Do you need a passport to fly from pearson to orlando

[cottontail]

Does one need a passport to fly from toronto pearson to orlando?
Or would a birthcertificate and drivers license be enough.
Thanks,

Deb.

 

[RoyalCanadian]

While passports are certainly the preferred form of identification for international travellers -- Canadian citizens are still allowed the privilege of using ID such as the items you have mentioned when enterring the United States. The driver's licence gives you the necessary photo ID while the birth certificate is your proof of Canadian citizenship.

 

[FatCow]

Not according to airport officials. For border crossing, yes, but not through airport.

 

[lilsonicfan]

Not according to airport officials. For border crossing, yes, but not through airport.

This doesn't sound right to me. I have never been asked for a passport when flying to the States. Is this from experience, or official?

I did a little research on the net and found this:
"Planning to travel to the U.S. or Mexico?
Although the Government of Canada recommends that Canadians travelling to any destination outside of Canada carry a valid passport, it is not mandatory for travel to the United States or Mexico. To date, there is no policy change requiring Canadians to travel with their passports to these destinations. However, you must have sufficient identification to satisfy border officials of your identity and citizenship."

This is from the Canadian Passport Office website (http://www.ppt.gc.ca/travel_tips/trip_planning_e.asp).

For someone like me, who doesn't do much travelling, I just can't justify the cost of a passport when a driver's licence and BC will do just fine. I understand that it is probably good to have the passport, but I never really go anywhere outside of Canada or the US.

 

[FatCow]

I heard this from one official who works at the airport.

Theoretically (according to a buddy of mine who is an immigration lawyer in Nashville), DL and BC should be enough, but they can legally ask you for a passport and if you don't have one they can legally refuse entry ("they" as in US immigration officers).

 

[lilsonicfan]

That is interesting info... I also found this info:

Passports

While U.S. authorities currently do not have a legal requirement that Canadians carry a passport, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade strongly urges all Canadians travelling to the United States to obtain and carry a Canadian passport before leaving Canada. It is the only document that conclusively proves that you are a citizen of Canada with the right to return to Canada. Remember that a Canadian passport is still the best internationally accepted evidence of your Canadian citizenship and the best possible photo identification

This is from http://www.voyage.gc.ca/main/pubs/usa_bound-en.asp - the Cdn Consular Affairs website.

I guess I'll take my chances!

 

[SKFamily]

We've been checking this out, too - holy those passports are pricey!

To start with I was told no, birth certificate etc. was enough. Then I was told by someone at the passport office that technically Canadians don't NEED them, but individual airlines can decide whether or not you need it to board their flight.

Then my brother spoke to someone at USINS (within the last month) about a trip of his own - not flying. He was told that by this summer Canadians will unofficially require a passport when flying, and it won't be long before they're needed when driving too. Now, this won't be official , but according to that agent it will soon become very difficult for even Canadians to enter the US without a passport.

So, we'll be getting the damn passport for one trip.

 

[Amberle3]

Keep in mind that a passport is good for 5 years, so when you break the cost down by year it works out to $17 per year.

Another benefit of having a passport is the ability to take advantage of last-minute specials to other locations. For example, in September I saw an unbelieveable cruise special (not one of those too-good-to-be-true things, an actual real special) for a 7 night Carnival cruise for $79 Canadian (plus taxes). Not per night either, $79 for 7 days. From a trusted, reputable vendor that's listed as one of Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies. They don't happen often, but they do happen.

 

[mbb]

Originally posted by Amberle3
Keep in mind that a passport is good for 5 years, so when you break the cost down by year it works out to $17 per year.

Another benefit of having a passport is the ability to take advantage of last-minute specials to other locations. For example, in September I saw an unbelieveable cruise special (not one of those too-good-to-be-true things, an actual real special) for a 7 night Carnival cruise for $79 Canadian (plus taxes). Not per night either, $79 for 7 days. From a trusted, reputable vendor that's listed as one of Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies. They don't happen often, but they do happen.

Wowzas!!


Can you give us a hint? That would be one website I'd love to bookmark!!

And yes, Amberle, I'd agree...a passport is one of those things that is lots of $ out front, but certainly worth the peace of mind...

 

[Amberle3]

Originally posted by mbb
Can you give us a hint? That would be one website I'd love to bookmark!!

Unfortunately they don't have a consumer website. I got the fax 'cause I'm a travel agent. The vendor is FunSun Vacations - even before I was a travel agent I requested their packages for trips to DL because they've got good hotel contracts and decent pass prices. Now whether Carnival had that particular special up on their website I don't know. I do know that, while $79 was the price on the fax, that one of the res agents told me that at one point in the day it dropped down to $24! I guess Carnival was really desperate to fill up that ship!

Check around for a travel agent that will deal with these kinds of specials (some won't) and ask to be put on their email notification list. I tell ya if I could have gotten to the port, I would have been on that ship!!

 

[mbb]

Sending you a pm!!!