The Trump administration is tightening border rules, requiring Canadians to register and provide biometric data for stays of more than 30 days.
The United States is tightening restrictions on long-term visits from Canadians, now requiring those staying in the country for more than 30 days to register with the government and undergo fingerprinting.
Under a new mandate published on March 12 in the Federal Register, all foreign visitors over the age of 14 who remain in the United States beyond 30 days must register with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and submit biometric data, including fingerprints. While U.S. law has long required such registration for nonimmigrant visitors, the rule has not been consistently enforced for Canadians, who were typically exempt when crossing the border by land.
The shift follows President Donald Trump’s executive order, titled Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The order, signed on his first day back in office, directs federal agencies to enforce compliance with existing registration laws and treat violators as a civil and criminal enforcement priority.
The new rule, which will take effect on April 11, removes special treatment for Canadians and requires them to follow the same procedures as other foreign visitors.
Failure to comply with the new registration requirements could result in fines of up to $5,000, imprisonment for up to six months, or deportation. Registered visitors must also carry proof of registration at all times, with failure to do so classified as a misdemeanor offense.
The change is expected to affect about 900,000 Canadians annually, many of whom travel for business, leisure, or extended winter stays in states such as Florida and Arizona.
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Certain groups will remain exempt from the rule, including American Indians born in Canada who have at least 50 percent Indigenous ancestry and members of the Texas Band of Kickapoo Indians. Some visa holders who have already registered through their visa application process will also be unaffected.
The policy shift comes amid escalating trade tensions between the United States and Canada, with both nations imposing tariffs on billions of dollars worth of goods.
On March 4, Trump imposed 25 percent tariffs on Canadian imports, with a lower 10 percent rate on energy products, but announced the following day that the auto sector would be exempt until April 2.
On March 6, Trump temporarily exempted goods covered under the U.S.–Mexico–Canada Agreement from the 25 percent tariff until April 2, affecting about 38 percent of U.S. imports from Canada.
In retaliation, Canada imposed tariffs on about $22 billion worth of U.S. exports while delaying additional tariffs on $92 billion in goods. Canadian officials have hinted at further measures, including possible export tariffs on energy or restrictions on energy exports to the United States.
Trump has said the tariffs are a way to pressure Canada to address fentanyl trafficking and illegal immigration at the U.S. border. He has also ordered a review of existing trade agreements, with potential new tariffs to be announced by April 2 if officials determine that any policies unfairly disadvantage the United States.
The combination of stricter travel enforcement and trade measures—along with Trump’s repeated suggestions that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state—points to a cooling in U.S.–Canada relations.
When asked by reporters at a March 11 briefing whether the Trump administration still considers Canada a “close ally,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Canada has always been an ally and is now a potential competitor.
“Well, I think Canada is a neighbor; they are a partner. They have always been an ally. Perhaps they are becoming a competitor now,” Leavitt said. “But as the president also laid out in his Truth Social post today, he believes that Canadians would benefit greatly from becoming the 51st state of the United States of America.”
In his Truth Social post, Trump wrote that the “only thing that makes sense” is for Canada to become a U.S. state, which the president said would bring Canadians lower taxes, stronger military security, and exemption from tariffs.
