Say Cheese! Big changes are coming for Canadians traveling to the U.S. – If you’re planning a trip to the U.S. in the next little while, there’s an important change coming that you’ll want to know about. Starting December 26, 2025, the U.S. will be introducing new biometric entry and exit requirements. And YES Canadians are included in this!
Basically, every time you cross the border (whether by air, land, or sea), you’ll have your photo taken as part of the regular security check. So, think of it as a quick “say cheese!” moment at the border.
Here’s What’s Changing – Beginning late next year, all non-U.S. citizens, including Canadians, will be photographed both when entering and leaving the United States. This applies no matter how you travel or arrive into the USA, by plane, train, ship, car, or even on foot.
Until now, children under 14 and adults over 79 were exempt, but those exemptions are going away. Photos will be matched to your passport using facial recognition technology managed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
In some rare cases, CBP may also collect fingerprints or other biometric data, usually to confirm someone’s identity. And for anyone wondering…YES, those photos will be kept on file for quite a while (up to 75 years, according to the Department of Homeland Security).
What You Can Expect at the Border – When you arrive in the U.S. (or before boarding your flight home), you’ll simply have your photo taken, it’s fast and doesn’t add much time to the process. The system is designed to compare your new photo to the one in your travel documents in just a few seconds.
At airports and seaports, you’ll start to see this technology pop up pretty much everywhere soon. For land crossings, it’ll be rolled out more gradually over the next few years. So, while it might feel a little different the first time, the process should be quick and smooth once you’re used to it.
You Might Be Thinking…Why the Change? The U.S. government says the new rules are all about security and accuracy — helping prevent document fraud, catching overstays, and even supporting efforts to combat human trafficking.
In short, this is part of a global trend toward using biometrics to make border crossings more secure and consistent.
For My Snowbird Friends and Anyone Staying More Than 30 Days – If you’re one of the many Canadians who love to escape south for the winter, take note of this new rule that came into effect April 2025: If you plan to stay in the U.S. for more than 30 days, you’ll need to register online with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and complete Form G-325R before your first 30 days are up.
It’s an easy step, but an important one because missing it could cause issues with your stay or future entries. And if you’re traveling with a younger family member who turns 14 while in the U.S., they’ll also need to re-register within 30 days of their birthday.
A Few Things to Keep in Mind
Change is never fun when it comes to travel rules, but this one doesn’t have to be stressful. The process is meant to be smooth, efficient, and help make border crossings safer for everyone. Always check online for the most up-to-date guidelines at Travel advice and advisories for United States (USA)
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