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The United States and Canada have been friends, partners and allies for over 150 years. That’s a good thing, because the two countries share the longest international border in the world. It spans 5,525 miles and it would stink if we didn’t generally like each other ;-).

Americans have been visiting Canada, and Canadians have been visiting the U.S., for what feels like forever. Many people fly to cross the border, in which case it’s like traveling to any other foreign country. Although we don’t need to worry about having a visa, Americans do need to have a passport to fly to Canada, and vice versa for Canadians visiting here.

But what about if you’re driving to Canada? Or biking there? What if you’re taking the train to cross from here to there? Or, since there are some areas where it can be done, walking to Canada? Do you still need to have a passport book?

The general answer is yes, although there are some exceptions and workarounds.

It wasn’t always that way. Until 2009, you could enter Canada by car with just a driver’s license, birth certificate, etc. I remember that’s how my parents and I drove to Niagara Falls when I was 16, and again, with a bunch of friends, when I was in my late 20s.

But in 2009, the two countries agreed that people crossing the border should have a passport book or equivalent document for transiting between the United States and Canada. The initiative, called the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), was passed by Congress, “to strengthen border security and facilitate entry into the United States.”

But like I said, there are some ways to get around not having a passport book, as well as exceptions for a few people.

Enhanced Driver’s License

Related reading: What is an enhanced driver’s license?

Enhanced driver’s licenses contain additional security features and can be used in place of a passport for travel to Canada by car.

Passport Card

Related reading: Should you get a passport card?

A passport card includes lots of information about you – full name, nationality, place of birth, gender, issue date and expiration date, a unique identification number, and a photo. It looks more like a driver’s license than a passport, but since it’s issued by the federal government, Canada accepts it to cross over the border by car, train, boat, foot, etc.

However, it’s important to note that passport cards can only be used for land or sea travel between the United States and Canada—they will not be accepted as an appropriate form of identification for international flights.

NEXUS Card

From cbp.gov: NEXUS is designed to expedite the border clearance process for low-risk, approved travelers into Canada and the United States. By paying one fee, NEXUS members have crossing privileges at air, land, and marine ports of entry that support the program.

Those are the only things an adult can use in lieu of a passport book to enter Canada “not by plane”.

What about kids?

• Children under age 16 only have to show proof of citizenship if they’re arriving into Canada by method other than plane.
• A divorced parent who has or shares custody of a child should carry a copy of the custody document.
• An adult who isn’t the parent or legal guardian of a child they are accompanying should have written permission from the parents or guardians to supervise the child.
• Any person under 18 who is traveling alone must have a letter from a parent or guardian granting permission to travel to Canada. The letter must state the traveler’s name, as well as the duration of the trip.

What if I’m going on a cruise?

If you’re traveling into Canada by boat (most Alaska cruises stop in Canada), and don’t have a passport, you’ll need to have a passport card (same goes for trains).

What if I’m walking into Canada?

If you’re walking across one of the footbridges between the two countries and go through border patrol and don’t have a passport, you’ll need to have a passport card or NEXUS card.

What about when I want to re-enter the U.S.?

Remember when we talked about that ruling in 2009? It also has rules for going back into the U.S.

U.S. citizens aged 16 and older who travel into the U.S. from Canada by land or sea (including ferries) have to present documents denoting citizenship and identity. If you don’t have a passport, you can show:

• U.S. passport card
• Trusted Traveler Program card (NEXUS, SENTRI, Global Entry or FAST)
• Enhanced Driver’s License
• U.S. Military identification card when traveling on official orders
• U.S. Merchant Mariner document when traveling in conjunction with official maritime business
• Form I-872 American Indian Card, or (when available) Enhanced Tribal Card

Children who are under age 16 (or under 19, if traveling with a school, religious group, or other youth group) who don’t have a passport can present their birth certificate issued by an appropriate state or local authority, or a Naturalization Certificate.

If you don’t have acceptable documents to enter the U.S. from Canada (although if you originally got into Canada from the U.S., you should), you may be delayed while U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the port of entry try to verify your identity and citizenship.

Feature Image (cropped): Flagwix (flag available for sale)

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