CDN snowbirder's and the tax people

rockhillmanor wrote:
I honestly did not know until I read this forum that Canadians can only leave their country for so long and that they have to beat feet back by a certain amount of days. I meet a lot on the road and feel sorry for them having to worry about leaving enough travel days back to not be in voilation.

That article addresses residency. Maybe for a full timer but last I looked going to another country for a few months on vacation does not constitute residency. That's a REAL long stretch for the government to step in on. :R

How did the Canadians allow this restriction of limited days out of their country to ever have been passed? Do you get to vote on these issues?

Canadians have NO LIMITATION in any way shape or form on how long they can be out of Canada. The article is referring to "cheaters" who may be collecting benefits like unemployment insurance while they are on holidays. If you are collecting unemployment insurance benefits you must be available to take a call that a job is available and go to work. Makes sense right. If you collecting unemployment insurance you are supposed to be looking for a job.

Canadians can lose certain benefits such as health care coverage if they leave their province for two long. Some are 180 days, others are 210 days and one territory is 364 days. This doesn't prevent you from leaving the country, it just makes you arrange for private ex pat health care insurance in which ever country you are in. Canadian health care coverage covers a Canadian anywhere in the world, but only up to what the cost of the procedure would be in Canada. That is why it is important for Canadians to get health care insurance when visiting the US but not important if visiting countries like Spain, UK, France etc as the cost schedule of tratments is similar to Canadas.

Every country has limits on how long a foreigner can be in a country. The US is 90 days but for Canadians they allow 180 days. The 183 days refers to the IRS and how it deals with taxing foreigners. Canada doesn't care how long you are in the US or any other country but it is up to you to arrange for health care coverage if you are out of the country for more than the prescribed time of the province or territory. Every province is different but you can also request an extended stay out of the province and still keep your health care privileges. Some allow this once every 5 years for up to 2 years.

Expat insurance is not expensive unless you are travelling in the US. We will be out of the country for 12 to 15 months starting 2017 as we tour Europe and North Africa. We are well studied on this subject.