TN Visa - Urban Planner / Geographer

Background of Urban Planner / Geographer TN Visa Category

  • The TN visa occupational category for Urban Planners 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 Urban Planner 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).

  • Under the FTA the Geographer occupation was not specifically listed as falling within the Urban Planner category. The Geographer occupation was included within the Urban Planner category specifically under NAFTA. 58 FR 69205 (Dec. 30, 1993).

  • All NAFTA occupations were carried over into the USMCA.

TN Visa Urban Planner / Geographer Applicant Requirements:

  • To qualify for TN visa status under the occupational category for Urban Planner / Geographers, an individual must possess one of the following:

    • Bachelor’s (Baccalaureate) degree; or

    • Licenciatura Degree.

  • Additional information on the educational background of Urban Planner / Geographers 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 Urban Planner / Geographer Job Duty Requirements:

  • The TN visa regulations do not define the types of Urban Planner / Geographer 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 further guidance on the generally accepted job duties for this occupation.

More Information:

Revised April 29, 2023.