Statistics Canada’s latest “Travel between Canada and other countries” release, published 23 April 2026, offers the most up-to-date snapshot of cross-border mobility before the busy summer season. Using newly integrated Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Next-Generation Handheld data, StatCan reports that Canadian residents made 3.3 million return trips abroad in February—down 5.5 % year-on-year—while non-resident entries to Canada rose 6.3 % to 1.48 million. The headline: same-day and short-stay car trips to the United States continue to slide, recording a 12.5 % year-over-year decline and marking the 14th month of contraction. Analysts tie the slump to a weaker loonie, tighter U.S. retail-duty exemptions and lingering border-crossing friction.
![Air and land arrivals: February data show Canadians still travelling less to the U.S., overseas visitors rebounding]()
For travellers and corporate mobility teams working through these changing border dynamics, VisaHQ can simplify the paperwork. Its Canada platform (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) lets users instantly verify entry requirements, complete visa or eTA applications online and receive expert guidance—saving time whether you’re a Canadian heading overseas or an overseas visitor coming to Canada.
In contrast, overseas travel by Canadians increased 6.8 %, suggesting pent-up demand for long-haul leisure and “work-cation” travel. Inbound traffic tells a different story. U.S. resident arrivals climbed 5.9 %, powered by automobile crossings (+6.8 %) and a modest 4.8 % rise in air arrivals. Overseas arrivals grew 7.5 %, with Asia—especially China, Taiwan and South Korea—leading the rebound after Ottawa’s phased visa processing normalisation. Seasonally adjusted data show exports of Canadian travellers inching up 1.6 % month-over-month, whereas inbound U.S. and overseas flows dipped slightly. For corporate travel planners, the figures confirm a two-speed market. Domestic teams moving staff south of the border face a soft supply of flight and accommodation inventory, while inbound client and assignee volumes—especially from Asia—are gaining pace. Companies should monitor capacity constraints at key gateways, where the switch to CBSA primary-inspection kiosks and handhelds may shorten wait times but could also generate early-stage glitches. StatCan will release March data on 21 May, providing the first read on post-Easter mobility and any early reaction to prospective U.S. visa-fee hikes. Until then, February’s numbers suggest that Canada remains an attractive short-haul destination, even as Canadians themselves are getting choosier about cross-border shopping trips.
For travellers and corporate mobility teams working through these changing border dynamics, VisaHQ can simplify the paperwork. Its Canada platform (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) lets users instantly verify entry requirements, complete visa or eTA applications online and receive expert guidance—saving time whether you’re a Canadian heading overseas or an overseas visitor coming to Canada.
In contrast, overseas travel by Canadians increased 6.8 %, suggesting pent-up demand for long-haul leisure and “work-cation” travel. Inbound traffic tells a different story. U.S. resident arrivals climbed 5.9 %, powered by automobile crossings (+6.8 %) and a modest 4.8 % rise in air arrivals. Overseas arrivals grew 7.5 %, with Asia—especially China, Taiwan and South Korea—leading the rebound after Ottawa’s phased visa processing normalisation. Seasonally adjusted data show exports of Canadian travellers inching up 1.6 % month-over-month, whereas inbound U.S. and overseas flows dipped slightly. For corporate travel planners, the figures confirm a two-speed market. Domestic teams moving staff south of the border face a soft supply of flight and accommodation inventory, while inbound client and assignee volumes—especially from Asia—are gaining pace. Companies should monitor capacity constraints at key gateways, where the switch to CBSA primary-inspection kiosks and handhelds may shorten wait times but could also generate early-stage glitches. StatCan will release March data on 21 May, providing the first read on post-Easter mobility and any early reaction to prospective U.S. visa-fee hikes. Until then, February’s numbers suggest that Canada remains an attractive short-haul destination, even as Canadians themselves are getting choosier about cross-border shopping trips.
