If you drive to Canada from New York, do you need to have a valid US passport?

Question

All of the sites I found while doing research are confusing. Some say you do, some say you don't, it's so unclear. So if I do not need a passport, what documents MUST I present at the border? And this is for both ways, going to Canada and coming back into the United States. Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Canada: Passport & visas

Restrictions

Any passport, identity or travel document purporting to be issued by Somalia, Bophuthatswana, Ciskei, Transkei, Venda or the All Palestine Government are not valid for entry into Canada

Passports

Required by all

Notes:

Passport validity:

1) Passports must be valid for at least one day beyond intended departure
2) Persons under 18 years of age who are not accompanied by their parents or legal guardian(s), or by just one parent or legal guardian, should have a letter of consent from the non-accompanying parent(s) or legal guardian(s), giving them permission to travel alone or with a representative or relative. Children travelling by themselves must have their own passports; they cannot use the passport of their parents even if their details are endorsed in that passport

Visas

The following DO NOT require a visa:
1) Citizens of Canada
2) British Citizens, British National Overseas Citizens & British dependent Territories Citizens who are re-admissible to the United Kingdom (does not apply to UK Passport holders where the passport is endorsed British Subject, who need a visa)
3) Citizens of British Dependent Territories who derive their citizenship through birth, descent, registration or naturalization in one of the British dependent territories of Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn, St. Helena or Turks & Caicos Islands
4) Citizens of Andorra, Antigua & Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong (S.A.R. passport holders only), Iceland, Ireland Rep, Israel (National Passport holders only), Italy, Japan, Korea (South), Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Samoa, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden & Switzerland
5) Citizens of United States & persons lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence who are in possession of their alien registration card (Green Card)
6) Holders of passports or travel documents issued by the Vatican City




United States: Passport & visas

Restrictions

Passports

Required, but NOT by the following:
1) The following definitions shall be applicable to this part:
a) The United States means the continental United States, the state of Hawaii, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Canal zone, American Samoa, Guam and any other islands or territory over which the United States exercises jurisdiction
2) A United States citizen is not required to bear a valid passport to enter or depart the United States but must provide one of the following: Oral declaration, proof of United States citizenship (valid or expired United States passport, United States birth certificate, naturalisation certificate) & valid photo
Please note that an American citizen entering American Samoa requires a valid United States passport
a) When travelling directly between parts of the United States as defined above
b) When travelling between the United States and any country, territory or island adjacent thereto in North, South or Central America excluding Cuba, provided that this exception is not applicable to any such person when proceeding to or arriving from a place outside the United States for which a valid passport is required under this part if such travel is accomplished within 60 days of departure from the United States via any country or territory in North, South or Central America or any island adjacent thereto. From 08/01/07 ALL persons, including United States citizens, travelling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central & South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport
3) Citizens of United States returning from a trip within the `Americas` holding proof of identity, i.e. birth certificate or naturalisation papers
4) Alien residents returning from a stay outside United States of less than one year holding an Alien Registration Card (form I-551) or a valid re-entry permit
5) Holders of any official travel certificate issued by any United States diplomatic or consular representation
6) Canadian citizens who are entering the United States from a country in North, Central or South America or the adjacent islands who have valid photo ID or proof of citizenship
7) Bermudan citizens who are entering the United States from a country in North, Central or South America or the adjacent islands who have valid photo ID or proof of citizenship

Answer 2

The reason you find different information and confusing results is mainly that it is not a static situation. It has been changing a lot. They first proposed you needed a passport, then they postponed and staggered in the change. This doesn't help on the web if you don't know when the last time they were updated.

So, right now, Americans and Canadians need a passport to fly. To drive, you will eventually need a passport, probably sometime next year if it doesn't change again. But this year you will cross the border (either way - eye roll) with a birth certificate and drivers license.

Answer 3

New Travel 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

* 02/22/2007 DHS Announces Proposed Passport Flexibility for U.S. and Canadian Children at Land and Sea Borders
* 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

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Answer 4

If you want to come back, you will need one.