The Canadian government has issued a new travel advisory warning of increased risks for Canadian permanent residents and green card holders entering the United States.
Global Affairs Canada said Canadian PRs living in the US may face re-evaluations of their residency status, potentially leading to revocation for reasons such as a criminal record or overstaying outside the US beyond permitted limits.
The notice also stressed that US visas are routinely reviewed and may be terminated at any time. Canadian citizens, by contrast, can typically remain in the US for up to six months without a visa.
The update follows the June death of Johnny Noviello, a Canadian who was a US permanent resident and died in US immigration detention after drug-related convictions triggered deportation proceedings.
The advisory also highlighted risks for Canadian PRs originally from countries affected by US travel bans introduced under President Donald Trump. Since June 9, 2025, a proclamation restricting entry from 12 countries — including Iran, Libya, Somalia and Yemen — has been in force, with partial restrictions on others like Cuba and Venezuela. While dual Canadian citizens are generally exempt, Canadian PRs without citizenship may face entry bans.
A new section warns LGBTQI+ travellers of evolving US policies. Under a January executive order, only male or female gender markers are now accepted on US documents, eliminating the option of gender-neutral markers like “X.” This affects Nexus applications, visa forms and other federal processes.
Human rights groups warn the changes could cause emotional harm, especially to transgender and non-binary travellers. Activist Gemma Hickey said requiring disclosure of sex assigned at birth risks discrimination and distress.
The advisory also noted restrictive state-level laws in some parts of the US, including bans on transgender individuals using bathrooms aligned with their gender identity or participating in certain sports.
The government urged Canadians to review entry rules carefully before travelling to the US, particularly those who are permanent residents, from travel-ban countries, or part of the LGBTQI+ community.
