We recently moved to NY and would like to take the kids to Canada. The kids are all under the age of 12. I've looked online, but found mixed answers. Some sites say passport and some say birth certificate. Other sites mention a NEXUS card? I don't mind getting them passports, but don't want to spend the $$, if they're not necessary. Thanks! We will drive to Canada and 2 of my kids have a government issued photo ID.
Passports have been required into Canada and Mexico for a while now. They are good to have regardless.
Passport cards are only $30 as opposed to over $100 for passports. Just cannot use cards when flying internationally.
Call this number: 800-461-9999
that is US Customs and Border control. Get the information straight from the horses mouth.
We went to Canada last year. We had passports for the boys. The NEXUS card is like a drivers license and ONLY good for Canada.
Personally I would get the passports. The passport cards can take time, they can take up to 4 weeks to process, they are NOT done in a local office. They are done in Arizona.
https://www.ezbordercrossing.com/travel-resources/governm...
Sorry - they need passports. They are good to have anyway. When we fly in the US, we fly with our passports - gets us thru TSA faster.
I don't understand why you wouldn't get passports for them. The passport is good for several years and it's good to have one.
They are not that pricey unless you want the expedited ones.
No worries down the road for a few years for family and school trips!
I wouldn't take a chance not knowing exactly what was expected and accepted at the border.
Have fun!!
The internet ate my answer...get the passports.
Passport cards. They're good for entry into Canada and Mexico. Good item to have. Will even help when they get their drivers license and you have to have 2 forms of ID.
Yes I do believe passports (or passport cards) are now required. We drove into Canada from Washington and we all needed ours. Our kids have had passports for a few years now and I really like it. For us it's great because we plan trips sort of on a whim and it's nice that we can cruise or travel internationally without having to worry about getting passports because it's already done! If you really don't think you'll use the regular one, just get the card and see how it goes.
Get them their passports!
They are needed.
We've driven to Canada many times. You need a passport, especially to get back into the U.S.
I drove through Canada 4 years ago. We all needed passports. We got the passport cards. They are easier and less expensive than the passport books. The rules may have changed since then though. Good luck!
It's been many years since we were in Canada. I would op for the passport cards for them right now.
Enjoy your visits in and out of Montreal and Quebec City as well as the western portion of the country.
When we were there on a military assignment, we didn't need the passports. I kind of wish I were there now to see the changing of the leaves and such.
the other S.
I'm pretty sure you need passports. We lived in Alaska for 15 years and before 9/11 you did not need one. Before we moved we used to like to take road trips into Canada...and this is why our son has a passport! They are more strict at the Canadian/US borders than they used to be. But call US Customs to make sure if you want.
A great resource that people forget about is the offices of their Senator or member of Congress! You'll get accurate info and can get a direct referral to the right office of the Dept. of State.
My experience (from when you could use a birth certificate) was that crossing into Canada was a lot easier than coming back into the States. With a passport it was a quicker reentry into the State's with a lot less questioning. I think passports would definitely be worth the money to avoid the hassle.
Edited to Add: Sorry but everyone telling you that your children need passports is flat-out wrong. Really, I just did this 6 weeks ago. To be sure, I called border patrol for both Canada and the US and both sides confirmed. There were no issues or delays at the crossing. Both times, I pulled up my van, rolled down my window and the driver's side back window, and handed over three passports (for the three adults) and two birth certificates. They asked a couple of perfunctory questions on the way into Canada (where do you live, where are you going, what hotel did you book, how long are you staying) and none on the way into the US. Took a quick glance to do a headcount and we were on our way. No delays, no extra scrutiny.
Original: I just did this in August. If you and your husband are both going and the children are all legally yours (and you're all US citizens), just their birth certificates are fine. You and your spouse will both need passports or passport cards but for the kids, just birth certificates. We had no issues going into or returning from Canada. We went through the border in Vermont on our way to Montreal. Our younger kids are 10 & 12. Our 18 year old had a passport.
Just get their passports. You can save money by getting the passport card, but it does take weeks to obtain. https://passportinfo.com/passport-card/
You CAN get expedited service, for more money. Really. Just get the passports. It makes your life so much easier.
If you are going to travel as a family? Great. Take birth certificates. I personally wouldn't. Border patrol doesn't care about government issued IDs, they care about passports.
Hi KM,
We live in a suburb of Detroit and going to Windsor is a pretty regular thing. The gold standard is the passport and it lasts 10 years. Some border guards will accept the birth certificate but you can't count on it and I'd hate for you to have to be turned back. My recommendation is to get the passports. Niagara is gorgeous at this time of the year. :-) S.
