Do you need a passport to come back to United States from Canada?

Question

Do you need a passport to come back to United States from Canada?

Answer 1

Yes

Answer 2

ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS:  All Americans traveling by air outside the United States are required to present a passport or other valid travel document to enter or re-enter the United States .  This requirement will be extended to sea travel (except closed loop cruises), including ferry service, by the summer of 2009.  Until then, U.S. citizens traveling by sea must have government-issued photo identification and a document showing their U.S. citizenship (for example, a birth certificate or certificate of nationalization), or other WHTI compliant document such as a passport card for entry or re-entry to the U.S.   Sea travelers should also check with their cruise line and countries of destination for any foreign entry requirements.

Applications for the new U.S. Passport Card are now being accepted.  Based on current projections, we expect to begin production of the passport card in June 2008 and be in full production in July 2008. The card may not be used to travel by air and is available only to U.S. citizens. Further information on the U.S. Passport Card is available at http://travel.state.gov/passport/ppt_car... and   upcoming changes to U.S. passport policy can be found on the Bureau of Consular Affairs web site at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbp...  We strongly encourage all American citizen travelers to apply for a U.S. passport well in advance of anticipated travel.  American citizens can visit travel.state.gov or call 1-877-4USA-PPT (1-877-487-2778) for information on how to apply for their passports.

Both the U.S. and Canadian governments urge frequent travelers to join the NEXUS trusted traveler program.  NEXUS members receive a special travel card that allows expedited border crossings for both private and commercial travelers through both U.S. and Canadian border controls very quickly.  For information about the NEXUS program see http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/nexus/menu-e...  

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.  

U.S. citizens entering Canada from a third country must have a valid U.S. passport.   A visa is not required for U.S. citizens to visit Canada for up to 180 days.  Anyone seeking to enter Canada for any purpose besides a visit (e.g. to work, study or immigrate) must qualify for the appropriate entry status, and should contact the Canadian Embassy or nearest consulate and see the Canadian immigration web site at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/index.asp.  Anyone with a criminal record (including even misdemeanors or Driving While Impaired (DWI)) charges may be barred from entering Canada and must qualify for a special waiver well in advance of any planned travel for further processing, which may take some time.  

For further information on entry requirements, travelers may contact the Canadian Embassy at 501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington DC  20001, tel. [phone], or the Canadian consulates in Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, San Juan or Seattle.   The Canadian Embassy’s web site is http://www.canadianembassy.org/.

Answer 3

Yes sir.  You need a passport if you're going anywhere outside of the US and to come back in.  If you don't have one yet start working on it because it takes usually 3 or 4 weeks to get.

Answer 4

I was informed that you do not need one until 2009....

I do alot of business travel and was told this by a pretty responsible person who has family in Canada.

If travelling by air you need one, if by land or sea, it is not needed until Summer of 2009

Answer 5

Actually, if you are flying, then yes, you MUST have a passport. At this time you don't need one if you are driving. However, it is a good idea to have one for traveling, otherwise you need your birth certificate and photo ID.

Answer 6

For air travel a passport is required.

The rules are different for land and sea travel, as outlined below.

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative governs the rules for US Citizens traveling to the following destinations: Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean Region.

At the moment U.S. citizens need to present either

1) a passport, passport card  or WHTI-compliant document; or

2) a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, along with proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate.

However, on June 1, 2009, the U.S. government will implement the full requirements of the land and sea phase of WHTI.  The proposed rules require most U.S. citizens entering the United States at sea or land ports of entry to have a passport, passport card, or WHTI-compliant document.  

A WHTI document is one of the following:

1) Trusted Traveler Cards (NEXUS, SENTRI, or FAST)

2) State Issued Enhanced Driver’s License (when available)

3) Enhanced Tribal Cards (when available)

4) U.S. Military Identification with Military Travel Orders

5) U.S. Merchant Mariner Document when traveling in conjunction with official maritime business

6) Native American Tribal Photo Identification Card

7) Form I-872 American Indian Card

Answer 7

Yeah!!!

Answer 8

I'm assuming that when you say "come back" it means your trip will be starting in the US -- then going to Canada -- then going back to the US.

It depends on where you are enterting and exiting Canada, and if you are driving or not.

I can answer your question if your means of travel is by car. You do NOT need a passport, but it's a good idea to have an alternative type of ID aside from your driver's license.

The website bellow looks up to date and helpful.