Required Documents to Enter Canada

[Frosty]

Hello all,

I plan on going to Niagara Falls, Canada on Fourth of July weekend. What are the documents needed to make such a passage from New York into Canada?

I thought a Passport was required, but I have come across a website or two that says a birth certificate (or other form of proof of residence) and photo I.D. are sufficient for U.S. citizens.

Does anyone know? Thanks.

 

[timmopussycat]

Those may be the documents our customs requires to let you enter Canada, but make sure that those documents will get you back into the US. Your border police are thorough.

 

[JoyFullMom]

A couple of years ago, we were told that to *re-enter* the US from Canada, we would need passports AND birth certificates. I would contact border patrol.

 

[Zach]

My family goes each year and I'm pretty sure that they have started requiring Passports. I know we have taken ours for at least two years now, and did not in the past.

 

[Berean]

Canada-U.S. Border Crossing Check-List

Traveling outside of the U.S. - Documents needed for U.S. Citizens

 

[ericfromcowtown]

I would presume that you will need your passport. As recently as two or three years ago, we could enter the U.S. with just our driver's license, but a passport is now required. I expect that the same would be true for American citizens entering Canada.

 

[baron]

A Passport or enhanced driver license. I do not know if all states or just NY has enhanced license. From what I understand though if you have a driver license and or birth certificate they have to let you back in. But they will delay and make it a hassle for you. I was thinking of doing it just to find out but there is nothing in Canada I want to see.

 

[Notthemama1984]

What is an "enhanced driver's license?"

 

[athanatos]

A Passport or enhanced driver license. I do not know if all states or just NY has enhanced license. From what I understand though if you have a driver license and or birth certificate they have to let you back in. But they will delay and make it a hassle for you. I was thinking of doing it just to find out but there is nothing in Canada I want to see.

/\ This. I just went through Canada via Buffalo, NY and entered via Port Huron, MI with just my passport. This was last May 24th.

Michigan has the EDL, but I only had my passport and a normal DL.

What is an "enhanced driver's license?"

It is a driver's license with additional information on it (including a scan bar that is compatible with passport scanners) that allows you to enter Canada easily. It also has a radio chip so it can be read from 25 ft (or something like that), so that you can pass through without needing to be stopped (if you're a truck driver, for example)... or something like that.

 

[baron]

NYS DMV - Enhanced Driver License FAQs

The cost of an enhanced license is around $80. They came up with these so the Bingo crowd can still cross for Bingo. Canada did not want to loose out of the Bingo money. The bingo crowd was not going to spend over a hundred dollars for a passport, to go play bingo. Since we now have casinos and Indian bingo.

But if I wanted to fly to Alaska I would need a passport. The enhanced license is no good for far travel.

 

[Gord]

Check Both US and Canadian customs, you are crossing a boarder with two governments with different views on security. Don't be disappointed by not checking.

Once you get here, you will wonder what all the fuss was about, you will get the feeling of being in a 3rd world country. I do and I was born here. The Indigenous people are the only ones smart enough to fight for their own rights.

 

[Edward]

A passport card, if you have one, can be used to return from Mexico and Canada - the full passport book isn't needed. I think, but you should check, that the passport card can also be used for cruises. They can also be used for domestic airline travel.

 

[Frosty]

Thanks. Sent in the forms and fees to renew (expedited) my wife's passport. Looks like it is my best bet afterall. Hope we get it back by July 2!