Yes, Canadian citizens generally do not need a visa for tourism or short business trips to the U.S. but must present proper identification like a valid U.S. passport or WHTI-compliant document, with stays typically up to six months; exceptions exist for those with criminal records or previous immigration violations.
In most circumstances, Canadian citizens don't require visitor, business, transit or other visas to enter the United States from Canada but there are some exceptions.
You can enter Canada as an American-Canadian dual citizen with a valid Canadian or US passport. You don't need a Canadian passport, a Canadian visa or an eTA to enter Canada if you're travelling with a valid US passport.
Most Canadians traveling to the United States for short visits will see no change. However, effective October 1, 2025, permanent residents of Canada and other visa-required travelers applying for certain work, family, or specialized visa categories will now have to pay an added fee.
Citizens of Canada and Bermuda generally do not require visas to enter the United States, for visit, tourism and temporary business travel purposes. For more information see U.S. Embassy Ottawa website, U.S. Consulate Hamilton website and CBP website.
Canadian visitors are generally granted a stay in the U.S. for up to six months at the time of entry. Requests to extend or adjust a stay must be made prior to expiry to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service .
Under the order, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security must ensure that all non-Americans staying in the country for more than 30 days register with the government. Canadians staying in the U.S. for more than 30 days must complete an I-94 form and register with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services upon entry.
Most visitors can stay for up to 6 months in Canada. If you're allowed to enter Canada, the border services officer may allow you to stay for less or more than 6 months. If that's the case, they'll put the date you need to leave by in your passport. They might also give you a document.
There are several possible reasons for a Canadian to be denied entry to the United States of America: Criminal Inadmissibility - If you have ever been convicted of a crime in Canada or abroad, even if it was 20+ years ago, you risk being denied entry to USA.
“Ninety-nine per cent of Canadian citizens are visa exempt. … Those individuals will not have to pay the new visa integrity fee, unless they are investors or fiancés of U.S. citizens.”
The visa policy of Canada requires that any foreign citizen wishing to enter Canada must obtain a temporary resident visa from one of the Canadian diplomatic missions unless they hold a passport issued by one of the 54 eligible visa-exempt countries and territories or proof of permanent residence in Canada or the ...
Singapore retains its position as the world's most powerful passport, offering visa-free access to 192 destinations. At the opposite end, Afghanistan once again ranks last, with access to just 24 destinations.
On January 14, 2026, the State Department announced via its X.com account that it was pausing all immigrant visa processing for applicants from 75 countries processing effective January 21, including countries like Brazil, Iran, Russia and Somalia.
As of 2026, Canadian citizens have visa-free or visa on arrival access to 181 countries and territories, resulting in the Canadian passport being ranked 8th in the world according to the Henley Passport Index. It is ranked 8th by the Global Passport Power Rank.
No, most Canadian citizens visiting the U.S. for tourism don't pay $250 to enter, but Canadian permanent residents (PRs) and citizens needing specific work, student, or family visas may now pay a new U.S. Visa Integrity Fee of $250 (USD) starting in late 2025, added to existing visa costs. This fee applies when applying for a U.S. non-immigrant visa, not for standard visa-free tourist entries, and can be reimbursed if visa rules are followed.
To immigrate to the US from Canada, you must apply for either an immigrant or nonimmigrant visa. An immigrant visa allows you to move permanently to the US and is typically sponsored by an employer, a US citizen spouse, or a relative. A nonimmigrant visa is for those moving temporarily to the US for school or a job.
Freedom of travel and increased visa-free travel
Average Canada Visa Processing Time
5 months from the date of receiving the application. Depending on the course and country you are coming from, the processing time is around 1 – 2 weeks at minimum. It can take up to 3 – 4 months for nationals of some countries.
Iceland, Japan, Vietnam, Switzerland, and Singapore are consistently ranked among the world's safest for family travel, thanks to low crime rates, clean cities, and reliable healthcare.