Last updated: May 2026. This post has been updated to reflect the latest legislative developments.
A US Bill that Could Help You Stay South Longer
If you’re one of the tens of thousands of Canadian snowbirds who spend their winters in Florida, Arizona, California, or other warm US destinations, you may have heard about a bill in US Congress that would allow eligible Canadians to extend their annual stay by nearly two months.
The Canadian Snowbird Visa Act — reintroduced in the 119th Congress in April 2025 — would extend the maximum visa-free stay for qualifying Canadian citizens from the current 182 days to 240 days (about eight months) per year. The renewed push comes at a time when Canadian tourism to the US has declined sharply following strained relations over tariffs and the Trump presidency, and is partly aimed at signalling goodwill and bringing Canadian tourist dollars back.
The bill has not yet passed. Here’s what you need to know about where things stand.
What is the Canadian Snowbird Visa Act?
The current version of the bill — H.R. 3070 in the 119th Congress — was introduced on April 29, 2025 by Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Laurel Lee (R-FL), and Greg Stanton (D-AZ). A companion Senate bill, S. 2406 (the Canadian Snowbirds Act of 2025), was introduced in the Senate in July 2025.
The legislation would allow eligible Canadian citizens to spend up to 240 days (approximately 8 months) in the United States in any 365-day period without requiring a visa, up from the current limit of 182 days (six months less a day).
To qualify under the proposed legislation, you would need to:
- Be 50 years of age or older
- Maintain a Canadian residence
- Own or rent a home in the US for the duration of your extended stay
- Not work for a US employer or access public benefits
- Remain compliant with US immigration laws
The bill also includes a spouse provision: the spouse of a qualifying Canadian citizen may be admitted under the same terms, without needing to separately satisfy the US residence requirement.
The full text of H.R. 3070 can be read here: H.R. 3070 – Canadian Snowbird Act (119th Congress). The Senate companion bill is S. 2406 – Canadian Snowbirds Act of 2025.
Current Status
As of May 2026, H.R. 3070 remains in the early stages of the legislative process; it has been referred to committee in the House but has not yet received a committee vote, and no floor vote is scheduled in either chamber.
The Canadian Snowbird Association (CSA) has expressed support for the bill and stated it is working with members of Congress to secure its passage. However, the CSA is also awaiting a decision, and there has been no meaningful movement since introduction.
GovTrack, which tracks congressional bill progress, currently gives H.R. 3070 approximately a 7% chance of clearing committee and a 2% chance of being enacted, consistent with the general fate of most bills introduced in any Congress.
A Pattern Worth Noting
It’s important to put this bill in historical context. Similar legislation has been introduced in Congress repeatedly over the past two decades, and none has passed into law:
- 2019 — S. 2507 introduced by Senators Rubio and Scott; did not advance out of committee
- 2023 — H.R. 4448 introduced in the 118th Congress with bipartisan support; expired without passing when the 118th Congress ended in January 2025
- 2025 — H.R. 3070 reintroduced in the 119th Congress; currently in committee
The pattern reflects genuine political support for the concept in snowbird-friendly states, but also persistent difficulty gaining enough congressional traction to reach a floor vote. Bipartisan backing is a positive sign, but it has not been sufficient in previous sessions.
This is not a reason to give up hope. But it is context worth having when making any travel or property plans.
The renewed 2025 push reflects the economic reality of the current moment: Canadian visits to the US dropped 13.5% in early 2025, with cross-border road trips down roughly a third and Air Canada reporting a 7% decline in Canada-US passenger traffic in Q1 2025. A survey by Abacus Data found that a large majority of Canadians were planning to avoid the US for at least the next year amid political tensions. There have also been reports of increased numbers of Canadian snowbirds selling their US properties.
With billions of dollars in tourism and real estate spending at stake, lawmakers in states with large snowbird populations have strong economic incentives to push this bill forward, which is part of why it keeps reappearing.
The 30-Day Registration Requirement: An Important Caveat
A significant development that affects Canadian snowbirds regardless of whether the Snowbird Visa Act passes: new US rules now require all foreign nationals, including Canadians, who remain in the United States for more than 30 days to register with the government and carry proof of registration at all times.
This requirement took effect in late 2025 and has drawn criticism from the CSA, which has argued it is an unnecessary and burdensome requirement that could further deter Canadian travel to the US. The CSA has issued advisories noting that snowbirds may experience longer processing times at border crossings and automated facial comparison checks as part of new biometric entry and exit procedures.
Critically, the Canadian Snowbird Visa Act does not address or eliminate this 30-day registration requirement. Even if the bill passes, snowbirds staying longer than 30 days would still be required to register. Anyone planning an extended US stay should factor this in.
The Economic Case for the Bill
Canadian snowbirds are an economically significant group for the US. Canada is consistently the top source of international visits to the United States, with 20.4 million visits in 2024 that generated $20.5 billion in spending and supported 140,000 American jobs. Lawmakers backing the bill have highlighted the benefits for the US economy, noting that longer stays for snowbirds mean more money for US businesses and workers.
Beyond tourism, Canadians are the top foreign buyers of US real estate, representing 13% of all foreign buyers with a market size approaching $6 billion.
The economic argument for the bill is strong and is the primary reason it has attracted bipartisan support from representatives in Florida, Arizona, New York, and other states that benefit directly from Canadian snowbird spending.
What the Act Would Mean for Canadian Snowbirds
If passed, the Canadian Snowbird Visa Act would be a game-changer for Canadian snowbirds, offering meaningful benefits for eligible snowbirds:
- More flexibility to leave Canada later in the fall or return later in the spring without counting days
- Better value on your US property or rental (more time to use it)
- More time with US-based family or friends
- Less stress about the 182-day limit and the consequences of inadvertently overstaying
On taxes: the bill is explicitly designed to ensure that extended stays do not make snowbirds subject to US income tax on worldwide earnings. Qualifying individuals would retain their non-resident tax status under the US Internal Revenue Code. However, you should still be mindful of the Substantial Presence Test: a calculation of days spent in the US over a three-year rolling period. If you stay 240 days annually over multiple years, you may approach or exceed the threshold that could trigger US tax residency obligations. Read our article on how to avoid paying US taxes as a Canadian snowbird, and be sure to consult a cross-border tax advisor before extending your stay significantly.
What Needs to Happen for the Act to Become Law?
For H.R. 3070 to become law, it must:
- Pass committee review in both the House and Senate
- Be voted on and passed by both the full House and Senate
- Be signed into law by the President
This process takes time, and there are no guarantees. The bill remains in the early committee stage as of this update. If this legislation matters to you, expressing support to your Canadian MP, to the Canadian Snowbird Association, or directly to US representatives in snowbird-heavy states (Florida, Arizona, California, New York) can help build momentum.
The Canadian Snowbird Association is the most active Canadian organization lobbying for this bill’s passage and is the best source for updates as the process unfolds.
Is a Longer Snowbird Season Within Reach?
The Canadian Snowbird Visa Act represents a genuine and recurring effort by US lawmakers to recognize the economic value of Canadian snowbirds and offer them a more welcoming framework. The bill’s bipartisan backing and the current economic climate, with Canadian visits to the US sharply down, give it more urgency than previous iterations.
That said, similar bills have been introduced multiple times without passing, and as of May 2026 this version remains stalled in committee. It would be premature to adjust your travel or property plans based on the assumption it will pass. Keep an eye on the CSA for updates, and in the meantime, the current 182-day limit remains the rule.
Heading down to the US this winter? Learn more about our car transport service for snowbirds.
FAQs About the Canadian Snowbird Visa Act
Has the Canadian Snowbird Visa Act Ever Passed?
No. Similar legislation has been introduced multiple times since at least 2019 — including in the 118th Congress (H.R. 4448, 2023) and the Senate (S. 387, 2023) — and none of these versions has passed into law. The current bill, H.R. 3070, was introduced in April 2025 and remains in committee as of May 2026. The bill has consistently attracted bipartisan support but has not been able to advance through both chambers of Congress.
Who qualifies for the Canadian Snowbird Visa Act?
To qualify under the proposed legislation, you must be a Canadian citizen who is at least 50 years old, maintains a residence in Canada, owns or has signed a rental agreement for a US residence for the duration of your stay, and does not work for a US employer or access US public benefits. The spouse of a qualifying individual may also be admitted under the same terms without needing to separately satisfy the US residence requirement.
When would the Canadian Snowbird Visa Act take effect?
There is no timeline. The bill first needs to clear committee in both the House and Senate, pass a full vote in both chambers, and be signed by the President. As of May 2026, none of those steps have occurred and no vote is scheduled. It would be premature to make travel or property plans based on the assumption the bill will pass in a specific timeframe.
Does the Canadian Snowbird Visa Act affect my taxes?
The bill is specifically designed to preserve your non-resident tax status; it would not make you subject to US income tax on your worldwide earnings solely because of the extended stay. However, you should still be aware of the US Substantial Presence Test, which calculates days spent in the US over a rolling three-year period. Staying 240 days per year over multiple years could push you toward or past the threshold that triggers US tax residency obligations. Consult a cross-border tax advisor before significantly extending your US stay.
What is the current maximum stay for Canadians in the US?
Under current US immigration rules, Canadian citizens can remain in the United States for up to 182 days (six months less a day) in any 12-month period without a visa. Overstaying this limit can result in fines, required departure, and difficulty re-entering the US in the future. If the Canadian Snowbird Visa Act passes, eligible Canadians would be permitted to stay for up to 240 days, but that change is not yet law.