Do you need a passport to drive to CANADA? and whats the drinking age limit?

Question

It will be my 18th birthday next friday and i wanted to go to CANADA but i keep hearing different stories about the requirements to get in.

Answer 1

New Requirements for Travelers

* Media Notes
* Flyers & Fact Sheet
* Frequently Asked Questions
* Federal Regulations

Under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)

The proposed implementation timeline has two phases:

* Beginning January 23, 2007, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document, or an Alien Registration Card, Form I-551, if applicable.
* As early as January 1, 2008, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), may be required to present a valid passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. While recent legislative changes permit a later deadline, the Departments of State and Homeland Security are working to meet all requirements as soon as possible. Ample advance notice will be provided to enable the public to obtain passports or passport cards for land/sea entries.

The passport requirement does NOT apply to U.S. citizens traveling to or returning directly from a U.S. territory. U.S. citizens returning directly from a U.S. territory are not considered to have left the United States and do not need to present a passport. U.S. territories include the following: Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Travel Documents for U.S. Citizens Under WHTI

Under the proposed implementation plan, the following documents will be acceptable to fulfill document requirements:

* U.S. Passport: U.S. citizens may present a valid U.S. passport when traveling via air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda, and may also use a U.S. passport when traveling via sea and land borders (including ferry crossings).
* The Passport Card (also referred to as the PASS Card): This limited-use passport in card format is currently under development and will be available for use for travel only via land or sea (including ferries) between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. Similar in size to a credit card, it will fit easily into a wallet.
* DOS and DHS also anticipate that the following documents will continue to be acceptable for their current travel uses under WHTI: SENTRI, NEXUS, FAST, and the U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document. As proposed, members of the U.S. Armed Forces on active duty traveling on orders will continue to be exempt from the passport requirement.

Background

The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 requires the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State to develop and implement a plan to require all travelers, U.S. citizens and foreign nationals alike, to present a passport or other document, or a combination of documents, that denote identity and citizenship when entering the United States. Congress amended portions of the Act in 2006. The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative is the Administration’s proposed plan to implement this mandate.

The goal of the Initiative is to strengthen border security and facilitate entry into the United States for U.S. citizens and legitimate foreign visitors by providing standardized, secure and reliable documentation which will allow the Department of Homeland Security to quickly, reliably and accurately identify a traveler.

Media Notes

* 11/22/2006 Passports Required for Air Travel to United States as of January 23, 2007
* 10/17/2006 Department of State to Introduce Passport Card

Flyers & Fact Sheet

* Fact Sheet - Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (pdfPDF)
* Flyer on Passport Requirement for Air Travel to United States as of January 23, 2007 (pdfPDF)
* Hoja de Informacion (pdfPDF)
* WHTI Information Sheet - French (pdfPDF)

Frequently Asked Questions

* Frequently Asked Questions about the New Travel Initiative Requirements (FAQs)

Federal Regulations

*
Final Rule - Air Phase (pdf PDF)
*
Proposed Rule - Passport Card (pdf PDF)
*
Comments Submitted in Passport Card Rule Making Proceeding (DOS-2006-0329-0001)

Other Relevant Links

* Department of Homeland Security
* U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Answer 2

I am an American, but I grew up mostly in Canada where there drinking age was 18, and not well enforced. I can honestly say that there is a lot less alcohol abuse in Canada, and I do not have ANY friends in Canada who have gotten a DUI. In the US, almost everybody that I know has at least one Dui, some as many as four. (I have none) I learned the effects of alcohol at home before I even turned 18. Having a glass of wine or a beer was never a big deal. During the holidays I'd often help myself to a glass of scotch or three too. At the end of it all, I have never had a problem with alcohol in any way. I believe that waiting until a person is 21 and likely living on their own and owning a car is a bad idea. Better to learn how to drink responsibly with your parents. Now I have a four year old son, and I can tell you right now that he will not only know about alcohol before he turns 18, he will probably have a good understanding of wine, right down to regions and varietals. Same goes for beer, I would rather see him buying one good beer for $6 than six Budweiser for the same. Quality matters, quantity not so much. Americans are way too uptight about booze (and Mary Jane).

Answer 3

Drinking age is 18 in Quebec, Alberta, and Manitoba. It's 19 everywhere else.

Major cities included in the 18 provinces are Montreal, Quebec City, Calgary, Edmonton and Winterpeg. Toronto and Vancouver are not included.

Ottawa is right accross the river from Quebec, so you can taxi across the river for a beer.

It's a good idea to have a passport but you don't need one if you're driving until January, 2008. You do need photo ID, though. Your driver's license should be good enough.

If you fly, you'll need the passport starting January 23 of this year.

Answer 4

I think the drinking age has been pretty well covered -- 18 in some provinces, 19 in others.

As for driving across -- a drivers licence alone is not sufficient. You will need proof of citizenship which can be a birth certificate, a green card etc as well as your photo ID. As of 2008 you will need a passport.

For flying EVERYONE needs a passport.

Answer 5

No, you don't need a passport to drive in Canada, you need a driver's license. And the legal drinking age is 19 here in Ontario, not too sure about everywhere else.

Answer 6

The problem is not getting in to Canada but coming home. At the end of this month we are required to have a passport to go in to Canada and get back in to the US.
From what I am told, Age is only a suggestion when speaking of terms of the drinking age in Canada.

Answer 7

No , you do not need a passport to drive to Canada.You need a drivers license.You only need a passport to enter Canada.And I don't think that driving and drinking is a good idea.I know the drinking age limit is as much as you can drink in the time left before you pop your clogs.

Answer 8

you do need a passport and the age of legal drinking depends on
which province you are in .the only province that is 18 and up is Quebec the others are 19.

Answer 9

Last time I checked the drinking age was 18 in the Quebec province and 19 everywhere else.

Answer 10

Passport part not to sure about.. but drinking ages depends on the province.

Alberta, Manitoba and quebec i think... are all 18
everything else is 19.

Answer 11

I think you need a passport. Drinking age is either 18 or 19, can't remember.