Snowbird arrival and departure checklist for Florida

Section 01The 60-second version

Canadian snowbirds typically spend four to six months in Florida under B-2 visitor status, which Customs and Border Protection grants for up to six months at the discretion of the inspecting officer (federal US). Six phases must be managed: pre-departure from Canada (financial, mail, property, vehicle, prescriptions), the CBP border crossing, arrival in Florida (utilities, transponder, US SIM, USPS mail), the in-stay period (day counting for the Substantial Presence Test, medication refills, hurricane awareness), pre-departure from Florida (utilities to standby, vehicle storage, USPS hold), and re-entry through CBSA (declaration, exemptions, currency thresholds). The most material change since 2024: any Canadian staying 30 days or more without a Form I-94 must register with USCIS using Form G-325R within 30 days of arrival (federal US, in force since 11 April 2025). The most material counter-change: ArriveCAN is no longer mandatory for re-entry. It is now an optional advance-declaration tool at participating airports only.

Section 02Who this guide applies to, and who it does not

This guide is written for the Canadian snowbird profile. A Canadian citizen, ordinarily resident in Canada, who spends a continuous winter season in Florida (typically November to April) in a property that they own, rent, or use under a family arrangement, and who returns to Canada with the intent to maintain Canadian tax residency and provincial health coverage. Most procedures described below assume that profile.

The guide does not address the situation of Canadian citizens who move to Florida permanently (covered in Permanent relocation), Canadian green card holders or US citizens (different immigration regime), Canadians who hold an E-2, TN, or other work-based US status (different tax and registration mechanics), or short business trips of less than 30 days (lighter compliance footprint). It also does not discuss permanent vehicle import, which has its own dedicated guide.

Section 03Canada side and Florida side at a glance

The procedural anchor for a snowbird trip is the border, but the rules attach to four distinct jurisdictional layers, two on each side. The table below maps the main checklist items to the body that owns each rule.

The recurring confusion among first-time snowbirds is treating "border rules" as a single concept. They are not. The CBP officer enforces federal US admission rules. The CBSA officer enforces federal CA import rules. USCIS rules attach to time spent in the US, regardless of how it was entered. IRS rules attach to days of physical presence, regardless of immigration status. Each layer has its own forms, its own thresholds, and its own penalties.

Section 04Phase 1. Pre-departure from Canada

This phase is about leaving the Canadian system in a clean state for the months you will be away, while preserving Canadian residency and continuity of services. The key categories are financial, mail and communications, property, vehicle, and medications.

Financial and banking

The first practical concern is card continuity. Canadian-issued cards are routinely flagged for fraud when first used at a Florida point of sale, particularly at gas pumps, where issuers sometimes block transactions outright. Notify your card issuers of your travel dates and Florida address before departure, and carry at least two cards on different networks (one Visa and one Mastercard, ideally with at least one chip-and-PIN). For larger withdrawals, a US-dollar account at a Canadian bank with US ATM access (TD, RBC, BMO, and others maintain such products) reduces the foreign-exchange spread compared to dynamic currency conversion at the terminal.

Update your CRA mailing address through My Account on canada.ca if your statements should follow you to Florida, and keep your Canadian banking address active to preserve tax slips that go through the mail.

Mail and communications

Canada Post offers a Mail Forwarding service that redirects letter mail to a Florida address for a defined period. Pricing varies by destination type (residential, US, international) and duration, and is published on the Canada Post pricing page. Set this up at least two weeks before departure to allow for the activation lead time.

Inside Florida, the parallel tool is USPS Informed Delivery, which is free and provides a daily email preview of incoming mail at your US address. Combined with a USPS Hold Mail request when you leave Florida, it gives you a continuous picture of what is arriving while you are not at the property. For a longer-term solution, a Florida US mailbox at a UPS Store or Anytime Mailbox provides a permanent US street address that is independent of the seasonal property, useful for IRS correspondence, ITIN-related mail, or US bank statements. That topic is treated in US mailbox and Mail forwarding.

Property and home

A Canadian home left vacant for more than 30 days triggers conditions under most home insurance policies. Some insurers require a written notice, some require a contracted person to inspect the property at fixed intervals (commonly every 72 to 96 hours), and some exclude water-damage coverage outright on vacant properties. Read the vacancy clause of your policy before assuming coverage continues. Then take the practical winter steps: thermostat at the minimum permitted by the insurer (often 13 to 16 °C), water shut off at the main valve if pipes are exposed, heat tape on vulnerable lines, and a key with a trusted neighbour or a paid property checker.

Vehicle

If you are bringing a Canadian-registered vehicle to Florida for a winter season under six months, the vehicle remains Canadian-registered and Canadian-insured. Most Canadian auto insurers extend coverage to the US for stays up to six months, but extension is not automatic and is not guaranteed. Call your insurer before departure, request a written confirmation of US extension for your travel dates, and carry both the policy slip and the registration in the vehicle. The dedicated guide is Temporary Canadian vehicle import to Florida (snowbird ≤ 6 months).

Florida is a no-fault state with mandatory PIP and PDL coverage, but PIP and PDL only apply to vehicles registered in Florida. A snowbird driving a Canadian-registered vehicle is covered under their Canadian policy, not under Florida no-fault. The relevance of Florida PIP/PDL auto insurance only kicks in if you register the vehicle in Florida.

Medications

Canadian prescriptions are not valid in Florida pharmacies. The practical workaround for a four-to-six-month stay is to fill the full season's supply in Canada before departure (provincial drug plans permit a vacation supply on prior request, with timelines varying by province) and carry the medications in their original labelled containers. Controlled substances (opioids, benzodiazepines, ADHD stimulants, and others) require the original prescription document on you for CBP inspection. Personal-use quantities are permitted by CBP, but commercial quantities or unlabelled pills are routinely seized.

For mid-stay refills, two paths exist. The first is mail from a Canadian family member or a Canadian pharmacy to your Florida address, lawful for personal-use, non-controlled medications. The second is a paid consultation with a Florida-licensed physician to obtain a US prescription, which can then be filled at any US pharmacy. The second path is more expensive but more reliable for longer stays.

Section 05Phase 2. Border crossing through CBP

The border crossing is a single event with several stacked legal frames: admission under B-2, the I-94 record, the alien-registration rule for stays over 30 days, and the inspection of goods you are carrying. Each frame is independent.

B-2 admission

Canadian citizens are visa-exempt for tourism and pleasure travel. CBP admits them under the B-2 nonimmigrant classification, with an authorized stay determined by the inspecting officer. The standard maximum is six months from the date of admission, but the duration is fully discretionary. CBP officers can grant less based on travel history, stated purpose, ties to Canada, or any other factor. The six-month figure is a ceiling, not a default.

Form I-94 and the 30-day registration rule

Since 11 April 2025, US federal regulation requires foreign nationals (including Canadians) staying in the US for 30 days or more to be registered. Most Canadians arriving by air or sea receive an electronic I-94 automatically; that I-94 is itself the registration. Canadians arriving by land typically do not receive an I-94 unless they request one and pay the fee. If no I-94 is on file and the stay reaches 30 days, the Canadian must register separately with USCIS by completing Form G-325R online, before the 30th day, for each trip of 30 days or more.

The practical implication is that a snowbird flying to Florida (Air Canada, WestJet, Porter, Air Transat, or any US carrier) gets the I-94 automatically and is registered. A snowbird driving to Florida by land does not get an I-94 by default. Two paths exist: pre-apply for a provisional I-94 within seven days of crossing on the i94.cbp.dhs.gov website (USD 30, not refunded if denied, and not always recognized at the border in practice), or arrive without an I-94 and register through G-325R within 30 days. The Canadian Snowbird Association currently advises that requesting an I-94 at the land border is rarely granted in practice and that G-325R is the more reliable path for long stays.

After admission, retrieve and print your I-94 from i94.cbp.dhs.gov. The "Admit Until" date on the I-94 is the legal limit of your stay, regardless of what the CBP officer said verbally and regardless of the passport stamp (if any). Track that date.

Goods at the border

For personal-use goods accompanying you to Florida, no duty is owed on personal effects (clothing, electronics for personal use, household goods, medications). Restrictions and prohibitions apply to certain categories: fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats are restricted under USDA rules; plants and soil are restricted; firearms are permitted but must be declared and meet specific compliance requirements; pets require proof of rabies vaccination (Bringing pets). Processed and packaged Canadian foods (crackers, sealed dairy, candy, coffee) are generally admissible.

Section 06Phase 3. Arrival in Florida

The first week in Florida is heavy on logistics. The work splits into utilities, connectivity, and verification of insurance and supplies.

Utilities at a snowbird property are typically held in a "vacant" or seasonal mode while you are away. Reactivating them on arrival requires a phone call or online action with each provider: Florida Power and Light or Duke Energy for electricity, the local water utility (which is municipal and varies by city), Comcast Xfinity or Spectrum or T-Mobile Home Internet for connectivity. Allow one to three days for full reactivation; some utilities have remote-meter capability and reactivate within hours, others require a service appointment. Run the air conditioning for at least 30 minutes on arrival and verify that it cools properly. Florida humidity rises sharply in March, and a failed compressor in April is more expensive than the same compressor in November.

Connectivity has two layers: the home internet (above) and the mobile line. Canadian roaming plans cover Florida but at a premium that is rarely justified for a four-month stay. The two practical alternatives are a US prepaid SIM (T-Mobile, AT&T Cricket, Mint, or Walmart Family Mobile, all available without an SSN and without a US credit history) and a US virtual number (Google Voice, Skype) for VoIP-based calls and texts. The dedicated guides are Mobile plans, US carriers for Canadians, and US phone number.

For tolls, Florida operates the SunPass network on the Turnpike, much of I-95, and the Beachline. A Canadian licence plate without a transponder triggers a TOLL-BY-PLATE invoice mailed to the registered owner (with surcharges of typically 50 to 75 percent over the SunPass rate, and uncertain delivery to a Canadian address). Either install a SunPass transponder (USD 15 hardware, prepay-funded), or set up a SunPass PRO with the rental car company if you are not driving your own vehicle. See SunPass tolls.

Verify travel medical insurance on arrival. Save the insurer's emergency number in your phone, your spouse's phone, and on a paper card in your wallet. Provincial health cards (RAMQ in Quebec, OHIP in Ontario, MSP in BC, and others) do not cover medical expenses incurred in Florida. They cover emergency expatriation home only in narrow scenarios. If a Canadian snowbird needs an emergency room in Florida without travel medical insurance, the bill is paid out of pocket and reimbursement from the provincial plan is partial at most.

Section 07Phase 4. During your stay

The in-stay phase has three recurring concerns: tracking days for the SPT, managing prescriptions, and preparing for hurricane season.

Day counting and the Substantial Presence Test

The IRS Substantial Presence Test treats a foreign individual as a US tax resident for a calendar year if they are physically present at least 31 days in that year and at least 183 weighted days over the current year and the two preceding calendar years. The weighting is: every day in the current year counts as one day; every day in the prior year counts as one-third of a day; every day in the year before that counts as one-sixth of a day.

A snowbird who spends a steady 122 days per year in the US (roughly four months) reaches 122 + 41 + 20 = 183 weighted days, hitting the threshold. The relief mechanism is the closer-connection exception under IRC § 7701(b)(3)(B). To qualify, the individual must be present in the US for fewer than 183 days in the current year, maintain a tax home in Canada, have a closer connection to Canada than to the US, and timely file Form 8840, Closer Connection Exception Statement for Aliens, with the IRS by 15 June of the following year.

The two dedicated guides are Substantial Presence Test: 183-day formula and Closer connection exception (Form 8840). The day-counting tool is the Day-presence calculator.

The practical discipline is to keep a contemporaneous log of every day in the US, with entry and exit dates, supported by receipts (gas, hotel, flight). CBP can pull a ten-year travel history at any inspection, and the IRS audits Form 8840 filings on occasion. A simple spreadsheet, kept updated through the season, is enough.

Medication refills mid-stay

If you brought a 90-day or 120-day supply and the season extends, the legal options for refill are: a Canadian family member mailing the medication to your Florida address (lawful for personal-use, non-controlled substances), a Canadian online pharmacy shipping to Florida (same constraints), or a paid consultation with a Florida-licensed physician for a US prescription. Crossing back briefly to Canada to refill is sometimes done but is the least efficient option in time and travel cost.

Hurricane season

Hurricane season in Florida runs from 1 June to 30 November, with peak activity from mid-August to mid-October. A snowbird present in Florida during those months should know their evacuation zone (county-level designation A through E, available on each county emergency-management website), maintain a basic kit, and have a plan for evacuation to a hotel inland or out of state. The dedicated guide is Hurricane prep. Snowbirds returning to Florida in November and leaving in April are mostly outside the peak window, but the season is asymmetric: a late-season storm in October or early November is not unusual.

Section 08Phase 5. Pre-departure from Florida

The departure phase mirrors the arrival phase in reverse, with extra attention to the property because Florida's heat and humidity are more aggressive than a Canadian summer.

For a snowbird who owns the unit, the typical configuration is air conditioning maintained at 27 to 28 °C (80 to 82 °F) with the dehumidify mode active. Turning off the air conditioning entirely is a frequent and expensive mistake: indoor humidity rises within 48 hours, mould grows on drywall, soft furnishings, and HVAC ducts, and the remediation cost commonly exceeds the electricity savings by an order of magnitude. The water heater can be set to vacation mode or its lowest setting. The water main can be shut off if the unit is fully empty for the duration. Non-essential circuit breakers (icemaker, dishwasher, laundry) can be turned off to limit the small probability of a slow leak going undetected.

Mail handling: file a USPS Hold Mail request through usps.com (free, up to 30 days; for longer, a Mail Forwarding back to Canada is required). Vehicle: if leaving the car in Florida, install a battery tender, top up the fuel tank to limit condensation, and confirm the parking arrangement. If shipping the car back to Canada, book the carrier four to six weeks in advance. Refrigerator: empty perishables, leave a box of baking soda inside, and either leave the refrigerator on at the warmest setting or unplug it with the door propped open.

Tax documents: if you received any US-source income during the stay (rental income from a Florida property, dividends from a US brokerage, interest from a US bank), the corresponding 1042-S, 1099, or W-2 may arrive at the Florida address in January or February. Either set up a US mailbox that forwards to Canada or arrange for a trusted contact in Florida to scan and email the documents.

Section 09Phase 6. Re-entry through CBSA

The CBSA inspection on re-entry is the inverse of CBP, with its own threshold structure. The key facts are the personal-exemption tiers and the alcohol/tobacco quantities.

A snowbird returning after four to six months in Florida is well past the 48-hour threshold, so the CAD 800 exemption applies. Goods purchased in Florida (clothing, electronics, household items, gifts) are valued at the price paid in USD and converted to CAD on the day of import. Alcohol and tobacco above the exempt quantities are taxable, with provincial markups added to the federal duty. Firearms previously exported from Canada under a non-resident or PAL declaration must be re-imported with the matching documentation.

ArriveCAN is no longer mandatory for re-entry by land, sea, or air. It is currently available as an optional tool for advance-declaration submission at participating Canadian airports only (Toronto Pearson, Montréal Trudeau, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Halifax, Québec, Billy Bishop). Land crossings do not use ArriveCAN. The CBSA officer at the booth will ask the standard customs questions either way.

Section 10Worked example

A Quebec couple, both 67, leaves Montreal on 15 November 2025 to drive to a condominium they own in Hollywood, Florida. They return to Montreal on 15 April 2026.

Days in the US: 152 days in the 2025 calendar year (15 November to 31 December = 47 days plus the prior part of the calendar year if any), recalibrating: 47 days in 2025 (15 Nov to 31 Dec) and 105 days in 2026 (1 Jan to 15 April). For SPT purposes, the relevant calculation in respect of 2026 is: 105 days in 2026, plus 47 / 3 ≈ 16 days from 2025, plus the weighted contribution of 2024 (if any), divided by 6. If they made the same trip in 2024-2025 (47 + 105 = 152 days again), then 2024 contributes 152 / 6 ≈ 25 days. Total 2026 weighted days: 105 + 16 + 25 = 146 days. Below 183, so no SPT residency, and Form 8840 is precautionary rather than required, although the Canadian Snowbird Association recommends filing it any year the weighted total exceeds 100 days as defensive evidence.

Border procedure: arriving by land at Champlain on 15 November, they do not receive an I-94 by default. Their stay will exceed 30 days, so they must register. Two options: pre-apply for a provisional I-94 at i94.cbp.dhs.gov within seven days of crossing (USD 30 per person, USD 60 total, not always honoured at the border), or arrive without an I-94 and submit Form G-325R through their myUSCIS account before 14 December 2025 (free, but two separate accounts required for the couple, and proof of registration must be carried on them throughout the stay). The G-325R route is currently the more practical choice for this couple, per Canadian Snowbird Association guidance.

CBSA return: arriving at Lacolle on 15 April 2026, well past 48 hours abroad, the CAD 800 exemption applies per person, so CAD 1,600 combined. They have purchased over the season a set of patio furniture (USD 1,400, equivalent to roughly CAD 1,950 at a 1.39 rate), a laptop (USD 800), and incidentals (USD 300). Total US purchases: USD 2,500 ≈ CAD 3,475. Less the CAD 1,600 combined exemption: CAD 1,875 of dutiable value. At the standard rate (GST plus duty depending on the tariff classification, with USMCA preferential treatment for items proven to be of US, Canadian, or Mexican origin), the assessed amount is in the range of CAD 200 to CAD 350. They have kept all receipts, declare proactively on the CBSA Declaration Card (E311 or kiosk), and pay at the secondary inspection counter.

Forms to file in 2026: Form 8840 with the IRS by 15 June 2026 (closer-connection statement; not strictly required at 146 weighted days but filed defensively).

Section 11Common mistakes

The errors below recur across many seasons and many snowbirds.

The first is treating the six-month admission as automatic. CBP officers can grant less, particularly on a second or third entry within twelve months. A traveller who states "I'll be staying about five months" and is granted four months has no recourse. The "Admit Until" date on the I-94 is binding regardless of what the officer said verbally.

The second, since 11 April 2025, is failing to register past the 30-day mark when no I-94 was issued at a land crossing. The G-325R is now mandatory for that scenario and is enforced as a misdemeanour. Many snowbirds drove to Florida in November 2025 unaware of the rule and discovered it only on departure.

The third is assuming the closer-connection exception is automatic. Form 8840 must be filed on time. Late filings can be denied, exposing worldwide income to US taxation.

The fourth is leaving the air conditioning off during the Florida summer. Mould remediation cost on a 1,200-square-foot condo regularly runs into five figures; the electricity cost of running A/C at 28 °C with dehumidify mode is a small fraction of that.

The fifth is exhausting the provincial health-card residency requirement. Most provinces require the resident to be physically present in the province for a minimum number of days per year (Quebec: 183 days as of recent rules; Ontario: 153 days in 12 months; British Columbia: 6 months in 12 months) to maintain coverage. A snowbird who exceeds the absence threshold loses provincial coverage with reinstatement delays. The numbers vary by province and have changed; verify the current rule with your provincial body before the trip.

The sixth is buying alcohol over the exempt 1.14 L limit at the duty-free shop on the way back. Duty-free at exit does not waive the import duty on entry. The bottle is duty-free on the US side and dutiable on the Canadian side.

The seventh is not keeping receipts. CBSA can ask for receipts on goods declared on return; without them, the officer estimates value, often higher than actual.

Section 12Actionable checklist

The compressed version, by phase. Each item is one task, executable in one sitting.

1. Notify card issuers (60 days before departure).
2. Set up Canada Post Mail Forwarding to Florida address (15 days before).
3. Set up USPS Informed Delivery at Florida address (anytime before).
4. Confirm home insurer's vacancy clause and arrange property checker (30 days before).
5. Reduce thermostat, drain or shut off water as required (departure day).
6. Confirm auto insurer's US extension in writing (15 days before).
7. Fill four-to-six-month medication supply (30 days before).
8. Arrive at CBP and confirm I-94 issuance, or plan G-325R registration before day 30.
9. Print I-94 from i94.cbp.dhs.gov within 24 hours of crossing.
10. Reactivate Florida utilities, run A/C check (week 1).
11. Set up US SIM or US virtual number (week 1).
12. Top up SunPass (week 1).
13. Verify travel medical insurance is active (week 1).
14. Start day-counting log (day 1).
15. Track hurricane bulletins from June through October (in-stay).
16. File USPS Hold Mail before departure (week before leaving Florida).
17. Set A/C to standby mode at 27 to 28 °C, water heater to vacation, water main as appropriate (departure day).
18. Empty refrigerator, install vehicle battery tender if storing (departure day).
19. Declare goods, alcohol, tobacco, currency at CBSA on return.
20. File Form 8840 with the IRS by 15 June for the prior calendar year if SPT exposure exists.

Section 13FAQ

Do I need an ESTA to enter the US as a Canadian? No. ESTA is for Visa Waiver Program nationals (most European countries, plus several others). Canadian citizens are not part of the VWP and do not need ESTA. Canadians enter as B-1 or B-2 visa-exempt at the port of entry.

If I drive to Florida and don't get an I-94, am I in violation of the law on day 31? You are in violation of the alien-registration rule if you have not filed Form G-325R (or otherwise registered) by the 30th day. The exposure is a misdemeanour with civil and criminal penalties. The fix is to file G-325R before day 30 of each trip.

Can I extend my B-2 admission while in Florida? Yes, in principle. Form I-539, Application to Extend or Change Nonimmigrant Status, is filed with USCIS before the I-94 expires. In practice, processing times have been long (often more than the requested extension), and the application carries a non-trivial risk of denial. Most snowbirds prefer to depart and re-enter for a fresh admission, accepting that the new admission is again at the officer's discretion.

Does spending more than six months in the US break my Canadian tax residency? Not by itself. Canadian tax residency is a facts-and-circumstances test (significant residential ties, secondary ties, intent), not a day-count. But staying in the US more than six months can trigger US tax residency under the SPT, and the closer-connection or treaty tie-breaker mechanism is then needed to preserve Canadian-only taxation. The dedicated guides are linked above.

Do my groceries from Publix count toward my CAD 800 exemption? Only if you are bringing them back to Canada. Goods consumed in Florida are not imported. Only goods accompanying you on return through CBSA are subject to the exemption and any applicable duty.

Do I need to declare my SunPass transponder when I bring it back to Canada? The transponder itself has no resale value and is typically a non-issue. The associated SunPass account balance is not a monetary instrument under the CAD 10,000 reporting rule.

Can I work remotely for my Canadian employer while in Florida? Visa-exempt B-2 status is for tourism and pleasure, not for work. Remote work for a Canadian employer while physically in the US is a contested area: technically not "US employment" but performed from US soil. The conservative guidance is to treat extended remote work from Florida as creating both immigration risk (B-2 was not granted for that purpose) and tax risk (US-source income exposure). A cross-border tax attorney can scope your specific situation.

Section 14Out of scope for this guide

Several adjacent topics are addressed in dedicated guides on this site, and one (the G-325R procedure itself) is being prepared as a separate article. This guide does not cover: the detailed I-94 retrieval and dispute procedure (treated in I-94: why check your exit date), the full B-2 admission framework (B-1 / B-2 status for Canadians: 6-month max), the SPT calculation in detail (Substantial Presence Test: 183-day formula), Form 8840 mechanics (Closer connection exception (Form 8840)), permanent relocation (Permanent relocation), or pets at the border (Bringing pets). Province-by-province residency-day rules for provincial health card retention are addressed in the Health and insurance chapter.

CanadaFlorida Editorial Team. Research drawn from primary public sources cited at the bottom of every guide: U.S. and Florida statutes and regulations, U.S. and Canadian federal agencies (IRS, USCIS, CBP, CBSA, Canada Post, USPS), and the Canadian Snowbird Association where the agency-issued guidance has been ambiguous. Every figure, rate, threshold, and deadline in this guide is drawn from a verifiable primary source listed below. The article is updated whenever the underlying rules change, with a fresh review date stamped at the top.

Essential disclaimer. This document is reference information for educational purposes only. It is not legal, tax, accounting, real estate, immigration, medical, or financial advice and does not create a client-professional relationship. Before any concrete decision, consult a licensed professional in the relevant jurisdiction: a Florida-licensed attorney, a cross-border tax professional, a Canadian or US immigration attorney, a Florida-licensed insurance broker, or your physician, depending on the question at hand. Treat this content as a research starting point, not as professional advice.

Section 15Related articles on this site

Permanent relocation · Personal effects import · Temporary vehicle import · Mobile plans · US phone number · SunPass tolls · Substantial Presence Test · Closer connection exception · B-1 / B-2 status for Canadians · I-94 exit date · Hurricane prep · Bringing pets · Pharmacy coverage · Overseas voting