Florida Winter Checklist for Snowbirds (Canada & US Northeast)

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Trading snow boots for flip-flops for a few weeks, or a few months? A Fort Lauderdale winter is easy to love. It's even easier when the paperwork, the insurance and the phone bill are sorted out before you leave.

We wrote this for everyone who commented SNOWBIRD on Instagram. It's the checklist we'd hand a friend: what to sort out at the border, what your health plan does and doesn't cover, how to avoid a roaming bill, and what to pack for a South Florida winter.

Every rule here comes from an official government source, linked in the text and at the bottom. Rules change, so check the official page before you travel. This guide is general information, not legal, immigration, tax or insurance advice.

The checklist at a glance

# What to do Why
1 Carry your passport (or NEXUS card) and proof of ties to home Canadians can usually visit for up to 6 months, but the officer decides
2 Staying 30 days or more? Make sure you're registered US rule for visitors 14 and older. An I-94 counts
3 Buy travel medical insurance and check your province's time-away rule Provincial plans pay little outside Canada
4 Plan your phone: roaming add-on, Wi-Fi or a US eSIM Roaming data adds up fast over a long stay
5 Pack light layers, sunscreen and an EPA-registered bug repellent Winter highs are in the mid-70s to around 80°F
6 Book early, sort out tolls and use a card with no foreign transaction fee January to March fills first, and Florida tolls are cashless

Aerial view of a Fort Lauderdale canal home with a pool on a sunny winter day

1. At the border: how long you can stay (Canadians)

The Government of Canada says Canadian visitors can usually stay in the United States for 6 months without a visa. "Usually" matters: the US border officer decides how long you're admitted for. To stay longer than you were given, you have to apply to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for an extension before your authorized stay ends.

Be ready to answer two simple questions clearly: how long you're staying and where you're staying. According to the Government of Canada, US officers may ask for:

  • Evidence of residential, employment or educational ties to Canada
  • Proof that the trip is for a legitimate purpose and is of a reasonable length
  • Proof that you have enough money for your stay

If an officer thinks you're spending more time in the US than in Canada, it's up to you to show that you're a temporary visitor.

What to keep in your carry-on:

  • ☐ Passport valid for your whole stay (by air you need a passport or a NEXUS card at designated airports)
  • ☐ Your return ticket or planned return date
  • ☐ Proof of ties: a property tax bill or lease, a recent utility bill, a letter from your employer or a pension statement
  • ☐ Your rental confirmation with dates
  • ☐ Proof of travel medical insurance (see section 3)

2. Staying 30 days or more? The US registration rule

This one is newer and worth getting right. Since April 11, 2025, the US has enforced a long-standing law that requires foreign nationals aged 14 and older who stay in the US for 30 days or longer to be registered with the US government. DHS finalized the rule on June 29, 2026. It was a big change for Canadian snowbirds, who often entered without any paperwork.

You're generally already registered if:

  • You were issued an I-94. The rule says anyone issued Form I-94 on admission is already registered. If you arrive by air, CBP generally issues an electronic I-94. The Government of Canada suggests checking that you were registered by looking up your I-94 on the CBP I-94 website a few days after you arrive.
  • You last entered using NEXUS (or Global Entry, SENTRI or FAST). The 2026 final rule added these Trusted Traveler documents as evidence of registration for people last admitted through Trusted Traveler processing, such as a NEXUS lane.

If you drive in and don't get an I-94:

Canadians entering at a land border often aren't issued an I-94, and in that case they aren't registered. You have two options:

  • Before or at the border: apply for a provisional I-94 online before you arrive (on CBP's I-94 website or CBP's mobile app), or request one at the port of entry. The official fee for an I-94 at a land border is US$30 (for fiscal year 2027, from October 2026).
  • Already in the US without an I-94: register online with Form G-325R through a USCIS online account. If USCIS schedules a fingerprint (biometrics) appointment, there's no biometrics fee.

Also good to know:

  • Children under 14: parents or guardians must register them. A child registered before age 14 must re-register within 30 days of turning 14.
  • Carry your proof. Registered visitors 18 and older must carry their evidence of registration (for example, your I-94 printout or USCIS proof of registration).
  • It's not optional. Willful failure to register can lead to a fine of up to $5,000, up to 6 months in jail, or both.

This is the most technical part of the checklist. If your situation doesn't fit neatly (a mix of air and land entries, dual status or longer stays), check the official USCIS Alien Registration page before you travel.

3. Health coverage: don't rely on your provincial plan

This is the item people most often skip, and it's the most expensive one to get wrong.

The Government of Canada says your provincial or territorial health plan may cover none, or only a small part, of medical costs abroad, and it recommends buying travel health insurance before you leave. Its US travel page adds that visitors without travel health insurance have to pay out of pocket, and to choose a policy that covers medical evacuation and hospital stays.

Example: Ontario (OHIP). For emergency care outside Canada, OHIP pays at most:

  • CA$50 a day for outpatient care (or the amount billed, if that's less)
  • CA$400 a day for inpatient care in an intensive care unit, coronary care unit, operating room or neonatal/pediatric special care unit
  • CA$200 a day for lower levels of inpatient care

Ontario itself recommends buying private health insurance before you leave.

Ontario's time-away rule. To keep OHIP, you must be physically in Ontario for 153 days in any 12-month period. If you've been outside Ontario for more than 212 days in any 12-month period, you may have to reapply. Ontario has separate rules for longer absences (more than 7 months outside Canada), with coverage for up to 2 years if you qualify. Check those before you plan an extra-long winter.

Not from Ontario? Every province and territory has its own rules on how long you can be away and what it pays abroad. Check your own health plan's website before you book.

Coming from the US Northeast? You don't need travel insurance in Florida, but check whether your health plan has a provider network in South Florida and how it handles out-of-area care.

Health checklist:

  • ☐ Travel medical insurance bought, covering your full dates (including hospital stays and medical evacuation)
  • ☐ Policy number and the insurer's emergency phone number saved in your phone and on paper
  • ☐ Your province's time-away rule checked
  • ☐ Prescriptions refilled for the whole stay, kept in original labelled containers

4. Your phone: avoid a roaming surprise

Daily roaming passes are fine for a week. Over a month or a whole winter, they add up fast. Canada's telecom regulator, the CRTC, suggests:

  • Ask your provider about travel plans or add-ons before you leave.
  • Turn off data roaming in your phone's settings so it doesn't connect to other networks without you noticing.
  • Use Wi-Fi wherever you can for calls, video chats and streaming.
  • Consider a local SIM, eSIM or prepaid plan for long stays. Your phone has to be unlocked and compatible with US networks, and you'll need to tell family your temporary number.

Under the CRTC's Wireless Code, Canadian providers have to notify you when you're roaming internationally. They also can't charge more than $100 in data roaming charges per billing cycle unless you explicitly agree to pay more.

Phone checklist:

  • ☐ Plan checked or travel add-on bought
  • ☐ Phone unlocked if you plan to use a US eSIM or SIM
  • ☐ Data roaming off until your plan is set
  • ☐ Banking and 2-factor apps checked (some send codes by text to your home number)

5. What to pack for a Fort Lauderdale winter

Winter here is warm, sunny and mostly dry, with the occasional cool front. These are NOAA's official 1991–2020 averages for Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport:

Heated pool and waterfront patio at Cardoso Luxury Stays in Fort Lauderdale

Month Average high Average low Average rainfall
November 80.8°F (27°C) 68.3°F (20°C) 3.69 in
December 77.7°F (25°C) 64.7°F (18°C) 2.78 in
January 75.6°F (24°C) 60.9°F (16°C) 2.90 in
February 77.4°F (25°C) 63.3°F (17°C) 2.38 in
March 79.7°F (27°C) 65.6°F (19°C) 2.38 in

January is the coolest month. Cold snaps do happen: the National Weather Service's Fort Lauderdale records show lows in the 20s°F in December, January and February. Evenings near the water can feel cool, so bring a layer.

Sun. The winter sun is still strong. The FDA recommends a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher, reapplied at least every 2 hours, and more often if you're swimming or sweating. The sun is most intense between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. For babies under 6 months, the FDA says sunscreen isn't recommended. Keep them out of the sun and ask your doctor.

Bugs. Use an EPA-registered insect repellent. The EPA says registered products have had their safety and effectiveness reviewed. Look for the EPA registration number on the label, and always follow the label directions.

Packing checklist:

  • ☐ Light layers: T-shirts, shorts, a light sweater or hoodie and a light jacket for cool evenings and cold fronts
  • ☐ Swimsuits (more than one)
  • ☐ Sandals plus a pair of walking shoes
  • ☐ Broad-spectrum sunscreen SPF 15+, a hat and sunglasses
  • ☐ EPA-registered bug repellent
  • ☐ A light rain jacket or umbrella
  • ☐ Reusable water bottle

6. Bonus: booking, driving down and money

Book early for January to March. Long winter stays are usually planned months ahead. If you have fixed dates for January to March, lock them in early.

Driving down I-95. I-95 runs the length of the East Coast to South Florida. Expect tolls on parts of the drive through the Northeast. In Florida, many toll roads are cashless:

  • SunPass is Florida's toll pass. SunPass says that if you already have E-ZPass, you don't need to buy a SunPass PRO, and the SunPass PRO works everywhere E-ZPass is accepted.
  • No transponder? Florida mails an invoice to the vehicle's registered owner (Toll-By-Plate), which can include admin charges.
  • Rental car? Post-paid Toll-By-Plate isn't available for rentals. Use the rental company's toll program, or add the rental's plate and dates to your own prepaid SunPass account.
  • 95 Express lanes in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties are tolled. The operator says drivers without a valid SunPass account must pay the toll plus $25 per 24-hour period. If you have an out-of-state transponder, check that it's accepted before you use them.

Cards and cash. Foreign transaction fees can add a few percent to every purchase. Canada's Financial Consumer Agency uses 2.5% as an example of a currency conversion charge. Before you go:

  • ☐ Use a credit card with no foreign transaction fee for everyday spending (check your card agreement)
  • ☐ Tell your bank and card issuers your travel dates
  • ☐ Avoid cash advances on a credit card: outside Canada the fee is usually higher, and interest starts right away
  • ☐ Bring a backup card kept separately from your wallet

From our family: Cardoso Realty

Thinking about a winter home of your own?

Some snowbirds rent for a few winters before deciding to buy. Our family also operates Cardoso Realty, a Fort Lauderdale brokerage led by broker Martius Cardoso. If you are starting to look at condos or homes in Fort Lauderdale or Broward County, we can help you compare neighborhoods, waterfront options, flood zones, insurance and association rules before you make an offer.

Explore South Florida homes with Cardoso Realty →

FAQ

How long can a Canadian stay in Florida?

Canadian visitors can usually stay in the United States for up to 6 months without a visa, but the US border officer decides on the length of your stay. To stay longer than you were admitted for, apply to USCIS for an extension before your authorized stay ends.

Do Canadian snowbirds need to register with the US government?

Yes, if you're 14 or older and staying 30 days or longer. If you were issued an I-94 (usually the case when you fly in) or you last entered through NEXUS processing, you're generally already registered. If you drove in and didn't get an I-94, you can get a provisional I-94 before crossing, or register online with Form G-325R once you're in the US.

Does OHIP cover me in Florida?

Only a small part. OHIP pays up to CA$50 a day for outpatient emergency care and up to CA$400 a day for the highest levels of inpatient care. US hospital bills can be much higher, so buy travel medical insurance before you leave.

What's the weather like in Fort Lauderdale in winter?

Warm and mostly dry. Average highs run from about 76°F (24°C) in January to about 81°F (27°C) in November. Average lows run from 61°F (16°C) in January to 68°F (20°C) in November. Pack light layers for the occasional cool front.

Do I need a SunPass to drive in Florida?

No. SunPass says transponders aren't required on Florida's toll roads. Without one, tolls are billed to the vehicle's registered owner by mail, and admin charges may apply. If you already have E-ZPass, SunPass says you don't need to buy a SunPass PRO.

See open dates

Spending the winter in Fort Lauderdale? Our canal home sleeps 12: heated pool, private dock, kayaks, game room. Weekly and monthly winter stays: see open dates.

Game room with pool table and arcade games at Cardoso Luxury Stays, for cool winter evenings

See open dates →

More guides for your Fort Lauderdale winter

Sources

Last checked November 1, 2026.