Does one need a passport if they are going from the US, to Canada?

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old lady

If you are driving from the US to Canada, before June 1, 2009, you don't need a passport. But you do need photo ID and proof of citizenship. If you are flying, you need a passport.
If your sister is a minor, she also needs a notarized statement of permission from both of her parents.

Carl_the_Truth

You will after June 1st. Also for Mexico,or any other country.

mr_fartson

currently you don't need a passport if you are traveling by land, but in a few weeks, you will. You need a passport fro traveling by air.

You used to need only a birth certificate or citizenship card, but Homeland Paranoia department overruled that.

Europe has the right idea - you enter one EU country, and you can travel to most others without border controls.

Charlie

"Old Lady" gave you the correct answer. See site below to read the aw for yourself.

Kat

as of June 2009 yes, you do...right now no (unless you are travelling by air then you need one)

SteveN

First, let's clarify. If your sister will be flying out of USA to anywhere, including Canada, you now need a passport. All passengers are expected to have passports for any international flights now. This is a law that was introduced in September 2008.

Now as for coming to Canada by LAND or SEA, if you are a US citizen or US permanent resident, you actually do NOT need a passport to come to Canada, only to get back home (after June 1st). It is actually US Customs that is insisting that people have passports, and so when going back into the States, your sister may find she may run into problems if she does not have the proper documents. I doubt that US Customs would prevent a US citizen from returning home, but your sister and her friend may be subjected to a long wait at the border and a lengthier interview.

I personally would recommend that they just get the passports to make things simpler. They can use that passport to go to other countries too, like a trip to Europe, Asia, or South America. And it is good for ten years if I recall correctly.

Just take a look at the items I found from the two official Customs sites. I provided the links in the source section.

This is from Canada Border Services Agency website:
"...If you are a U.S. citizen, you do not need a passport to enter Canada; however, you should carry proof of your citizenship such as a birth certificate, a certificate of citizenship or naturalization or a Certificate of Indian Status, as well as a photo ID...."

This is from US Customs & Border Protection, on their "Get You Home" website:
"...On June 1, 2009, U.S. citizens returning home from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean or Bermuda, by land or sea, will be required to present one of the travel documents listed below:
1) U.S. Passport
2) U.S. Passport Card
3) Enhanced Driverâ€™s License
4) NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST enrollment cards
Special conditions apply for Native Americans..."

Until June 1st, as US citizens you can still just use a driver's license and birth certificate.

robert43041

You travel anywhere outside your country, especially by air, you always need a passport - and for some countries (say, Russia) you also need a visa. For Canada, a passport, for travel by air or by road, you will need a passport as of June 1. So get it.

Å‹oÑThÎµÑÅ‹

Depends on how and when they are going to Canada.Are they driving or flying? your sis and her friend need passport if they're traveling by plane and don't need it by land or sea "till JUNE 09".They need government issued photo ID (s) such as a driver's license and birth certificate (s). Keep in mind that on or after June 09 they must present a VALID PASSPORT regardless of their nationality and how they get in here "by land,air or sea"

Shelby!!

haha a lot of your questions are about your sister but yeah you do need one

Meg

Yes, you need a passport to get to Canada from the US. This is a new law because in previous years, you did not have to.

I don't know.

What you really need to do is keep your American trash away from our beautiful Canada.

michael h

yes you do now after 911, but before you didnt

Jake

yes

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