“Do I need a passport to go to Canada?” It sounds like a fairly easy question to answer, but there actually are a few differing rules for whether or not you need a passport to go to Canada, depending on what country you’re a citizen of, and actually some of the rules have changed recently.
Do US Citizens need a passport to go to Canada?
Since the US and Canada share the longest land border in the world, typically it’s US citizens that are wondering whether they need a passport to go to Canada. And actually the rules are different depending on how you’re crossing the border, and they also have changed recently (in June 2009)
By Air
If you’re traveling to Canada by air, US Citizens can enter Canada with either their passport or a NEXUS card, if you have one. Note that this does include children as well
By Land
If you enter Canada by land (as I did twice last month), you can show a passport, a NEXUS card, or a FAST card (FAST cards are typically used for commercial transport)
If you have an Enhanced Driver’s License (which is a special kind of driver’s license available only in Michigan, New York, Vermont and Washington), you can also use that to cross.
Another option for going to Canada (and back) by land or by sea is the passport card, which is somewhat of a cross between a driver’s license and a passport and is cheaper than getting a full passport. Â Personally, unless I knew I wasn’t going to go anywhere but Canada or Mexico, I’d opt for the full passport.
By sea
If you’re a passenger on a closed-loop course (which is defined as a cruise that begins and ends at the same US port), you can bring a passport to go to Canada, but you don’t HAVE to – just birth certificate and driver’s license is sufficient.
Children crossing the border by land or sea
Children 15 or younger, crossing into Canada by land or by sea, do NOT need a passport to go to Canada. They may present their proof of citizenship without a photo ID. If your child does not have a passport, you can bring a birth certificate (Per the CBP, copies of the birth certificate are okay) or equivalent document.
Also, children 16-18 that are traveling with an organized group (like a sports team, or a church or school group) also do not need a passport to go to Canada.
Note that if a child is traveling without both parents, it is recommended that they bring a Child Travel consent form
Interestingly, according to the Canada Border Services Agency, if you’re a US citizen, you don’t need a passport to go to Canada, but you DO need one to enter back into the United States! So the Canadian border patrol officer will check to make sure that you can properly re-enter the United States before admitting you into Canada
Do citizens of other countries need a passport to go to Canada
If you are not a US or Canadian citizen, you DO need a passport to enter Canada. There are 2 exceptions:
Residents of Greenland (Denmark) and St. Pierre and Miquelon (French overseas collectivity off the eastern coast of Canada)Â may present their proof of identity and citizenship when entering Canada directly from those territories. If they are entering from any other place, then they do need a passport to go to Canada
US Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) may use their US Permanent Resident Card to go to Canada
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Dan Miller travels with his wife and 6 (SIX!) children. He loves to help families travel for free / cheap, especially larger families. If you are looking for help, drop him an email at 
A FAST card is only for truckers, so this audience is less likely to have one.
Why is there no mention of the US Passport card? It’s a cheaper alternative to a passport book that’s valid for land or sea crossings to/from US and Canada or Mexico. It’s similar to the EDL, but available to all US citizens, not just those from the 4 states. It also has an RFID chip like a Nexus or FAST card to “facilitate” the crossing.
Thanks – I’ve updated the post to add notes on both of those subjects
So I have US Global Entry card….do I get special treatment or a different line upon ENTERING Canada?
No – I do not believe so. I don’t actually think that you can use your Global Entry card when you’re entering the US (at least by land). By air, of course you can use it in an airport to clear customs if you’re coming from Canada (or anywhere else). I was trying to find a definitive answer on that but that’s my current understanding.
Global Entry is similar to NEXUS (which is the Canadian equivalent of Global Entry) but they’re not the same
yes you can
http://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry/frequently-asked-questions
Global Entry cards have radio frequency identification, which enables their use at SENTRI and NEXUS expedited travel lanes entering the U.S.
So it’s really a Catch 22 if you’re an American coming to Canada since Canada doesn’t require your passport (accepting Nexus card or enhanced drivers license for land/boat crossings and Nexus if by air) but to get back home you do need your passport (even with a Nexus card?). Now just wait until President Walker finishes building his wall along the northern border!
Comment:- hi there I’m from Ethiopia and i need to go to Canada by any means, so what shall i do? please i need urgent feedback write now.
If i am a US citizen with an enhanced driver’s license and we are already in Newfoundland, can i cross to St. Pierre and Miquelon with this or do I need a passport?
I crossed the border by car 5 separate times last year with my kids and my husband was not with us. Only one border agent asked for a permission letter signed by my husband. The other agents cracked jokes about me traveling alone with 5 kids. All my kids did have passports with them.
From what I’ve heard, your experience is the norm, but at least for me, it’s nice to have a letter like that just in case. As for traveling with 5 kids, I have 6, so I know where you’re coming from 🙂
Can you get back into USA without a passport? Why take a chance trying to be “cute”?