Canada just updated its U.S. travel advisory and it includes phone searches at the border

If you're a Canadian heading to the United States anytime soon, you might want to double-check your travel documents — and maybe your phone settings, too.

Canada has once again updated its official travel advisory for the United States, and the latest guidance includes some serious warnings about how Canadian travellers may be treated at the border.

The update, published on April 4, says Canadians should now expect extra scrutiny when entering the U.S., including possible searches of electronic devices like phones and laptops. Border agents can ask for your passwords, and if you refuse, you could be denied entry or have your device confiscated.

It doesn't stop there, though. The federal government is also warning that U.S. authorities may ask for proof of your legal status at any time during your stay — not just at the border. Even if you've made it across, you could be pulled aside and questioned again.

Perhaps the most concerning part of the advisory? Canadians who are denied entry "could be detained while awaiting deportation," according to the government.

This comes just days before a new U.S. rule goes into effect on April 11, requiring Canadians staying more than 30 days to register with the U.S. government — or risk fines and penalties. That rule was introduced under an executive order signed by President Trump in March, sparking fresh tension between Ottawa and Washington.

On top of that, the advisory notes that visa application instructions were changed in February, and Canadians applying for a U.S. visa are urged to double-check the updated requirements before submitting anything.

With everything from border delays to paperwork changes piling up, the message from Ottawa is clear: stay informed and be prepared. That spontaneous weekend in Vermont might require a bit more planning than it used to.

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