Entry Requirements & Customs

Passports

As of January 2007, U.S. citizens and permanent residents of the United States must now show a passport to enter Canada and reenter the U.S. This is a big change from the past, when a driver's license and a smile were often enough to get you across the border. (The two governments are considering amending this rule to require a passport or a driver's license plus a birth certificate in 2008, but no final decision has been reached.) For information on how to get a passport, go to "Passports" in the "Fast Facts" section at the end of this chapter -- the websites listed can provide downloadable passport applications, as well as the current fees for processing passport applications. For up-to-date info and special bulletins on passport requirements to Canada, go to the "Document Requirements" section of the U.S. State Department Web page at http://travel.state.gov.

Even with a passport in hand, several restrictions can bar you from Canada anyway: previous involvement in criminal activity, human rights violations, or organized crime, to name three. You can also be deemed inadmissible for "security, health, or financial reasons," according to the Canadian embassy. Hopefully those won't ever come into play, but you should always have a backup plan for heading home if you're ever denied entry.

A note for teens traveling alone: If you're under 19, it's helpful to also bring a letter from a parent or guardian stating the purpose of the trip. If Customs officers are suspicious when you enter the country, they'll notify immigration officers and you might experience further delays before continuing onward. A letter can go a long way in proving that you're not running away or up to no good.

For more information about traveling into Canada, browse the "Visiting Canada" section of the Canadian website www.goingtocanada.gc.ca. You can also phone Canadian immigration officers at tel. 888/242-2100 (from within Canada) or tel. 800/992-7037 (from outside Canada).

Visas

American travelers to Canada do not require visas and neither do residents of many other countries, including citizens of most European countries, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Mexico, and some present and former British territories in the Caribbean -- this includes anyone holding a green card in the U.S. or anyone who is a British overseas citizen of the U.K. Needless to say, bring your identification or the relevant paperwork on your trip. If you're still not sure about whether you will need a visa or not, consult the Canadian government's up-to-date listing of countries whose residents do need one at www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp.