When Traveling Within the Us Is a Passport Required

Visitors cross the border to see the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. (Photo: Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images )

Whether yous traveled by motorcar to Canada to see Niagara Falls, or flew to Vancouver to tour the urban center, you were required to provide citizenship and identification documents earlier you could cross the border into Canada. Depending on how you're traveling back to the U.s.a., you'll need to provide much of the same documentation to return to the U.Southward. after your trip.

Proof Of Citizenship

If you're returning to the U.S. by land, you must provide one Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative-compliant document to prove your citizenship. This includes a valid U.S. passport, passport card, enhanced commuter's license, a trusted traveler bill of fare such as NEXUS, or a Native American Tribal Photograph Identification or Enhanced Tribal Bill of fare for Native Americans. Military personnel can besides use their military identification along with official orders proving the reason for travel. U.South. citizens on official maritime business tin use a U.Southward. Merchant Mariner document. If you are returning to the U.S. from Canada by air, y'all tin merely apply a U.S. Passport every bit proof of citizenship.

Chilren Under xvi

If y'all're traveling to and from Canada with children under the age of 16, yous must provide an original or a copy of each child's nascency certificate. Other acceptable documents for American minor children include a Consular Study of Nascency Away and a naturalization document. Children don't need a U.South. passport for this trip. If you're traveling with your kids without their other parent, or if you're traveling with kids that are not your own, y'all must have a signed, handwritten letter from the non-traveling parents, giving you permission to travel to and from Canada with the children.

Native American Exception

As of publication, the Department of Homeland Security is working with all U.S. federally recognized tribes to produce an Enhanced Tribal Card, which will make it easier for Native Americans to cross in and out of the Canadian border by country. In the meantime, Native Americans tin can continue to utilize either their Native American Tribal Photo ID, Form I-872 American Indian Carte for Texas and Oklahoma Kickapoo Americans, or an Indian and Northern Affairs Canada Card.

Cruises and Boats

If y'all're returning from Canada to the U.S. via a prowl ship that departed from the U.S., stayed within the Western Hemisphere and is returning to the same U.Due south. port, yous may present any government-issued photograph ID along with proof of citizenship, such equally your passport, birth certificate, naturalization certificate or Consular Report of Birth Abroad. Ever check with your cruise line to brand sure you bring all required documents. For passengers traveling from Canada to the U.S. on a ferry or other pocket-size boat, the aforementioned rules employ equally if you were crossing by land; you must provide any Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative-compliant document as proof of citizenship.

Declaration Grade

If you lot are returning to the U.Due south. by air, y'all volition be handed a U.S. Customs and Border Protections Annunciation Form, requiring you to declare anything y'all purchased in Canada that you are bringing back to the U.S. This includes anything that was given to you as a gift or items you are bringing back for someone else. You must also declare all the money you lot accept on you. Certain items will be restricted or prohibited altogether, including some alcoholic beverages, firearms, biological specimens and certain animal products. Most appurtenances purchased in Canada are considered duty-free or eligible for a reduced duty rate due to the North American Free Trade Agreement. If yous are traveling by land, when you arrive at the border a CBP officeholder volition ask you what you are bringing back with you lot. Depending on how much y'all're conveying, he may ask y'all to make full out a declaration form. Be aware that your baggage may be searched.

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Author Bio

Based in Los Angeles, Zora Hughes has been writing travel, parenting, cooking and human relationship articles since 2010. Her piece of work includes writing city profiles for Groupon. She also writes screenplays and won the S. Randolph Playwriting Honour in 2004. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in television writing/producing and a Master of Arts Management in amusement media management, both from Columbia College.

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