Planning to travel to the U.S.? The Canadian government has shared an updated travel advisory for those heading south of the border.
On March 21, the government shared new entry and exit requirements for foreign nationals travelling to the U.S. who plan to stay longer than a month.
“Canadians and other foreign nationals visiting the United States for periods longer than 30 days must be registered with the United States government,” reads the website.
“Failure to comply with the registration requirement could result in penalties, fines, and misdemeanour prosecution.”
What you need to know
If you’re planning a lengthy stay in the U.S., you must consult the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website to see if you need to register.
According to the USCIS website, “all aliens 14 years of age or older who were not registered and fingerprinted (if required) when applying for a U.S. visa and who remain in the United States for 30 days or longer, must apply for registration and fingerprinting.”
Canadians can also check their I-94 admission on the U.S. Customs Border Protection (CBP) website to see if they’ve been automatically registered on entry to the U.S.
At the border, customs officials may also ask you for proof of residential, employment, or educational ties to Canada. You may also be asked for proof of funds to cover your stay in the U.S. and proof that your trip is for “a legitimate purpose and is of a reasonable length.”
U.S. sees drop in Canadian travellers
The update comes amid Canadians already cancelling or reconsidering plans to travel to the U.S. in response to the U.S.-Canada trade conflict and President Donald Trump’s comments about Canada becoming the 51st state.
Canadians were also outraged when a 35-year-old Canadian woman was denied entry into the U.S. and held in a detention centre.
Data from the CBP states that in February 2024, four million people travelled from Canada to the U.S.; in February 2025, that number dropped to 3.5 million, nearing post-pandemic levels of 3.4 million in February 2023.
