Do you need a passport to go to Canada? An enjoyable visit to our neighboring nation begins with making sure you’ve got the proper documentation. Here’s what you need to know.
Blank pages needed
Duration of stay
Visa tourist needed
Not for stays under 180 days
To enter Canada, a passport is not always needed, as it depends on how you plan on crossing the border (air, sea or road). You’ll need a passport book, passport card, or NEXUS card. However, there are some restrictions about when and where a passport card and NEXUS card are acceptable.
If you are flying, you need a US passport book or NEXUS card. In the case you are crossing by land or water, you can present a passport card, or NEXUS card, as well as a passport book. This is all you need, as long as you are staying in Canada for fewer than 180 days and you do not have a criminal record.
Your driver’s license will not work to cross the border. A passport will work, but there are other options, too. If you are crossing into Canada from the US by land or sea, you can show a valid passport card. A NEXUS card will also work at 8 Canadian airports, 20 land border crossings, and 396 marine reporting centers.
If you are driving across the border, you will definitely need your driver’s license. If you are flying or sailing, bring your license in case you rent a car or drive another vehicle while in Canada. And if you want to go to a bar, a license or ID is much less cumbersome to carry than a passport book.
No. You need to have a passport, passport card, or NEXUS card.
A birth certificate is one acceptable proof of citizenship for getting a passport, passport card, or NEXUS card. However, it is not a valid proof of identity that will help you travel. Sometimes, however, it will work as proof of ID for children.
If you are an American traveling to Canada as a tourist, and you plan to leave Canada within 180 days, you do not need a visa. However, if you are traveling to Canada for other purposes or plan to stay longer than 180 days, apply for a visa.
In that case, you must apply for a Visitor Record, and you must apply before the 180 days that your passport allows expire. A Visitor Record enables you to stay longer and gives you a new date by which you must leave Canada.
Canada is an amazing country to visit, where you can see a lot of different landscapes without having to travel the entire world. I’ve been to Canada more than a few times, and every time I discover something wonderful. Here are some of my tips to help you discover it.
Best period
August -September
Avg Temperature
70 °F
Safety feeling
Very Safe
Don’t forget
Hiking boots
First of all, pack light, so everything fits into a carry-on. And what to put in the carry-on? A lot depends on the season you’re going. But always have:
Poutine! French fries topped with cheese curds and hot gravy is a Canadian comfort food that tastes like sheer heaven.
Here are some of the best hotels to stay in Canada (highest review score on KAYAK for each location):
To fly to Canada, you must have a passport or a NEXUS card, which is acceptable at 8 Canadian airports. To cross by land or water, you should present a passport, or instead, a passport card or NEXUS card. And that’s it. No visa or vaccinations, no evidence of sufficient funds or onward travel. So, grab your duffle, and let’s go enjoy Canada!
Travel Hacker Blog Tips & tricks Do you need a passport to go to Canada? We got the answer
Jeanifer Brekling Growing up in Alaska, Jeanifer took the beauty of its nature for granted. Now that she lives in a more cosmopolitan place, Jeanifer loves to get back to nature wherever she goes, with hiking, camping, snowboarding and diving always a highlight. As a mother of three, Jeanifer is always looking for new places to go that the whole family will enjoy. Follow Jeanifer on Linkedin for more travel inspiration.
