Read the general eligibility basics overview
A Canadian company may have owners and employees with different citizenships. Identify the actual person and relevant ownership rather than treating incorporation as a personal nationality document.
Identify the principal’s citizenship
Canadian permanent residence does not confer Canadian citizenship. TN requires Canadian or Mexican citizenship plus the professional conditions. The employer’s location or registration cannot supply that personal requirement.
Use the correct enterprise analysis
E-2 requires relevant treaty nationality and qualifying ownership along with capital and development and direction. L instead requires the qualifying corporate relationship, individual foreign employment and appropriate U.S. role, with continuing international business. One company document does not answer all of those questions.
Keep household evidence separate
Hypothetical example: the principal’s partner has a different passport and plans to accompany later. Assess the actual relationship, nationality and dependent process rather than assuming the principal’s document requirements apply to both. A shared address does not establish identical eligibility or permission.
What else is on your mind?
Does Canadian permanent residence give me access to TN?Is a matching job title enough for TN?Can years of experience replace a degree for TN?Can my own U.S. company employ me under TN?Editorial source review: 2026-09-07. General preparation guidance, not an individual assessment.