Do I need a passport to go to Canada?
By Tom Jones
Editor-in-Chief, PassportOfficesLast reviewed Editorial policy
Short answer
Do I need a passport to go to Canada?
Yes for air travel — a valid U.S. passport book is required to fly to Canada. For land and sea crossings, U.S. citizens can also use a passport card, an Enhanced Driver's License, or a NEXUS card. Children under 16 crossing by land or sea can generally use a birth certificate instead.
Open the Entry requirements guide
Actionable steps, requirements, and tools to move forward.
Key takeaways
- Air travel to Canada requires a valid U.S. passport book (or NEXUS at participating airports).
- Land and sea crossings accept the passport card, Enhanced Driver's License, or NEXUS card.
- Children under 16 crossing by land or sea can generally re-enter with a U.S. birth certificate.
- Canada does not require six months of passport validity for U.S. citizens — your passport must be valid for your stay.
- A standard driver's license and birth certificate are not enough for adults at the border.
Full answer
If you fly to Canada, you need a valid U.S. passport book. The only common alternative is a NEXUS card used at participating Canadian airports with NEXUS kiosks. The passport card is never valid for international air travel.
Driving across the border gives you more options. Under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, U.S. citizens can re-enter by land or sea with a passport book, passport card, Enhanced Driver's License (issued by Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, and Washington), or a trusted traveler card such as NEXUS.
Rules are more relaxed for children: U.S. citizens under 16 arriving by land or sea can generally present an original or certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate instead of a passport. If a child travels with one parent or without parents, carry a consent letter from the non-traveling parent(s).
Canada does not impose a six-month validity rule on U.S. visitors — your passport generally needs to be valid for the length of your stay. Still, renew early if your passport is close to expiring, since airlines and border officers can ask questions about near-expiry documents.