Florida Joins Arizona, California, North Carolina, Texas And More As Us Struggles With Significant Drop In Canada Snowbird Tourism Amid New Entry Protocols: What You Need To Know

Published on November 1, 2025

Florida joins Arizona, California, and respective different US states are facing a crisp diminution successful Canadian snowbird tourism this winter, chiefly owed to nan U.S.’s caller introduction protocols. Canadians, traditionally a awesome portion of nan snowbird population, are now deterred by stricter introduction requirements, including a $30 fee, fingerprinting, and mandatory registration for stays longer than 30 days. This displacement successful recreation behavior, compounded by concerns complete rising recreation costs and governmental tensions, is prompting galore Canadians to research replacement destinations, leaving U.S. states reliant connected snowbird tourism struggling to adapt.

In a awesome displacement for nan U.S. tourism industry, Canadian snowbirds, who person agelong flocked to warmer states during nan wintertime months, are opening to rethink their recreation plans. The Travel Health Insurance Association of Canada’s (THIA) 2025 Winter Smart Traveller Survey reveals a crisp diminution successful nan number of Canadians heading to nan U.S. this winter. Traditionally, Florida, Arizona, and different sunny states person been nan apical choices for snowbirds seeking refuge from nan cold. However, nan caller introduction requirements introduced by nan U.S., coupled pinch rising concerns complete recreation costs and governmental tensions, are driving a important driblet successful tourism numbers from Canada.

The Rise of a New Trend

For years, U.S. destinations for illustration Florida and Arizona person been synonymous pinch Canadian snowbird culture. The allure of sunny weather, beautiful beaches, and a comparatively adjacent proximity to Canada has made these states a seasonal location for millions of Canadians, peculiarly retirees and older adults seeking refuge from nan acold winters.

However, arsenic caller introduction protocols from nan U.S. authorities travel into play, Canadian snowbirds are starting to reconsider their accustomed wintertime escapes. According to nan THIA survey, only 26% of Canadians are apt to sojourn nan U.S. this year—a staggering 37% driblet from nan erstwhile year. The study besides highlights a crisp diminution among babe boomers, who traditionally dress up a important information of snowbird travelers. Only 10% of Canadians aged 61 and older are readying to sojourn nan U.S. this winter, marking a 66% driblet from 2024.

These numbers awesome a basal displacement successful nan Canadian snowbird migration patterns, and they are apt to person important ramifications for U.S. states that heavy dangle connected this influx of wintertime visitors. States specified arsenic Florida, Arizona, and California, known for their ample Canadian populations, are now grappling pinch nan effect of this shift.

New U.S. Entry Requirements

A cardinal facet successful nan diminution of Canadian snowbirds heading to nan U.S. is nan caller introduction protocols introduced by nan U.S. government. For nan 2025 wintertime season, Canadians readying to enactment successful nan U.S. for longer than 30 days will beryllium required to registry pinch nan U.S. government, supply their fingerprints, beryllium photographed, and salary a $30 fee. These changes are portion of a broader effort to heighten separator information and streamline nan introduction process, but for galore Canadians, nan caller requirements are a deterrent.

The accrued bureaucracy and costs associated pinch these caller protocols are seen arsenic a awesome inconvenience for snowbirds, peculiarly those who person been visiting nan U.S. for years without immoderate awesome hurdles. Many Canadian snowbirds consciousness that nan further steps, on pinch nan associated costs, make nan U.S. a little appealing destination, prompting them to research replacement options for their wintertime vacations.

Impact connected U.S. States

Florida: The Hardest Hit

Florida has agelong been nan astir celebrated U.S. destination for Canadian snowbirds, pinch astir 3.4 cardinal Canadians visiting nan authorities successful 2024 alone. Florida is not only a favored picnic spot but besides a premier location for Canadian retirees, pinch galore snowbirds owning 2nd homes successful places for illustration Palm Beach, Miami, and Sarasota. The state’s existent property marketplace has relied heavy connected Canadian buyers, and nan absence of these visitors could person important economical consequences.

The U.S. tourism manufacture is already facing challenges arsenic it tries to retrieve from nan impacts of nan COVID-19 pandemic and shifting recreation trends. The diminution successful Canadian snowbird tourism adds different furniture of uncertainty, peculiarly successful regions of Florida wherever Canadians person been a awesome driver of section economies. This includes some tourism-related activities, specified arsenic spending connected restaurants, attractions, and entertainment, arsenic good arsenic nan existent property market, wherever galore Canadians person invested successful spot to flight harsh bluish winters.

Arizona: A Key Snowbird Haven

Arizona, different apical destination for Canadian snowbirds, is besides apt to consciousness nan effects of nan diminution successful Canadian visits. Known for its godforsaken landscapes, play resorts, and temperate winters, Arizona has attracted a sizable number of Canadian retirees looking to walk nan colder months successful a warm, sunny environment. Estimates propose that astir 100,000 homes successful Arizona are owned aliases rented by Canadian snowbirds, pinch Canadians spending astir $1.5 cardinal annually successful nan state.

The driblet successful Canadian snowbird postulation to Arizona is expected to person a nonstop effect connected section businesses, particularly those successful nan hospitality, retail, and work sectors. Arizona’s economy, peculiarly successful cities for illustration Phoenix and Tucson, relies connected nan influx of snowbirds during nan wintertime months, and nan absence of Canadian visitors could time off a noticeable spread successful revenues for these industries.

California: The California Dream

California has agelong been a favored destination for Canadian snowbirds, peculiarly those seeking a operation of beachside relaxation and cosmopolitan luxury. While not arsenic ascendant arsenic Florida aliases Arizona successful position of snowbird traffic, California still sees a important number of Canadian visitors during nan wintertime months. Cities for illustration Los Angeles, San Diego, and Palm Springs person agelong attracted Canadian snowbirds who want to bask nan temperate ambiance and world-class amenities California offers.

With less Canadian snowbirds heading to California this winter, nan authorities could spot a alteration successful tourism-related revenues, particularly successful celebrated wintertime destinations for illustration Palm Springs. The simplification successful visitors will apt beryllium felt by hotels, circuit operators, and attractions that person agelong catered to nan Canadian demographic.

Texas: An Emerging Destination

Texas, while not traditionally a apical destination for Canadian snowbirds, has been gaining traction successful caller years arsenic an replacement to nan much crowded and costly locations successful Florida and Arizona. With cities for illustration San Antonio, Houston, and Austin offering a operation of culture, outdoor activities, and affordable living, Texas has been drafting much attraction from Canadian retirees.

However, nan caller introduction requirements are apt to slow Texas’ momentum arsenic a snowbird destination. As Canadians reconsider their recreation plans, galore whitethorn opt to research different destinations, further diminishing Texas’ stock of nan snowbird market.

Shifting to Europe and Other Destinations

With nan diminution successful U.S. snowbird tourism, galore Canadians are turning to replacement destinations. The THIA study reveals that countries successful Europe, peculiarly Portugal and Spain, are becoming progressively celebrated among snowbirds. These destinations connection milder wintertime climates, beautiful landscapes, and little recreation costs compared to nan U.S., making them an charismatic replacement for Canadians seeking a alteration of scenery.

In summation to Europe, destinations for illustration Mexico and nan Caribbean are seeing a surge successful request arsenic Canadian snowbirds look for caller places to walk their winters. While nan upwind and costs of recreation stay cardinal factors, these regions are perceived arsenic offering much relaxed introduction protocols and a welcoming ambiance for world visitors.

The Broader Economic Impact

The diminution successful Canadian snowbird tourism is not conscionable a situation for nan U.S. tourism manufacture but besides for nan broader economy. Snowbirds are important contributors to section economies, spending money connected everything from lodging and healthcare to intermezo and dining. As Canadians displacement their wintertime recreation plans distant from nan U.S., states for illustration Florida, Arizona, and California will request to find ways to mitigate nan economical losses associated pinch this shift.

Additionally, nan existent property marketplace successful these states whitethorn look challenges arsenic Canadian buyers, who person been a awesome driving unit down spot sales, trim their finance successful U.S. properties. This could person semipermanent implications for lodging markets, peculiarly successful areas that person relied connected snowbird investments to substance growth.

As Canadian snowbirds re-evaluate their wintertime recreation plans, nan U.S. is facing a diminution successful 1 of its astir important sources of tourism revenue. Florida, Arizona, California, and different celebrated snowbird destinations will apt consciousness nan effect of this shift, arsenic Canadians opt for destinations pinch less introduction barriers and much affordable options.

With nan U.S. government’s caller introduction requirements successful place, coupled pinch rising recreation costs and governmental tensions, nan 2025 wintertime play whitethorn people a turning constituent successful nan long-standing narration betwixt Canadian snowbirds and U.S. destinations. While Florida and Arizona whitethorn stay popular, their reliance connected Canadian snowbirds could make them susceptible to nan broader trends shaping world tourism.

Florida joins Arizona, and different awesome US states are struggling pinch a important diminution successful Canadian snowbird tourism this wintertime owed to caller US introduction protocols, including fees, fingerprinting, and registration requirements for stays longer than 30 days. These changes, alongside rising recreation costs and governmental tensions, are causing galore Canadians to opt for replacement destinations.

As Canadian travelers look beyond nan U.S. to Europe, Mexico, and nan Caribbean, U.S. states will request to accommodate to these changes by diversifying their tourer offerings and making recreation to nan U.S. much appealing to world visitors. In nan meantime, destinations for illustration Portugal, Spain, and moreover parts of Mexico will proceed to emergence successful prominence arsenic nan go-to spots for Canadians seeking sun and relaxation during nan wintertime months.