do i need a passport to get into canada?

Question

my buddy and i were going to go up to canada and visit, staying in Hamilton at a relative's house.

I keep getting mixed answers and we're going to end up calling borders anyway, but does anyone know what the deal is with passports?

we're going to drive there, if that makes any difference. some say you need one to fly, others say you always need one, yadda yadda yadda.

any idea? i live in pennsylvania.

Answer 1

No passport needed to drive until Jan 2008 or later.
At present you need official photo I.D. (and perhaps proof of citizenship, i.e. birth certificate) to get into Canada.
To get back intot he U.S. you need official photo I.D. (Drtivers license) and proof of citizenship).

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html

Answer 2

Please note people are giving you conflicting information here so no wonder you're frustrated! Here's the deal - right now the US government required you to have a passport to re-enter the Us by sea or plane. Starting in January 2008 this will also apply at land crossings (car/bus/train). Although Canada has not technically said they will require the same it is expected they will since both Americans and Canadians will have to carry their passports. For now by car you don't need a passport but generally two pieces if photo ID which shows citizenship or something like that - like drivers lic and health card.

Many people think the passport requirement will not happen for Americans and Canadians due to the fact that the border is predicted to become snarled and uncrossible due to lack of resources to process so many passports. It's unlikely the governments will risk the worlds's most valuable trading relationship over such an issue - more likely that the two countries together are going to get much tougher on third-party nationals to basically keep tabs on who gets into the two countries and once in then they are sort of freer to move between which is a better efficient system like the EU nations use (alhtough we'll still have customs and border crossings like we see now)

Answer 3

You don't need the passport to get into Canada, but

you will need your passport to get back into the states.


I took a road trip their a couple years ago and needed it then. I doubt the border restrictions have gotten tighter, but I can't answer you definately.

Answer 4

When I went last summer I took my BC, SS card and license. We drove over the border at North Dakota and did get lots of questions, so many that we felt guilty, even though we were just going to Winnepeg for vacation.

Answer 5

No... not yet. Check this link out

Need one to fly, not to drive, until 2008

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html

Answer 6

to go into canada isnt a problem...its coming home that might be tricky! good luck