Work for Canadian citizens travelling to United States
Paid work in the United States requires the correct US work visa or status. A visitor admission does not replace a work visa.
For a Canadian citizen passport. Permanent residents and other travel documents can follow different rules.
Key facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who it's for | Canadian citizens taking employment in the United States. · Canada: United States travel advice (opens in a new tab) |
| Maximum stay | Set by the work visa or status granted. · Canada: United States travel advice (opens in a new tab) |
| Cost | US visa and petition fees are on official Department of State and USCIS fee schedules. · Canada: United States travel advice (opens in a new tab) |
| How to apply | US employer petitions and embassy processing as required for your category. · Canada: United States travel advice (opens in a new tab) |
Each fact above is linked to the authority that sets the rule. Entry Visa Guide does not take applications.
Apply only on the government website linked above. This site does not issue visas or travel authorisations and does not take applications. Other websites charge their own service fee on top of any government charge.
How to apply
- Read travel.gc.ca and identify the US visa category for your job.
- Complete employer petitions where US law requires them.
- Attend a visa interview at a US consulate in Canada if required.
FAQ
Can Canadians work on a visitor admission?
No—paid US work needs the correct visa or status; see travel.gc.ca.
Does TN status apply?
Some professionals may use NAFTA/USMCA TN rules—confirm on official US and Canadian government sites.
Sources
Independent guide, not legal advice. Entry Visa Guide is an independent information site. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or run by any government or public authority. Always check official sources before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Report an error.