2 American's driving across the Canadian border, one minor.. what do we need?

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pjallittle

At the present time, birth certificates alone are considered the most acceptable form of identification as the officials are seeking citizenship data. Not everyone is a licensed driver, therefore, a driver's license is less important than a birth certificate as a non citizen may obtain a driver's license.

To be on the absolutely safe side, have one of his parents provide you with a "permission" affidavit, preferably notified and including contact data. The Canadians are especially concerned because of a child that was kidnapped several years ago.

Better to play it on the safe side.

fdm215

If you have a passport take that. It's the best possible provide of identification and citizenship. That said, you'd probably be fine with birth certificates and state issued id like a license or non drivers id.

tyler

you might need consent from ur parents depending on how old u guys are (under 18 i think)

Charlie

You must have a notarized letter signed by BOTH parents to take a minor who is not your child out of the country. A typed, notarized, signed letter is fine, or you can use the form at the website below.

sodaorpop

You would need a drivers license for each adult and the birth certificate for the child. If neither adult is the parent of the child then the birth certificate and a letter from one of the parents is required. Happy trails!

JuanB

There are 3 things you need to prove when crossing the border. Your citizenship, your identity, and that you are the guardian or have permission from the guardians of any minor.

A passport proves the first two. But if you don't have a passport, a driver's license proves your identity and a birth certificate proves your citizenship. You need them both.

And you will have to either have custody of your brother, or a letter from your parents giving permission for him to cross the border with you. It is best if the letter is certified by a notary, and includes contact number for your parents.

jenny s

you will need birth certificates of everyone travelling and passports are better
you will also need a notarized letter from BOTH parents saying that the minor can travel with you. This is an absolute necessity. I travel with my son a lot to Canada and I have joint custody with his father and I ALWAYS need a notarized letter from his father to take him across the border. Even when couples are married still but only one parent is going a notarized letter is needed.
You can do a search on the web for what the letter needs to contain- basically my letter says that his father gives me, his mother, permission to travel with him to city, province on whatever date we travel. I also list my address in the US, the address where I am travelling to in Canada and the phone number of his father (so they can contact him if they way to). Customs has never kept this letter but they do ask for it and read it before they will let you in the country. Usually I just give it to them upfront (so they don't have to ask) and then I never have a problem because they know I'm prepared and not trying to hide anything or make them "pick" for things.
Have a great trip. Canada is wonderful...going twice myself this summer!

geoe41

You will need a passport to get back into the USA. It would be unwise to cross any border from the US right now without it. The fact that your brother is a minor should make no difference as long as you have proper ID and there are no extenuating circumstances.

Jessica

You will need your passport and driver's license. The brother will need a passport, and a letter from your parents giving permission. The letter DOES NOT need to be noterized.

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