Canadians uneasy about U.S. fingerprint requirements, survey says

New data from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds the proportion of Canadians making multiple trips to the U.S. in the past year has fallen by half compared to data collected in both 2017 and 2023. 

Approximately one-in-10 Canadians say they have made more than one trip to the States the past 12 months now, while 19 per cent said the same in 2023 and 21 per cent in 2017.

From safety concerns to new fingerprinting rules for longer stays, to a growing antipathy toward the U.S., a winter getaway to Arizona or Florida is no longer the automatic choice it once was. 

Seven-in-10 (70%) say they would be uncomfortable travelling to the United States this winter, and two-thirds (65%) describe new border requirements for long-term visitors – including fingerprinting and registration fees – as "invasive."

Concerns about safety, politics and border treatment now rank ahead of cost or exchange rates as the top reasons Canadians are cutting back on travel. 

Further, for many who are not travelling to the U.S., this decision is seen as a way "to stand up for Canada". 

Seven-in-10 (69%) who have reduced their travel say this.

That said, experiences at the border for those who have travelled are no more difficult than they were in previous iterations of this survey. 

The border crossing experience is described as good by 85 per cent of those who have travelled, the same number as was noted in 2017 and 2023.

Additional Findings

Three-quarters of Canadians (77%) say they view the U.S. more negatively as a travel destination this year than in those prior. 

This view is held by seven-in-10 (71%) who are the most frequent travellers.

Asked whether Canada should reciprocate with similar fingerprinting and registration rules for longer-term travellers from the U.S., Canadians are divided. 

Two-in-five take each side of the debate, feeling it is appropriate (42%) or unnecessary (39%).

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