By Gay Cororaton, MIAMI REALTORS® + RWorld Chief Economist
Notwithstanding trade tensions between the US and Canada, more Canadians moved to South Florida in 2026, with 1,386 Canadian driver license exchanges in the first three quarters of 2026, up 17% from one year ago, according to MIAMI REALTORS® + RWorld analysis of Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle data.
Amid a decline in Latin American migration, Canada emerged as the 2nd largest origin of foreign driver license exchanges, up from 7th place in 2021 (1,195 full year).
Read the 2026 Q3 South Florida Driver License Exchanges Report HERE.
By county, the bulk of Canadian driver licenses in the first three quarters of 2026 were exchanged in Miami-Dade County (495), Broward County (471), and Palm Beach County (384). While fewer licenses were exchanged in Martin County (19) and St. Lucie County (39), Canadians were the top movers (also the top mover in Palm Beach County).
Canadians do not have to exchange their Canadian driver licenses for a Florida license to drive on Florida’s roads if they remain non-residents. Residency is established by working in Florida, enrolling a child in public school, filing for a homestead tax exemption, or filing other residency-establishing acts. Thus, the number of Canadian driver license exchanges is an indicator of the number of Canadians who have established residency in Florida, likely for work reasons. These new residents constitute a smaller group of the total Canadian homebuyer market in South Florida, of which 82% reside abroad and who are purchasing property for vacation or rental purposes. 2025-MIAMI-International-Report.pdf
Notable Canadian businesses expanding into South Florida
Despite the US-Canada trade tensions, Canadian businesses are expanding into South Florida, drawn to the area’s continuing economic transformation from a tourist destination to a finance/tech hub, the gateway to Latin America, and the epicenter of wealth migration.
Ken Griffin’s $2 billion donation to establish a Carnegie-Mellon University campus and the opening of a Vanderbilt graduate campus in West Palm Beach positions the area into becoming a top tier global university hub. Carnegie Mellon University Announces Historic $3 Billion Gift from Ken Griffin, Pioneering a New Model for Higher Education – News – Carnegie Mellon University
The Canada-Florida Chamber of Commerce reported continued expansion by Canadian technology and AI companies in Miami and Palm Beach during 2025-2026.BUSINESS: UPDATE ON CANADIAN BUSINESSES IN FLORIDA | Le Soleil de la Floride.
In 2024, Gladstone, a Toronto-based ad agency, design studio and multimedia production company, opened its first international office in Miami. Gladstone is known for its campaigns in real estate, hospitality, and lifestyle sectors, with Ritz-Carlton as a long-standing client. Industry News: Victoria’s H2 expands to Calgary, Gladstone Media opens in Miami » Strategy
In 2025, popular Vancouver-based Canadian restaurant chain Cactus Club Café opened its first ever location in the United States at the Citigroup Center in downtown Miami. Famed Canadian Chain to Open First U.S. Location in Miami | Miami New Times
In January 2026, GFL Environmental Inc., a waste management company, relocated its executive headquarters from Ontario to Miami Beach, Florida. GFL’s Miami Move: A Canadian Waste Giant Chasing U.S. Index Inclusion.
In February 2026, Sagard Real Estate expanded its industrial footprint in Miami. Sagard Expands Miami Industrial Footprint in Strategic Sunbelt Play.
In March 2026, Collective Mining , a mining company, moved its executive headquarters from Toronto to Miami to broaden its access to the U.S. market. Collective Mining relocates executive headquarters to Miami while remaining a Canadian company.
As of September 2026, Skilled Trades College of Canada is in the final stages of opening its first campus outside of Canada in downtown Miami, occupying 30,000 square feet in the Omni Offices building in Miami’s Arts and Entertainment District. The campus aims to enroll approximately 800 new apprentices annually in electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and home renovation training programs. Nationally, the United States has a construction workforce gap of 350,000 workers, according to Associated Builders and Contractors. Canadian Skilled Trades College Opens First U.S. Campus in Downtown Miami to Train 800 Apprentices a Year – Miami Wire
Canada already has a strong presence in the financial sector. The TD Bank (Toronto-Dominion) has 19 branches in South Florida, offering financial advisory and wealth investment services for high-net worth Canadian investors into South Florida.
High net worth individuals who have purchased South Florida real estate
GFL Environmental CEO Patrick Dovigi, one of Canada’s wealthiest executives, purchased a waterfront mansion on Miami Beach’s Sunset Islands in April 2025, adding to his property acquisitions in Bal Harbour and Fisher Island. Billionaire Patrick Dovigi Buys Waterfront Miami Beach Home
A company affiliated with the family office of Canadian billionaire Lino Saputo acquired a waterfront property on Allison Island in Miami Beach in 2025, which expands the family’s existing holdings on the island. The Saputo family controls Saputo Inc., one of North America’s largest dairy companies. [therealdeal.com]
In 2024, an unnamed Canadian buyer purchased the late “Margaritaville” singer Jimmy Buffett’s landmarked cottage near the ocean in Palm Beach. UPDATE: Canadian buyer snags Jimmy Buffett’s Palm Beach cottage for $6.11M
