Question:
planned to be in the US for a week next month, and just noticed my passport
has expired for some time now. so in rushing to see if i can get a new
passport in time for the trip, i come across this:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/passport/quick_facts-e.asp
from that page:
"Even though a passport is not required at this time for entry to the United
States, it is essential if you decide to go on a cruise or to continue your
travel to another country."
this doesn't strike me as making too much sense.
anyone have a definitive answer?
Answer:
Canadians can use expired passports to enter the U.S. or birth certificates
and a federal issued ID with a photo. Canada is exempt the passport
requirement but they still have to prove citizenship which an expired
passport will do.
you are correct about third country travel but Canadians can go to
Mexico with other proof of citizenship and a photo ID. The best reason for a
Canadian to always have a valid passport is if they have a problem they need
assistance from the Canadian consulate with the guard at the gate will only
take a valid passport as proof (he is not Canadian) all others wait in the
immigrant line going around the block.
If you don't have a valid passport, it will suffice to have proof of
citizenship and photo ID, such as a driver's license or provincial
health card. An expired passport is proof of Canadian citizenship for
this purpose. So are Canadian birth certificates (with raised or
multicoloured seal, issued by a government authority) and Certificates
of Canadian Citizenship.
The site is explaining why you should always carry a valid passport
when travelling abroad, even when you don't need one, such as for
visits to the US. One of their reasons is that you cannot travel from
the US to a 3d country (i.e., Mexico or the Bahamas) unless you have a
valid passport.
Incidentally, the US government gives its citizens the same advice.
This seems to be true, from the Mexican embassy's web site, although I
was quoting DFAIT and, of course, it's not what DFAIT said ("...[A
passport] *is* essential if you decide to go on a cruise or to
continue your travel to another country.")
This seems odd, doesn't it? One of the chief reasons for needing
assistance would be to replace a lost passport. Are you saying such a
person, possessing a Certificate of Canadian Citizenship, would not be
believed by the guard? Despite the fact the that government
recommends you carry both documents, for just such a case? Seems to
me a citizen treated that way would more often than not have a few
choice words for those on the inside. (I hope he'd be believed on the
inside, at least, or he'd never get the passport replaced!) But I
think a better reason to carry a passport is that it *can* be replaced
by a consulate abroad in fairly short order.
Still, the original point stands---a Canadian citizen doesn't need a
passport to visit the US, but it is the government-recommended
document.
Canadians do not require a passport to enter/travel USA (I used drivers license)
or the Free Zone of Mexico, If you travel further into Mexico you require a
passport.
The requirement for Canadian Citizens to visit the US and US Citizens to
visit Canada is "Proof of Citizenship". Often though this requirement
is not enforced. Due to the press of criminals crossing the border both
ways, this has tightened up in many places.
A passport, citizenship card, or birth certificate fills this need. BUT
because a birth certificate is not proof that you are the person on the
certificate, for ID purposes, both the US and Canada are often requiring
photo ID as well. A photo drivers licence can fill this role, although
if the immigration officer wants a proof of citizenship, the licence
will not suffice and you can be turned back.
I recall hearing of a meeting of immigration lawyers in Canada where
many of the US lawyers had problems returning home because all they
brought as ID was a Drivers Licence and the US PF inspectors were giving
them absolute hell for it! Many missed their flights!
How far does the free zone extend?
