Skip to main content

User account menu

  • Sign In
  • Create Your Account
EN FR
MENU
Home

Snowbird Advisor

Join now for FREE
Search
  • Home
  • Insurance
  • Tax & Legal
  • Travel
  • Finances
  • Real Estate
  • Accommodations
  • Services
  • More
    • News & Tips
    • Contests
    • Become a Member
    • Ask Snowbird Advisor
The Best Snowbird Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance for Snowbirds - Get a FREE Quote Now

Exclusive 5% discount for Snowbird Advisor members!

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
Tax and Legal

How long do Canadian passports need to be valid for snowbirds travelling to the U.S.?

Featured Partner:
RBC Cross Border Banking for Canadian Snowbirds
Save Money and Access Cash in the U.S.

Get free, unlimited cash transfers and instant exchanges2 with a no annual fee* U.S.-based bank account and U.S.-based credit card.*

Learn More

Canadian passport valid for 6 months when travelling to the U.S.

A common question among Canadian snowbirds is how long your passport needs to be valid to travel to the United States.

The answer, unfortunately, isn’t as simple as it seems.

While the U.S. requires travellers from many countries to have a passport that is valid for 6 months beyond their intended stay in the United States, this requirement does not apply to Canadian citizens, who only need to have a valid Canadian passport for the duration of their stay in the U.S.

The exemption is valid whether you are entering the U.S. by air or by land.

You can find more details about these passport requirements for Canadians on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website.

Be careful - The 6 month rule is sometimes applied!

However, we are hearing reports that some U.S. border patrol agents are unfamiliar with this exemption for Canadian citizens and are requiring passports to be valid for 6 months beyond their intended stay in the U.S. are

Accordingly, to avoid any issues at the border, we suggest that Canadian snowbirds travelling to the U.S. carry a passport that is valid for 6 months beyond their intended stay.

If your passport is not valid for 6 months beyond your intended stay and you are detained at the border for this reason, you can politely point your U.S. border patrol agent to the following two links on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency website:

  • What documentation, identification and paperwork does a Canadian citizen need to travel to the U.S.?
     
  • What are the passport requirements for visitors to the U.S.?

While we can’t guarantee this will resolve your issue, it may help.

Featured Partner:
RBC Cross Border Banking for Canadian Snowbirds
Save Money and Access Cash in the U.S.

Get free, unlimited cash transfers and instant exchanges2 with a no annual fee* U.S.-based bank account and U.S.-based credit card.*

Learn More

 

 

    Snowbird Travel Insurance

    Get a Free Membership

    Snowbird Advisor members receive exclusive snowbird tips, tools, offers, services and more!

    We respect your privacy and will never share your personal information. View our Privacy Policy.

    Cross Border Media Inc. | 100 - 25 Imperial St., Toronto, ON M5P 1B9
    Services for Canadian Snowbirds
    Featured Snowbird Partners & Services
    Featured Snowbird Destinations
    Featured Snowbird Destinations

    Website

    • Home
    • Insurance
    • Tax & Legal
    • Travel
    • Finances
    • Real Estate
    • Accommodations
    • Services
    • More

    Company

    • About
    • Contact
    • Partner With Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    CLOSE

    Main navigation

    • Home
    • Insurance
    • Tax & Legal
    • Travel
    • Finances
    • Real Estate
    • Accommodations
    • Services
    • More

    Follow Us

    Join Snowbird Advisor for FREE!
    Get exclusive Canadian snowbird tips, tools, offers, services and more:

    We keep your e-mail safe. You can unsubscribe at any time. Privacy policy.

    Cross Border Media Inc. | 430 - 245 Eglinton Avenue East, Toronto, ON M4P 3B7 | www.snowbirdadvisor.ca