TN Visa: Recreational Therapist

Background of Recreational Therapist TN Visa Category

  • The TN visa occupational category for Recreational Therapists was not listed in the initial version of the United States-Canada Free-Trade Agreement (FTA) in 1989 (the predecessor to NAFTA). See 54 Federal Register 12 (Jan. 3, 1989).

  • The Recreational Therapist occupation was later added to the FTA in 1991. 56 FR 480 (Jan. 7, 1991). It was then carried over and included in the NAFTA list of available occupations in 1994. See 58 FR 69205 (Dec. 30, 1993). All NAFTA occupations were carried over into the USMCA.

TN Visa Recreational Therapist Applicant Requirements:

  • To qualify for TN visa status under the occupational category for Recreational Therapist, an individual must possess one of the following:

    • Bachelor’s degree; or

    • Licenciatura Degree.

  • Additional information on the educational background of Recreational Therapists may be found in the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH). See Royal Siam Corp. v. Chertoff, 484 F.3d 139, 145 (1st Cir. 2007).

TN Visa Recreational Therapist Job Duty Requirements:

  • The TN visa regulations do not specifically define the types of Recreational Therapist positions or job duties that are permissible under this TN category.

  • Like the degree requirement, individuals should refer to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) for guidance on the generally accepted job duties for this occupation.

More Information:

Revised April 29, 2023.