Which day counts do snowbirds need to watch?
Snowbirds have to watch three separate rules, and each one counts days differently:
| Rule | What is counted | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| US substantial presence test (IRS) | Days in the US, any part of a day, weighted over 3 calendar years | 183 weighted days |
| Ontario health coverage (OHIP) | Days physically in Ontario in any 12-month period | At least 153 in Ontario (212 away) |
| Alberta health coverage (AHCIP) | Days physically in Alberta in a 12-month period | 183 in Alberta, or up to 212 away for recurring vacations if you tell AHCIP |
| Quebec health coverage (RAMQ) | Days away in a calendar year, only trips over 21 days, not counting travel days | Under 183 days away |
When do snowbirds need to file Form 8840?
When you meet the US substantial presence test but spent fewer than 183 days in the US that year.
The IRS treats you as a US tax resident if you were in the US on at least 31 days this year and this year's days + 1/3 of last year's + 1/6 of the year before's add up to 183 or more. Any part of a day counts, including the days you cross the border. Four months every winter (about 120 days a year) adds up to about 180 weighted days, which is close to the line.
If you meet the test but spent fewer than 183 days in the US this year, you can usually stay a non-resident for tax by claiming a closer connection to Canada on IRS Form 8840. File it by 15 June of the following year. If you spent 183 days or more in the US in one year, the closer connection exception isn't available. See our substantial presence test calculator for the full formula.
How long can you be away and keep provincial health coverage?
Each province sets its own rules for how long you can be away and keep public health coverage:
- Ontario: to be eligible for OHIP you must be physically in Ontario for at least 153 days in any 12-month period. If you have been outside Ontario for more than 212 days in a 12-month period, you may have to reapply.
- Alberta: tell AHCIP if you won't be in Alberta for at least 183 days in a 12-month period. If you leave for vacation on a recurring basis for up to 212 days in a 12-month period, you might keep coverage. Contact AHCIP before you go and when you return.
- Quebec: you must not be absent for 183 days or more in a calendar year. Only trips of more than 21 consecutive days are counted, and the departure and return days are not. Once every 7 years you can stay away longer for personal reasons if you tell RAMQ first.
Other provinces and territories have their own limits, often around 6 or 7 months. Check your plan before booking a long trip. Coverage abroad is limited everywhere, so buy travel medical insurance.
This calculator counts every day you are in the US as a day away from your province, including travel days. That's the cautious approach. Your province may count travel days differently.
Worked example
An Ontario snowbird spent 1 January–30 April 2026 in the US (120 days), 1 January–31 May 2025 (151 days) and 1 January–30 April 2024 (121 days).
- US tax: 120 + 151 ÷ 3 + 121 ÷ 6 = 190.5 weighted days for 2026, so they meet the substantial presence test. With fewer than 183 days in 2026 itself, they can file Form 8840 by 15 June 2027 to stay non-resident.
- OHIP: their busiest 12 months away (1 May 2025–30 April 2026) is 151 days, well within the 212-day limit.
- Registration: each stay was over 30 days, so if they drove across without an I-94 record, they needed to register with USCIS each winter.
Do Canadians need to register with USCIS?
Since April 2025, Canadians who enter the US by land and are not given an I-94 record must register with USCIS (Form G-325R) if they stay 30 days or more. Register after you arrive and before day 30. Look up your most recent entry on the CBP I-94 website first: if there is an I-94 record for it, you are already registered. The calculator flags any stay of 30 days or more.
How long can a Canadian stay in the US?
Canadian visitors don't need a visa and are usually admitted for up to 6 months at a time, at the border officer's discretion. There is no fixed yearly limit in immigration law, but border officers can refuse entry if it looks like you are living in the US rather than visiting.