Do you need a passport to go from US to Canada?

[TZMOM]

My parents want to visit Niagara Falls this summer and were wondering if they needed to hurry up & get a passport. They asked me and I thought that if I could find an answer, somebody on these boards would know.

Thanks!!

Jane

 

[TEENEE]

I am assuming they are US citizins. If so all they need is a drivers license. Probably wouldn't hurt to have their birth certificates with them too.

 

[WDWHound]

No passport was required a few years ago. I don't think they changed that after 9/11.

 

[nativetxn]

You don't need a passport. They might want to take a copy of their birth certificates with them, though.

Sometimes they ask for your birth certificate and drivers license and sometimes they just wave you through. I carry a copy of my birth certificate with me just in case.

They're going to love Niagara Falls, it's an amazing sight.

 

[MosMom]

You MUST have proof of citizenship (birth certificate, green card, etc.) and a photo ID (Driver's License). A Driver's License alone MAY get you in...but it won't get you back into the US...especially not now.

 

[Bichon Barb]

DH and "cross over" to Niagara Falls every once in a while. Although we bring our birth certificates, they've never asked to see them. I'd just make sure you have your drivers license.

 

[MosMom]

Perhaps the Niagra border is different but we go through the Calgary airport often and they require proof of citizenship and state specifically that a driver's license is not proof of citizenship. To be safe, I would bring both because I don't think going in they will have a hard time...the potential for a hard time is on the way back.

 

[gymnasticsmom68]

I was just there in January, the only thing they asked for was my driver's license. If you bring children, you MUST have a birth certificate.

 

[Chattyaholic]

We cross over from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario every summer and we've never been asked to see our birth certificates. Not asked going over, or coming back either one.

 

[TZMOM]

Thank you very much for your quick replies!! Knew I should come here first.

Gotta call the 'dents about the good news (no passports), my dad was spazing about having to get one.

Now all I'll have to do is plan this trip for them - I'm planning to take them to WDW next year - YIPPEE!!!!


(+ I just love these "smilies" things)

 

[Bichon Barb]

Maybe there is a difference between if you are flying or driving?

 

[MosMom]

While we have driven and flown up there (driving is more laid back) they have still asked for ID & BC. It creeps me out to think that all borders aren't following regulations...especially after 9/11.

 

[MosMom]

Then again, maybe it is because my husband is darker skinned and they are profiling us. Who knows!

 

[DVC-Don]

We have switched over to a US Passport now. Much easier.

 

[chell]

My experience within the past few years has been that if you are driving the only want to see the photo id, but when flying they want the photo id and proof of citizenship. To be in the safe side, I'd have both though. Hope they have a wonderful time.

 

[Mishetta]

I live near the Windsor border & a handful of times they have asked for a birth certificate or passport. Since my passport has expired, I just carry my birth certificate when I go. It's best to be prepared, if they should ask.

 

[damo]

Last summer they wanted photo id for the kids over 14 as well. We were told to make sure we had the kids' high school id cards. We always hand over our passports when we cross either way.

 

[Cruisin]

If it were me, travelling across the border in either direction, I think I would want to have my passport, or birth certificate along with the drivers license picture ID.

You have to think. "What would I do if they wouldn't let me back into the country?". And they are perfectly within their rights not to allow you back into your own country if they don't want to for whatever reason, if you do not have proof of citizenship. A driver's license does not prove whether you are American or Canadian or any other nationality.

Say something terrible were to happen and they tightened security at the borders, if you didn't have proof of citizenship you might find yourself locked out of your own country.

Just something to think about.

 

[swea_pea1]

DH and I had gone to both been to Canada several times (always driving) before we decided to honeymoon there in 1997. Pre-9/11 makes a lot of difference, I think....

Anyhoo, we flew into Montreal and had our driver's licenses ready to go through customs. Since that's all we'd ever been asked for, that's all we brought. When it was our turn though, we found that wasn't quite enough...they wanted to see either birth certificates or social security cards. DH had his SS card, but I didn't have either. I begged, I pleaded, I explained that we were on our honeymoon and I clearly looked desperate and panicked. The customs agent agreed that I could go through if I could sing the National Anthem start to finish. So I did, very off-key and very, very quickly.

We had a wonderful honeymoon and eventually, I got the image of the Frenchmen in line behind us laughing hysterically out of my mind!

 

[dizneenut]

We were there last July and we never had to show anything (coming or going) but our driver's licenses. We have 4 boys and they didn't ask for brith certs for any of them.