What identification is needed to cross the US/Canada border?
You should have at least one document from each of these categories to satisfy new Homeland Security procedures and facilitate crossing the United States / Canada Border:
Proof of Citizenship and Proof of Identity.
-Passport
-Birth Certificate
-Voters Certificate
-Naturalization Certificate
-Drivers Licence
Travel by Air: As of January 23, 2007: If you are travelling to Canada by air, including in transit passengers who are transferring planes in the U.S., a valid passport or Air NEXUS card is necessary for return entry to the U.S.
Travel by Land and Sea: While visitors *can* continue to use such documents as their birth certificates and drivers' licences to cross the Canada-U.S. border by land and sea (including ferries) for the next short while, it is advisable to get your US Passport as soon as you can.
American visitors will soon be required to verify their citizenship with a passport. Naturalised U.S. citizens should carry a wallet-size naturalisation certificate. Permanent U.S. residents who are not citizens are advised to bring their Alien Registration Receipt Card, i.e. Green Card. (Resident aliens are required to carry their cards with them at all times.)
US Citizens: Citizens and legal residents of the United States do not need passports or visas to enter Canada as visitors. You should however carry some identification such as birth, voter's or naturalization certificate which shows your citizenship.
Other Countries: Visitors from countries other than the US require a valid passport and in some cases a visitor's visa. Visas are issued by Canadian Immigration offices, embassies and consulates.
Aliens will require an Alien Registration Receipt Card upon returning from a visit to Canada. For this information, contact U.S. Immigration
From countries other than the U.S, a valid passport is required in most cases. Citizens of certain countries may require both a valid passport and a valid Canadian Temporary Resident Visa. Contact the Canadian Embassy, Canadian High Commission, or Canadian Consulate in your country before departure to determine any passport and/or visa requirements that may apply.
CANADIANS RE-ENTERING CANADA
Canadian Citizens re-entering the country must present proof of citizenship (i.e. passport or birth certificate along with picture I.D., Certificate of Canadian Citizenship - regular size, along with picture I.D, certificate of Indian Status issued by the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, or Canadian emergency passport).
Permanent Residents boarding a commercial carrier (airplane, boat, train and bus) bound for Canada require the wallet-sized, plastic, Permanent Resident Card (PR Card). (This card replaces the IMM 1000 Record of Landing as the status document needed by Canadian permanent residents to board a commercial carrier bound for Canada.)
Permanent residents not in possession of a PR Card may be required to visit a Canadian embassy or Consulate to obtain a limited-use travel document prior to being allowed to board a commercial carrier.
