At present, do you need to have a passport to travel from the US to Canada ?

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jewelfreak22

I have attached the article from the Government. Basically it says.. If you are going to Canada before 9/30/07 you can show proof of residence i.e. drivers license, you also need to have already applied for a passport and print out something from their website showing a receipt of application. So apply for your passport now and print a receipt from the website (instructions below) if your passport isn't ready before you leave. Also just a heads up .. they need an original copy of your birth certificate with the application. You have to mail in your official copy of the birth certificate to them and you will not receive it back until you receive your passport, so it may be a good idea to get another copy of your birth certificate from the state health department where you were born.

HAPPY TRAVELING!

Travel Accommodation Announced June 8, 2007

Maura Harty, Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs on the Temporary Travel Accommodation

How Does This Affect Me?
Are you a child who is a U.S. citizen traveling to Mexico, Canada, Bermuda or countries in the Caribbean region by air and you have applied for a passport but have not received it yet?
The U.S. Departments of State and Homeland Security announced Friday, June 8, that U.S. citizens traveling to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or countries in the Caribbean region, who have applied for, but not yet received passports, can re-enter the United States by air. This accommodation does not mean that Americans are exempt from meeting the entry requirements of Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or countries in the Caribbean region, some of which require a passport, certified birth certificate, or other evidence of citizenship for entry.

We have reached out to the governments of countries affected by WHTI to consult with them about our announcement. Many of them have agreed to take a flexible approach toward their own entry requirements. For the most current information on entry requirements at their destination, travelers should contact their airline.

U.S. citizens traveling to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or countries in the Caribbean region who have applied for, but not yet received passports, can re-enter the United States by air by presentation of a government issued photo identification and Department of State official proof of application for a passport through September 30, 2007. The federal government is making this accommodation for air travel due to longer than expected processing times for passport applications in the face of record-breaking demand.

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) was mandated by Congress in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 to strengthen border security and facilitate entry into the United States for citizens and legitimate international visitors. WHTI requirements for air travel took effect on January 23, 2007.

Adults who have applied for but not yet received a passport should present government-issued photo identification and an official proof of application from the U.S. Department of State. Children under the age of 16 traveling with their parents or legal guardian will be permitted to travel with the childâ€™s proof of application status. Children traveling alone should carry a copy of their birth certificate, baptismal record or a hospital record of birth in the United States in addition to their passport application status documentation. This accommodation applies to all American citizens who apply for passports, until September 30, when this accommodation period ends. U.S. citizens with pending passport applications can obtain proof of application at: http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/status/status_2567.html.

Since implementation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has and will continue to exercise its current authorities in unique circumstances to allow individuals subject to the WHTI requirements into the United States based on other evidence of identity and citizenship.

Travel document security remains a top priority for the U.S. Government. Both the 9/11 Commission and the U.S. Congress urged strengthening of travel documents to prevent entry of terrorists across our borders, reduce use of fraudulent documents, and speed up entry procedures.

How does this affect me?

Are you a U.S. Citizen traveling to Mexico, Canada, Bermuda or countries in the Caribbean region by air who HAS APPLIED for a passport but has not received it yet?
If so, go to http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/status/status_2567.html and follow the instructions to print out your passport status page. Keep this status page with you during your entire trip for both exit from the U.S. and re-entry to the U.S.
Next, find out what the entry requirements are for the country you are visiting. In some cases, you may need to contact the Embassy of the country you are visiting.
Be sure to present the documentation required by the country you are visiting along with your printed passport status page to the airline personnel upon departure and re-entry to the U.S.
Are you a U.S. Citizen traveling to Mexico, Canada, Bermuda or countries in the Caribbean region by air and you have NOT APPLIED for a passport yet, or, you HAVE NOT APPLIED TO RENEW an expired passport yet?
If so, access the Passport Page to apply for a new passport or to renew an old passport

Once your application is in process with the U.S. Department of State (which could take up to 7 to 10 days to track online), you should:

Go to Checking the Status of Your Application and follow the instructions to print out your passport status page. Keep this status page with you during your entire trip for both exit from the U.S. and re-entry to the U.S.

Next, find out what the entry requirements are for the country you are visiting. In some cases, you may need to contact the Embassy of the country you are visiting.

Be sure to present the documentation required by the country you are visiting along with your printed passport status page to the airline personnel upon departure and re-entry to the U.S.
If you are a U.S. Citizen traveling to ANY OTHER COUNTRY and your passport application and delivery has been delayed,
Please go to U.S. Passport Application Status to check the status of your application. The online status check will verify that the application is in process, and will update to confirm when the completed passport has been mailed.
If you are a U.S. Citizen traveling to ANY OTHER COUNTRY and your passport application and delivery has been delayed and trip departure date is within two weeks, please e-mail the National Passport Information Center.

Are you a child who is a U.S. citizen traveling to Mexico, Canada, Bermuda or countries in the Caribbean region by air and you have applied for a passport but have not received it yet?
Children 16 and under traveling with a parent or legal guardian will be required to present the proof of passport application status from the Department of State (DOS) for departure from the United States as well as re-entry to the United States. Acceptable confirmation of a passport application may be found at the Department of Stateâ€™s website at http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/status/status_2567.html.

Children 16 and under traveling alone should carry a copy of their birth certificate, baptismal record or a hospital record of birth in the United States as well as the proof of passport application status from the Department of State (DOS) for departure from the United States as well as re-entry to the United States. Acceptable confirmation of a passport application may be found at the Department of Stateâ€™s website at http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/status/status_2567.html.

Children older than 16 and traveling alone are required to have a government-issued photo ID in addition to the proof of passport application status. Acceptable confirmation of a passport application may be found at the Department of Stateâ€™s website at http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/status/status_2567.html.

WarrMachine

If you are traveling by land, a birth certificate and photo ID will work. That will change in January of 2008 however.

If you are intending to fly, you must have a passport or until sometime in September, proof that you have applied for a passport.

FearEmbodied

A passport or proof of US citizenship (like a birth certificate) and photo ID are required.

SteveN

By AIR, yes. All airline passengers are required to carry a valid passport for any international flight coming in or going out of USA.

By CAR, no. All you need is a photo ID and proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate. Americans and Canadians will now be required to have a passport at all border crossings only as of June 2008, unless they push the date back another time. It was supposed to be January 2008, but the governments agreed to a postponement to help clear the backlog of passport requests.

By TRAIN or SHIP, my guess is that the same rules would apply as in a car, but you should check with the train service or cruise line to be sure.

trishalynn

If your driving, not yet but it would make the customs process faster for you.

For air - Absolutely! any one who tells you different doesn't know what they're talking about. I'm not 100 percent sure you need it to get into Canada. But I know for a fact you need it to get back into America. Its been that way for a few months now. If your going by air a passport is not optional.

Lilly

You will need a birth certificate and photo id for each traveler.

Get on the passport though, rules can change at any time!

finsoholic

very shortly, but i believe 2008 it will be mandatory, unbelievable but it's true. Never thought I would see the day!

lindsey

I'm 99% sure that you need one. Even just to get on a plane, I think you need to have your passport or proof that you have applied for one.

Peace and Love

i think you need a passport now.

J S

you don't need one where I live in Michigan, they usually just ask for your license.

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