The government of Canada has updated travel guidance for citizens heading to the United States, warning of intensified border scrutiny, new registration requirements for extended stays, and the need to carry documentation proving legal status.
In an advisory posted on the Canadian government’s website and shared via its official account on X, officials said travelers should prepare for strict enforcement at U.S. entry points and that American border agents have authority over who may enter and exit.
“Individual border agents often have significant discretion in making those determinations. U.S. authorities strictly enforce entry requirements. Expect scrutiny at ports of entry, including of electronic devices,” the announcement said. “Comply and be forthcoming in all interactions with border authorities. If you are denied entry, you could be detained while awaiting deportation.”
The advisory also warns that U.S. officials may request “confirmation of legal status in the United States at any time.” Canadians are advised to carry valid documents such as a stamped passport or visa.
The guidance further notes that Canadians and other foreign nationals staying in the United States for more than 30 days must register with U.S. authorities.
“Non-compliance with the registration requirement may entail fines and criminal prosecution for misconduct,” the statement said. Travelers are advised to contact U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to determine whether they are required to register and how to do so.
Canada Border Services Agency also regularly reminds travelers that “transporting cannabis across the border of Canada and the United States in any form without permission or exclusion from the Department of Health of Canada remains a serious criminal offense.”
The agency also reminded travelers that it is dangerous and illegal to cross the U.S. border in areas between official ports of entry.
Several countries have updated their U.S. travel advisories in 2025, including Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Finland, Denmark, Ireland, Norway, the Netherlands, and Portugal. Many cited heightened immigration enforcement and policy changes introduced under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Germany cautioned that “a valid visa or ESTA does not guarantee entry,” noting cases of travelers denied entry or detained at the border.
ESTA, or Electronic System for Travel Authorization, is the automated system that grants travelers from specified countries pre-approval for a visa waver for short stays.
France referenced the “presidential decree of January 20, 2025” in its advisory, warning that U.S. visa applications now require travelers to declare their “sex at birth,” a shift impacting transgender and nonbinary travelers.
Similarly, Ireland advised that U.S. officials interpret gender declarations based on “biological sex at birth,” recommending that travelers contact the U.S. Embassy in advance. Belgium announced plans to update its guidance in response to “altered circumstances for LGBTQ+ individuals in the U.S.” under the new administration.
In January, the White House announced expanded border enforcement policies, stating, “Over the last 4 years, the United States has endured a large-scale invasion at an unprecedented level.”
The announcement cited that “millions of illegal aliens from nations and regions all around the world successfully entered the United States where they are now residing, including potential terrorists, foreign spies, members of cartels, gangs, and violent transnational criminal organizations, and other hostile actors with malicious intent.”
