Are American citizens required to have a passport to go into Canada and back yet. Looking a going there in June, wanted to just drive over for a day.

Thanks in advance.

 

As far as I know, the answer is yes. The State Dept is also issuing cards as opposed to a passport book. The card is good for land entry wheras the passport is good for land,water and air entry. I got my passport book in 2 weeks.

 

No, at this time you do not need one, but you do need proof of citizenship. A passport is strongly encouraged. This is from the State Dept web site
"Entry into Canada is solely determined by Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) officials in accordance with Canadian law, see http://www.cbsa.gc.ca for details. Canadian law requires that all persons entering Canada must carry both proof of citizenship and identity. A valid U.S. passport or NEXUS card satisfies these requirements for U.S. citizens. If U.S. citizen travelers to Canada do not have a passport or approved alternate document such as a NEXUS card, they must show a government-issued photo ID (e.g. Driver’s License) and proof of U.S. citizenship such as a U.S. birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or expired U.S. passport. Children under sixteen need only present proof of U.S. citizenship."

You can read more at http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/c...y_requirements

 

Here are the requirements as indicated by Immigration Canada for someone entering Canada as a US citizen:[*]Have a valid travel document, such as a passport;[*]Be in good health;[*]Have enough money for your stay. The amount of money you will need can vary with the circumstances of the visit, how long you will stay and whether you will stay in a hotel or with friends or relatives. For more information, ask the Canadian visa office in your country or region.[*]Convince an immigration officer that you have ties, such as a job, home and family, that will take you back to your country of origin; and[*]Convince an immigration officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your visit.

Generally photo id and proof of US citizenship will do it for you. The Canada Customs agent on the border will ask for id and will ask sufficient questions to answer the other areas of concern.

 

Getting into Canada isn't the problem, its getting back into the states that could be the hang up. Not worth the hassle. Passports are going the be the norm, may as well be safe than sorry.

 

Soos is correct. Canada does not require a passport but only photo ID and proof citizenship. Getting into the US is more of an issue. I believe the US requirement for passports at land crossings was delayed until next year but having a passport now makes for less hassle crossing. Americans will need a passport to return to the US at that point. I'm Canadian and have freinds in the US. They say the US customs is harder on Americans coming back into the US then they are on us crossing.

 

I'll just add to make sure that you've never had a DUI or you'll be turned away or have to pay a hefty fee to get in.
I was detained for over an hour and interegated over and over then finally allowed to return back the way I came.
They would have let me enter for money but I was just riding in at Idaho and returning back into Washington on the same day and wasn't about to fork over $300 to do so.
The DUI I have on my record goes way back to 1975 when I was only 20 years old and the only strike against me.
My bike was all legal,I had proof of insurance,wasn't carrying any contraband or weapons and was frankly shocked at how badly I was treated.[:@]

 

AS SOMEONE MENTIONED NO PASSPORT NEEDED UNTIL 2009, BUT YOU BETTER HAVE SOME ID COMING BACK FROM CANADA. YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT FRIDAY THE 13TH IN PORT DOVER CANADA, NICE BIKE EVENT IN JUNE THIS YEAR.

 

Don't feel bad. I was stopped by the US border agents for an old misdemeanor charge they kept me there for 4 hours. If someone needs a waiver because of a DUI (Indictable Offence) it $550.00 to get one to enter the USA. As you can see, they treat people the same in either direction. If you have charges on your record, it's tough going these days, and there working towards either side having to carry some form of electronic ID before the year is up. The date to start carrying passports was originally Sept 2008 but I have heard they have pushed that back again. It's coming though. I have my passport now just in case.

 

I was refused entry into the states 16 years ago for having a juvenile record.