.6
What does it cost you with Global MedTeam?
Global MedTeam charges nurses no recruitment fee. You may still pay government, licensing, and exam costs, such as state board fees, VisaScreen, and the fee at the border. The hospital hires you directly, so you work for the hospital, not for an agency.
Frequently asked questions
Do Canadian nurses have to take the NCLEX again?
Often not. Canadian regulators outside Quebec have used the NCLEX-RN since 2015, and many US boards accept an NCLEX-RN result, but each state board sets its own rules. Confirm with the board where you’ll work.
How long does TN last?
Each admission lasts up to three years, and it can be extended or renewed. Every renewal still has to fit a temporary stay.
Can my spouse work in the US?
Not on TD status. Spouses and unmarried children of TN workers are admitted as TD dependents and may not work in the US unless they obtain separate work authorization.
Is it different for nurses from Quebec?
Usually there are more steps. VisaScreen’s English-test exemption generally does not cover nurses educated in Quebec, and Quebec registers nurses through its own exam rather than the NCLEX-RN.
Sources: 8 CFR 214.6; TruMerit, VisaScreen
Next steps
Apply with Global MedTeam. Tell us where you’re licensed and where you’d like to work, and we’ll tell you what applies to you.
Compare your options. Our visa pathways guide for nurses sets out TN and EB-3 side by side.
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