Do you need a passport to go to Canada?

Question

We will be driving from Niagra Falls to Chicago...the shortest route takes us through Canada. Do we need passports or is a birth certificate enough?

Answer 1

If your trip is soon you will be fine. You need your drivers license and birth certificate. But as of next year you will need a passport to drive into Canada.

Answer 2

Entry to Canada has not changed. That means a birth certificate and piece of government issued picture ID is acceptable.

"Entry or re-entry" to the USA is your concern here. In your case, it will be considered "re-entry" as you have to go back to the USA after the bit of travel in Canada. By road, you do not need a passport until January 2008 (at the earliest).

A passport will ease things for you in any kind of travel, but is not required for what you want to do.

From Canada Border Services site:
What is the WHTI?
The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) is a new U.S. law that requires all travellers, including Canadians, to carry a valid passport or other appropriate secure document when travelling to the United States from within the western hemisphere


(see how it says "to" the USA and not "to" Canada?)

Answer 3

The answer to the question, "Do I Need a Passport to Visit Canada?" depends on how you are planning to cross the Canadian border. As of January 23, 2007, the WHTI requires American citizens to present a passport when crossing the Canadian border by air. So, all airports in Canada now ask to see passports from all people travelling from outside of Canada, including from the US.

(In February 2007, the new passport requirements were relaxed for children.
The other date, which is when the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) will require citizens to present a passport when crossing the Canadian border by land or water, is yet to be determined. The deadline for the changes to take place, however, is June 1st, 2009.

Answer 4

if your driving into canada u dont need a passport,if ur flying you need a passport,niagra falls is beautiful,you just need u r identification with a photo.

Answer 5

Currently no passports are required; that all will be changing soon due to US Homeland Security measures.

Although passports are not required, they certainly do speed things up, especially upon re-entry into the US

Answer 6

You will be enterning Canada thru customs now all is required is two pieces of id. (drivers lic-birth certificate etc) they will ask where you are going tell truth just passing thru.
You will then return to USA thru US customs and the same id is required. In 2008 the laws may change

Answer 7

b/c and photo id are enough. a word of advice, fuel up before coming through. our gas is expensive.

Answer 8

see these requirements:

New Requirements for U.S. Citizens

* 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)
* Fact Sheet - WHTI's Successful Implementation (01/30/07) (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