What Are the New Rules for Canadian Snowbirds Entering the United States?

Last updated: April 2026. This post has been updated to reflect the latest developments including the visa integrity fee clarification, NEXUS card registration requirements, and the current status of the Canadian Snowbird Visa Act.

Photos, Fingerprints, and More

If you’ve been following the news, you’ve likely heard some chatter about new requirements for foreign nationals (including Canadians) entering the United States. In addition to the rules that were introduced by Executive Order 14159, requiring all foreign nationals in the United States to register with the government if staying for longer than 30 days, another U.S. Department of Homeland Security regulation titled “Collection of Biometric Data from Aliens Upon Entry to and Departure from the United States” came into effect on December 26th, 2025.

This so-called “Final Rule” advances the Department of Homeland Security’s focus on enhancing national security by verifying the identity of foreign visitors travelling to and from the United States. Essentially, it is an extension of rules that were already in place authorizing border guards to collect facial biometrics from all noncitizens at entry and exit ports.

While a lot has been made of these developments in the news — and the broader Canada-US political climate has added to the anxiety — the truth is that for most snowbirds crossing the border to spend the winter in Florida, Arizona, California, or Texas, not much has fundamentally changed in terms of day-to-day experience. We’ll unpack the specifics so you know exactly what to expect.

New Requirement: Photo & Biometric Identification at Entry/Exit Ports

Starting December 26, 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security expanded biometric entry/exit requirements for all foreign nationals entering or leaving the United States, including Canadian citizens.

Under the new rule, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will photograph travellers at entry and exit points and may collect biometric data including facial recognition and, in certain instances, fingerprints (more on this below). It’s important to note that CBP was already authorized to do this in many cases, but the new rule expands the existing program in at least two significant ways:

• Prior exemptions for diplomats and most Canadian visitors have been removed.
• The rule now applies everywhere, including airports, vehicle entry/exit crossings, pedestrian crossings, and seaports.

Previously, Canadian visitors to the U.S. had the right to refuse getting their photo taken as part of U.S. entry/exit processing; they could instead submit to a manual identity check. Now, that right of refusal no longer exists for non-U.S. citizens. If you refuse to have your photo taken, you can be refused entry to the United States or required to submit to other biometric identity verification processes.

Similarly, the application of identity verification processes used to differ significantly depending on how you were entering or exiting the United States (e.g., via a commercial airline vs. a watercraft vs. a land border crossing). Now, in theory at least, the processes should be more uniform.

Registration if Staying More Than 30 Days

We previously wrote about the new rules for alien registration that were introduced in April 2025 with Executive Order 14159. Under these rules, any foreign national (including Canadian citizens) staying in the U.S. for 30 days or longer must be registered with U.S. immigration authorities.

The important things to note are:

1. Registration is now required for all stays longer than 30 days in the United States.
2. For most Canadians, registration will take the form of either Form I-94 or Form G-325R.
3. If you enter the U.S. by air, you’re typically automatically issued an electronic I-94 and no further action is needed.
4. If you enter the U.S. by land, you may or may not get an I-94 automatically. If you don’t get one and you plan on staying for longer than 30 days, you can instead file Form G-325R after your entry to the United States.
5. It is also possible to apply for Form I-94 in advance for a $30 fee, but in our experience this is entirely unnecessary.
6. Failure to register through either method could result in fines of up to $5,000, deportation, or imprisonment for up to six months.

What About NEXUS Card Holders?

One question we’ve heard frequently from snowbirds is whether holding a NEXUS card exempts you from the new registration requirements. The short answer is no.

There was significant confusion around this initially — CBP originally suggested NEXUS members were exempt before reversing that position. The current guidance is clear: NEXUS card holders are subject to the same registration requirements as other Canadian visitors. If you’re entering by land with a NEXUS card and planning to stay longer than 30 days, you still need to confirm you have an I-94 or file Form G-325R.

If you’re unsure whether you were issued an I-94 upon entry, you can check at the CBP website using your passport information. When in doubt, filing Form G-325R is a straightforward process that costs nothing and takes little time.

What About Fingerprints?

As part of the April 2025 registration requirement, most foreign nationals now need to provide fingerprinting or other biometric identification if staying in the United States for longer than 30 days. However, according to the U.S. Federal Register, Canadian nonimmigrants are exempt from the fingerprint requirement.

While the December 2025 rule change removed the exemption for Canadians needing to have their photograph taken at border crossings, the fingerprint exemption still stands. The new U.S. federal guidelines on registration and fingerprinting, which have been updated following the implementation of the Final Rule, make it clear that “other biometrics”, including fingerprints, are not required for Canadians. That is to say, if you’re filling out form G-325R as a Canadian, you shouldn’t be required to book a Biometrics Services Appointment to have your fingerprints taken. Nor should you expect to have your fingerprints taken at a U.S. port of entry.

That said, some snowbirds entering the US at land borders have reported inconsistent experiences, including being asked to provide fingerprints during secondary inspections. As with most things related to crossing the border, interpretation and enforcement depends heavily on the specific border officer you encounter. If asked to provide fingerprints, the best practice is to comply with the officer’s request rather than attempting to argue the letter of the law.

What About the Visa Integrity Fee?

You may have seen news reports about a new US “visa integrity fee” being introduced. According to the Canadian Snowbird Association, this fee does not apply to Canadian citizens visiting the United States temporarily as tourists — including snowbirds wintering in Florida, Arizona, California, or elsewhere in the US. No additional fees are required for a typical snowbird visit beyond what has always been required.

Changes in Canada-US Relations?

The broader Canada-US political tensions in 2026 have understandably made some snowbirds anxious about heading south. Tariffs, trade disputes, and political rhetoric have created an atmosphere of uncertainty that wasn’t present in previous seasons.

What we can say from our own experience is that the day-to-day border crossing experience for Canadian tourists has not changed meaningfully as a result of political developments. Border officers are implementing the specific rules outlined above — they are not applying blanket additional scrutiny to Canadian tourists simply because of trade tensions. The rules are the rules, and if you comply with them, you should have no unusual difficulty.

Our Experience

Our experience with crossing the border dozens of times ourselves over the past year, and facilitating hundreds of other border crossings for our clients and with our team, is that not much has changed in terms of day-to-day practicalities. You can still show up at the border as usual without having to fill out any paperwork in advance, and chances are, you will be asked the same standard questions and admitted to the U.S. without additional hassle.

Although it’s true that border agents are now authorized to photograph Canadians at border entry/exit points, keep in mind:

1. Being photographed when entering the United States was already standard practice, whether you were aware of it or not.
2. There’s a difference between “authorized to” and “required to”. Just because a border agent has the authority to do something, doesn’t mean they will.

While a small number of Canadian snowbirds have reported being asked to provide fingerprints at border crossings as part of their I-94 processing, this experience is uncommon. If asked to do so, comply with the border officer’s request.

Summary and Advice for Snowbirds

Despite some alarming headlines, the December 2025 changes to U.S. entry and registration rules do not fundamentally alter how most Canadian snowbirds experience crossing the border. Here’s the practical bottom line:

• The broader Canada-US political climate has not meaningfully changed the day-to-day border crossing experience for tourists
• You will be photographed at border crossings — this is now mandatory and you cannot refuse
• If staying 30+ days, ensure you’re properly registered via I-94 (usually automatic for air travellers) or Form G-325R (for land border crossers who don’t receive an automatic I-94)
• Fingerprinting is not required for Canadians, though some inconsistency in enforcement has been reported
• NEXUS card holders are not exempt from registration requirements
• The visa integrity fee does not apply to Canadian tourist visitors
• The 182-day maximum stay has not changed

The best advice remains simple: understand the rules, ensure you’re properly registered if staying longer than 30 days, and approach the border as you always have. More likely than not, your experience will be consistent with how it’s always been.

Heading down to the U.S. this winter? Learn more about our car transport service for snowbirds.

FAQs About U.S. Border Rules

Do I need to do anything before crossing the border into the U.S. as a Canadian snowbird?

For most snowbirds, no advance preparation is required. If you’re flying, you’ll typically be issued an electronic I-94 automatically upon entry. If you’re crossing by land and planning to stay more than 30 days, check after entry whether you were issued an I-94 — if not, file Form G-325R. No advance paperwork is needed beyond what has always been required.

What is Form I-94, and do I need one?

Form I-94 is an arrival/departure record issued by US Customs and Border Protection. If you’re staying in the US for more than 30 days, having an I-94 satisfies the registration requirement. Air travellers typically receive one automatically. Land border crossers may or may not receive one — you can check at the CBP website using your passport information. If you didn’t receive one and plan to stay more than 30 days, file Form G-325R instead.

What is Form I-G325R and how do I file it?

Form G-325R is a registration form for foreign nationals who weren’t automatically issued an I-94 upon entry. It’s filed online through a USCIS account and there is no fee. It’s straightforward to complete and typically takes less than 30 minutes. You should file it if you entered the US by land, were not issued an I-94, and plan to stay longer than 30 days.

Can I still enter the US for less than 30 days without any special registration?

Yes — the registration requirement only applies to stays of 30 days or longer. If you’re crossing for a short visit, day trip, or stay of less than 30 days, nothing has changed for you.

Does my NEXUS card exempt me from registration requirements?

No. Despite initial confusion, CBP has confirmed that NEXUS card holders are not exempt from the 30-day registration requirement. If you enter by land with a NEXUS card and plan to stay longer than 30 days, you still need to confirm you have an I-94 or file Form G-325R.

Will I be fingerprinted at the border?

Fingerprinting is not required for Canadian visitors. While the new biometric rule requires Canadians to be photographed at border crossings, the fingerprint exemption for Canadians remains in place. Some snowbirds have reported isolated instances of being asked for fingerprints during secondary inspections — if this happens, comply with the officer’s request.

Will I be fingerprinted at the border?

Fingerprinting is not required for Canadian visitors. While the new biometric rule requires Canadians to be photographed at border crossings, the fingerprint exemption for Canadians remains in place. Some snowbirds have reported isolated instances of being asked for fingerprints during secondary inspections — if this happens, comply with the officer’s request.

Can I be refused entry to the U.S.?

Yes — border officers have always had discretion to refuse entry. The best way to avoid issues is to be truthful about your intended length of stay, ensure you’re properly registered if staying more than 30 days, and comply with all requests from border officers including being photographed.

How long can I stay in the U.S. as a Canadian snowbird?

The maximum stay for Canadian visitors without a visa is generally 182 days within a 12-month period, though the specific duration is at the discretion of the border officer. The proposed Canadian Snowbird Visa Act would extend this to 240 days for eligible retirees, but the bill has not yet passed.

Does the new visa integrity fee apply to Canadian snowbirds?

No. The Canadian Snowbird Association has confirmed that the visa integrity fee does not apply to Canadian citizens visiting the United States temporarily as tourists, including snowbirds.

What should I do if I’m asked to do something at the border that seems inconsistent with what I’ve read?

Comply with the border officer’s request first and ask questions afterward. Border officers have significant discretion and it is never advisable to argue at a port of entry. If you believe your rights were violated, you can consult an immigration attorney after the fact. The Canadian Snowbird Association is also a useful resource for reporting and understanding unusual border experiences.