The official websites say we do, however I'm listening to a few of my mom friends that said they didn't have to supply anything but their driver's liscence and birth certificates. Have any of you been across the border RECENTLY and did you really need your passport? We're planning on staying on the American side of Niagara Falls, but if we really could venture to the Canadian side, we'd love to. And yes, we're bringing the kids' birth certificates with us just in case.
Thanks so much ladies!!
I cross the Canadian/American borders frequently every year. Just did it two months ago. You do need a passport to go in and out. They changed the laws after 9/11. Have fun!
My 17-year-old daughter just went to Vancouver with a choir group and they all had to get passports.
I spoke not too long ago with a border agent in Washington State. Yes, you do. You can get into Canada just fine without one, but getting back into the U.S. requires a passport. It didn't used to, but things are much tighter now than they used to be. Perhaps they enforce it differently in different areas, if your friends have RECENTLY come back in from the Canadian side with just DL and Birth cert in the NY area... but, I don't think I would take any chances with it. Just seems like an unnecessary hassle if you don't have passports.
Yes Now you do...You can get a ID for children that will work for far less then a passport (The enhance'd ID "IS" and option for children: we did it four ours a year ago! I believe it was $30 plus $5 fee)but it is only for driving, or ferry rides across the border. Flying has to be a passport. Adults have to have a passport. Unless you want to get your liscense ID put in but I sure don't want a tracking device on me at all times yet....I know it is coming in the near future though :( I don't carry a cell phone for tracking either or GPS
I believe the laws changed after 9/11...and if the official website says YES - then YES you must show a passport.
Why not just get the kids passports? It's easy and not too expensive...it's just another way for them to prove citizenship and then you don't have to worry about not being able to get back in.
I thought you needed a passport for adult AND children to cross any borders now. (At least, by air. I don't know about land, or water.) You really need to look into this. Go by what the official websites say, not moms.
Yes you do need passports now even for driving in. It changed in June 2009. Adults can get the "enhanced" drivers license but it's not an option for kids-passports are a must. :0)
we live about 15-20 mins from the falls and - YES! you and your husband do need passports or enhanced licenses... you might be able to get out of the country without one, but coming back in they are much MUCH more strict the past few years! You don't want to get stuck in Canada!!
I called the boarder directly last summer to find out about my kids since we drove through Canada to Michigan, and they said kids under 16 (or maybe it was 18?) don't need a passport or enhanced ID, they just need birth certificates. So if you are concerned about it, and worry about the hassle of getting your kids passports (getting kids a non-driver enhanced ID is an option, its cheaper and a bit easier to get), it never hurts to call the authorities directly to make sure you have what you need!
And, doesn't sound like it will apply to you, but if kids go over with only one parent, you need written permission from the other parent to take the child out of the country (no matter if the parents are married or not!).
We have enhanced IDs and venture to Canada often. The US side is much more natural & park-like and the Canadian side is more for fun. The Cave of the Winds on the American side is great - you get to stand right under the Bridal Falls and look up at all the water crashing down, but you get soaked! (and it is getting a bit chilly to walk around in wet clothes so bring a change, or do it just before heading to hotel!) The Maid of the Mist on either side is great too :) There are fireworks on Friday nights - depending on the time of year its either 9 or 10pm. Enjoy!!
I thought since 9/11 they had changed the laws. I would bring a passport just in case.
All I needed was my driver's license and birth certificate, and that was 8 years ago. Maybe they are more strict now. Have fun at the Falls - and the Canadian side is a lot of fun. :)
yes, they changed it a year or two ago that you have to have a passport. we went just for lunch and shopping and got detained at the border for an hour, and we had our passports!! so yeah, it's a big deal.
YES!!!
They stopped us at the border and almost didn't let me back in, because I forgot it. I begged and pleaded and promised to be a good girl and they finally let me across with a warning.
Only a few states have enhanced driver's licenses. Looks like Ohio is not one of them. Passport is the way to go
Went on an Alaskan cruise that stopped in Victoria, B.C. and we needed passports. Had to have them to go on the cruise at all because of the Canadian stop.
My hubby goes to Canada frequently for work, and he absolutely needs his passport, so make sure you have them :)
~T.
Passports are needed.
We live in Washington and can use a passport or get an enhanced Washington State ID.
You need a passport for every person in your party.
LBC
yes you need either a passport or a passport card now. We went to canada in Aug 2010. Also, your kids might need passport cards too depending on their ages. The cards are almost as expensive as passports.
You can get a passport, or I think if you are just driving/walking you can get a "passport card." It is much less than a standard passport, but you can't use it on the plane. Times have SERIOUSLY changed. At one point I got across on my NY accent alone. Not anymore.
Trust me, you don't even want to SEE that movie!
Get the passports for you & hubs and good idea to bring birth certificates for the kids.
My husband needed a passport for travel back from Canada this year.
yeah you have to have your passports, they are around 100 but last 10 yrs
I'm Canadian and my husbands is American, so we drive to Canada often. Yes, you will need a passport to cross into Canada. Only children can cross the border with only a birth certificate. If you're flying everyone including children and even infants need a passport, but if you drive you can purchase a passport card that is much cheaper than a passport book, and the kids under a certain age can use their birth certificates. If you have any other questions, or if you want to confirm the response you may get, you can call immigration and border patrol departments of each country to see what the most current requirements are. Lord knows they change all the time :).
P.S. The Canadian side is so much better :). It's worth the hassle of getting a passport card.
