I am planning a canoe trip in Canada this summer, but one of my paddling partners does not have a passport.  Can you still cross the border with a birth certificate/valid ID, or is a passport required?

I tried searching this old posts and the general internet for the answer, but was finding conflicting results.

Thanks in advance.

You NEED a passport!

prouboy

He/she should not wait to apply. It can take several months to process.

If crossing by car you can get by with a passport card. It is a cheaper option if you never plan on needing a full passport. I purchased both so that I do not have to carry the full passport on canoe trips. All the info is available online.

Another thing to check is that no one in your group has things on their criminal record that will prevent their entry into Canada. A forgotten DUI can bring the trip to a halt. Information sharing has made this an important issue. Years ago a person may have entered but not now.

You NEED a passport or a Nexus Card.  Nexus is about a 2 month wait and requires an interview by a customs agent.  Passports are at least 4 months wait.

You will NOT be admitted entrance into Canada with an ID, birth certificate, DL or any combination thereof.  Period end of story.

I'm not intending to make my self unpopular or sound disagreeable, but a US citzen can enter Canada without a passport.  Look at entry requirements at teh Canada Border Services Agency site.

"Non-Canadians - Requirements to Enter Canada.
When you enter Canada, a CBSA officer may ask to see your passport and a valid visa, if one is necessary. If you are a citizen of the United States, you do not need a passport to enter Canada. However, you should carry proof of your citizenship, such as a birth certificate, certificate of citizenship or naturalization, as well as photo identification. If you are a permanent resident of Canada or the U.S, you should bring your Permanent Resident Card with you."

You don't need a passport to get an RABC either.

To return to US by land or sea, you will need a passport (or one of those passport cards) if you are 16v or older.  Under 16, a birth certifcate (original or notarized copy) is acceptable.  I think you may need signed consent forms if both natural parents are not with a child.

Applying 4 to 6 weeks in advance is a good idea but their are options.  From the US passport site:

ROUTINE SERVICE
As of ( Saturday February 12, 2011  ), we are processing routine applications in approximately 4-6 weeks from the time of application.

EXPEDITED SERVICE*
As of ( Saturday February 12, 2011  ), we are processing requests for expedited service, that include overnight delivery to and from the Passport Agency, about 2-3 weeks door-to-door*.

I think the Expedited service adds about $75.  There are other private for profit services that promise 24 hour delivery.  Not sure but as I recall maybe $100 fee.

And I to have heard reports of a recent dui being reason to not admit you to Canada.  No quick answer or service for that, though I'm not sure a murder conviction would keep you out with the right lawyer and enough money.

Technically true that you don't need a passport or passport card to enter Canada.  

If you plan to return to the US, though, you have to have one.

And I'd trust PJ to know, seeing as he crosses the border quite frequently.

Snow_Dog wrote on Feb 12^th, 2011 at 6:34pm:

And I'd trust PJ to know, seeing as he crosses the border quite frequently.

Just to be clear, there's a card (not the Nexus Card) that's a bit cheaper. I believe it is for land crossings only. It's what I use. So, my question is, is that acceptable for crossing by boat and reporting in Ely or whatever with an RABC that people use for the southern Quetico entry points?

BillConner wrote on Feb 12^th, 2011 at 6:27pm:

EXPEDITED SERVICE* As of ( Saturday February 12, 2011  ), we are processing requests for expedited service, that include overnight delivery to and from the Passport Agency, about 2-3 weeks door-to-door*. I think the Expedited service adds about $75.  There are other private for profit services that promise 24 hour delivery.  Not sure but as I recall maybe $100 fee.

Nice to know there is an expedited service because "same-day" service can be a bit pricey (if you can get it).  

Maybe a dozen years ago, my daughter was headed to Europe with a group.  Two days before departure, she began looking for her passport.  Panic set in after it didn't turn up in either the safe deposit box or any of the "hiding" places at home.  The additional bad new ... the passport was with her birth certificate.

The next day, after numerous unsuccessful calls to see if there was any remedy for this short term problem, I finally gave my local congressman a call.  They soon called back and said that if we could get my daughter to Houston (the closest passport office) before the end of the day, they would issue her an passport on an emergency basis.  I said, OK and we'd try to get her to the passport office that day.

Next step was to find a flight to Houston that could get them to the passport office in a timely manner.  Intercontinental... to far out... takes more time.  We finally settled on an early afternoon flight to Hobby (closer to downtown). I quickly loaded my wife and daughter in the car and shot down the road to the airport in Dallas (Love, not DFW ... its a longer drive).  Luckily the traffic was not too bad and we made the airport in about 45 minutes (at least that was sufficient time to eat lunch while we drove).  Arrived at the airport, and dropped them off.  I "stood by" in the parking lot to make sure they made the flight ... they did.  

Upon arrival at Houston, they quickly flagged a cab ... "any of you guys ever drive a cab in Boston?"  Your it!  Haul ass to the passport office!!  After arriving at the federal building, it took a little time to find the office, but by 4:00 they were in the passport office.  "Oh NO!  Long lines!!!  Will we get to the desk before the office closes?"  They finally did ... at 4:55.  They explained who they were, to which the agent responded "Oh, Yes!"  She temporarily left her station and returned to her station.  As she handed the new passport across the desk, it was still VERY warm to the touch from the laminating machine.

They relaxed a bit afterwards before taking in a quick dinner before heading back ... after all, my daughter now had to finish packing for the next morning's flight.  They arrived back in Dallas before 8:00, looking a fit frazzled ... but the next day, she was on the plane!

So, I guess it helps to use a little "grease."  I guess it didn't hurt, that the congressman I called was then "Majority Leader of the House."

dd

db wrote on Feb 12^th, 2011 at 6:43pm:

Snow_Dog wrote on Feb 12th, 2011 at 6:34pm: And I'd trust PJ to know, seeing as he crosses the border quite frequently. Just to be clear, there's a card (not the Nexus Card) that's a bit cheaper. I believe it is for land crossings only. It's what I use. So, my question is, is that acceptable for crossing by boat and reporting in Ely or whatever with an RABC that people use for the southern Quetico entry points?

That's what I've been doing for the past couple of years...just a passport card shown to Ely customs.

Holy cow, thanks for all the responses.  I will tell him to get a move on and apply for the passport card.

Oh, Ely customs.  Seems I never remember until it's too late.  Never had a problem recrossing the next year after a failure to report the previous year...I keep waiting to hear something like this:

"Sir, you can't go into Canada because our records indicate you are still in Canada from your last trip."     :D

Spartan1 and I just got our first passports this winter and they didn't take months, they took about 6 weeks.  We didn't get the cards, we got books, but I don't know of any reason why getting a card should take longer.

We didn't get any expedited service, just applied at the Post Office, and it was a bit shy of 6 weeks when they arrived.

BillConner wrote on Feb 12^th, 2011 at 6:19pm:

"Non-Canadians - Requirements to Enter Canada. When you enter Canada, a CBSA officer may ask to see your passport and a valid visa, if one is necessary. If you are a citizen of the United States, you do not need a passport to enter Canada. However, you should carry proof of your citizenship, such as a birth certificate, certificate of citizenship or naturalization, as well as photo identification. If you are a permanent resident of Canada or the U.S, you should bring your Permanent Resident Card with you."

I've yet to meet a customs agent as agreeable as this.  I'm certainly not a gov't official or an expert so I can only speak upon 20 years of experience of going through Fort Frances nearly 10x per year, Rainy Lake (Baudette) 4-5 times per year, Pigeon River 2x per year, Pembina 1-2x per year, Lancaster 1x per year and misc. times through Windsor.  (My sales route and bagpiping takes me up there quite often).  However, I will concede as I cannot speak to southern Quetico entry since I have never done this since the law went into effect.

I will only say "good luck" getting back into the US w/o one though.

Snow_Dog wrote on Feb 12^th, 2011 at 6:33pm:

Technically true that you don't need a passport or passport card to enter Canada.   If you plan to return to the US, though, you have to have one.

Exactly