Have we convinced you that Canada should be on your must-visit list? Read on to learn more about Canada entry requirements. We’ll take a look at the passport requirements to enter Canada, as well as some special situations.

Passport Requirements to Visit Canada

Flying from the US to Canada

If you are flying to Canada, you will need to have a valid passport book before you board your flight. Your passport must be signed and in good condition. You’ll need at least one blank page marked “Visas” for your entry and exit stamps.

Driving to Canada

One nice thing about a visit to Canada is that if you live in any US state other than Hawaii, you can hop in the car and road trip to Canada! (Hawaiians, we don’t feel sorry for you. You live where everyone else vacations.)

It’s best if you have your valid passport book with you if you are traveling to Canada by land. However, there are a few other options if you’ll be crossing into Canada by land:

• A valid US passport card
• A valid Enhanced Driver’s License (these are special driver’s licenses issued by Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, and Washington state. Normal driver’s licenses from these or any other state cannot be used.)
• A NEXUS or FAST trusted traveler card

These same entry requirements apply if you are crossing the Canadian border by bus or train, or even if you are walking across the border.

Cruises with Canadian Ports

Do you like cruises? Every cruise lover needs to take a cruise to Alaska, and there’s no better time than in late June or July, when you can experience the midnight sun. Alaska cruises typically either begin in Vancouver, or have Vancouver as a port of call. If you are flying to Vancouver to board your cruise, you’ll need a valid passport book. However, if your cruise begins and ends at a US port like Seattle, you may be able to use a passport card instead. (Contact your cruise line – many lines require that you bring your passport book, even though a passport card is valid for entry to Canada by sea.)

The same requirements apply to cruises of Canada’s Atlantic coast. A passport book is still your best bet!

Special Requirements for Canada Visits

Traveling with Minor Children

You’re going to want to bring the kids along on your Canada visit! Like adults, children and babies need their own valid passport book if they’re traveling to Canada by air.

Driving to Canada with the kids? Your children under age 16 will be exempted from the requirement to have a passport if they’re traveling with both parents. You will need to bring your child’s birth certificate to prove US citizenship, though.

If you’re bringing along your nephew or your daughter’s best friend, you’ll need to have a notarized affidavit from the child’s parents. This document, which gives the child permission to travel with you, is required no matter how you are entering Canada.

Business Visits to Canada

Will you visit Canada for business purposes? We recommend that you carry a letter from your employer explaining that you are making a business visit to Canada. The letter should include the dates of your trip, and contact information for the people you will meet within Canada. Although this is not a firm requirement, we’ve heard from some travelers that they were asked to provide proof that they were visiting Canada for business. Better safe than sorry!

Travelers with a Criminal Record

Canada has very strict requirements when it comes to travelers with criminal records. If you have any sort of conviction on your record, even a misdemeanor or an alcohol-related offense like a DUI, you will not be allowed to visit Canada until you’ve been deemed “rehabilitated.” Well in advance of your Canada trip, you’ll need to file a petition. Your petition is likely to be successful if your crime was a minor one, and if your record has been clear for five or more years. You’re not likely to be admitted if your record includes a more serious crime that would result in ten or more years of jail time if you were convicted of it in a Canadian court.

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With so many people traveling to Mexico each year, we get a lot of questions about the passport requirements to visit Mexico. The answer to that question will depend on how you plan to travel to Mexico. Are you flying to Mexico? Are you sailing to Mexico, or visiting Mexico on a cruise? Or are you planning to cross the US/Mexico border by land?

Flying to Mexico

Unless you live near the Mexican border, the fastest way to get to Mexico is to fly. You will need to have a valid passport book if you plan to fly between Mexico and the US. In fact, passport books are needed for all international travel by air, regardless of your destination!

Your passport book will need to be valid when you enter Mexico. We recommend that it be valid for at least six months past your trip to Mexico. Is your passport close to expiring? Renew it now!

Cruising to Mexico

Under the law known as the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, you can use either a valid passport book or passport card to enter Mexico by sea. Most travelers who visit Mexico by sea are passengers on cruise ships. When you enter Mexico for a shore excursion, you may or may not be asked to show your passport, but you should carry your passport book or passport card with you in case you are required to show it.

Many cruise lines want passengers to have a valid passport book, even when visiting countries like Mexico where a passport card can be used to enter by sea. This is because you’d need to have your passport book with you if you had some sort of emergency that required you to fly back to the US.

Sailing to Mexico

Are you planning to sail down the Pacific coast on a private yacht? Or are you joining a sail race across the Gulf of Mexico? Travelers who will enter Mexico by sea can use either a passport book or passport card to enter.

Interestingly, you’ll need to have your passport with you any time you enter Mexican waters, even if you don’t plan on docking and going ashore! Mexico enacted a new law in 2015 which requires all sailors and offshore fishermen to carry a passport when they enter Mexican waters. If you are the skipper of a boat that plans to enter Mexican waters, you’ll need to apply online with the FMM (Mexican immigration) for a permission document. This permission document will have to list the names and passport details of all your passengers and crew.

Crossing the Mexican Border by Land

The most popular way to visit Mexico is to enter by land. You can enter Mexico by car, by bus, or even on foot!

There are several items you can use to prove your US citizenship when you cross the Mexican border by land:

• A valid passport book
• A valid passport card
• A SENTRI card – this is a Trusted Traveler card issued by the US government that’s meant for people who frequently drive back and forth to Mexico

When you enter Mexico by land, your passport may or may not be checked. For many years, passport enforcement by Mexican officials at border crossings has been lax, but they are becoming increasingly strict about checking passports. Don’t forget that you will also need to have your passport checked by US authorities when you return. The US is even considering levying fines on US citizens who try to cross the Mexican border without a passport!

Save yourself the hassle, and make sure you have a valid passport for your visit to Mexico.

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Christmas and midterms are now behind us. Across the US, high school and college students are making plans for their spring break vacations. If you’re one of them, read on and make sure that you’ve got the passport you need!

Do You Need a Passport for Your Spring Break Trip?

Whether you need a passport — and what kind of passport you need — will be determined by where you are going and how you are getting there!

Flying Within the United States

When you think about spring break, you can’t help but think about Florida! Are you headed to the epic spring break parties in Daytona Beach and Miami? Or are you flying to Orlando to explore the theme parks? No matter where you are going, you are going to need to show official identification in order to board your flight to the Sunshine State. Your driver’s license will work, but what if you don’t have a license yet? You can use a valid passport book or passport card instead.

ID requirements for domestic flights will be even more strict for next year’s spring break. Next January, the US government will start enforcing REAL ID requirements at airports. If you don’t have a REAL ID certified driver’s license, you will need to use your passport to catch your flight!

Driving to Mexico

Not going to Florida this year? Chances are high you’re headed to the other iconic spring break destination, Mexico! You must have a valid passport to travel to Mexico. If you will be entering and departing Mexico by land, you can use a valid passport book or passport card.

Are you more of a snow bunny than a beach bum? The same requirements apply if you are driving into Canada for a ski trip. You’ll need to have a valid passport book or passport card to enter and depart Canada by land.

Taking a Cruise

Cruises are a great way to make the most of your spring break! Although you don’t technically need to have a passport book for “closed loop” cruises to Bermuda, the Bahamas, or some other Caribbean destinations, most cruise lines do want you to have your valid passport book with you. (“Closed loop” cruises are cruises that start and end at the same US port.) It’s a good idea to have a valid passport book in case you need to fly internationally in an unexpected situation. For instance, if you miss the boat at one of the cruise stops and need to fly to the next port of call, or if there is an emergency and you need to fly home, you would need to have a passport book.

Flying Internationally

Any time you fly internationally, you must have a valid passport book! It doesn’t matter what your destination is — Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, Tanzania, Russia, anywhere — all international travel by air requires a valid passport book.

How to Get a Passport for Your Spring Break Travel

Need to get a passport in time for your spring vacation? No need to worry, G3 can help you get a passport in plenty of time for your trip! But do you know what kind of passport service you will need?

If You Have Never Been Issued a Passport…

• Are you age 16 or older? You will need to use the New Adult Passport service.
• Are you age 15 or younger? You will need to use the Minor Passport service.

If You Have an Expired or Expiring Passport…

• In case your most recent passport was issued after you turned 16, you will need a Passport Renewal.
• If your most recent passport was issued before you turned 16, and you are now over age 16, you will use the New Adult Passport service.
• If you are still age 15 or younger, you will need to use the Minor Passport service.

And If You Can’t Find Your Passport…

• Lost your passport? You will need to use the Lost Passport Replacement procedure.

No matter where you are heading, or what kind of passport you need, G3 can help you get the passport you need for your ultimate spring break!

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When is your child likely to need identification?

Let’s look at some scenarios in which your child could use their passport book or passport card as official ID.

1. International Travel

This one is obvious! Children, even babies, are subject to the same passport requirements as adults. Your child will need a valid passport book for all international air travel.

2. TSA Security at the Airport

Whether you’re boarding a domestic flight or an international one, you’re going to need to get through the TSA security checkpoint first. The official rule is that children under 18 do not require their own identification if they are traveling with an adult companion. However, in practice, having ID for your kids will get you through the security checkpoint much faster! Families who do not have child identification documents are asked many questions by TSA security agents. The agents have to determine whether your child should be traveling with you, or if there’s a risk that you might be abducting the child. Having ID for your child goes a long way toward proving that your child really should be with you!

3. Travel as an Unaccompanied Minor

Thinking about letting your kid fly on his own to go visit Grandma? Airlines have strict rules for air travel by unaccompanied minors. Many airlines require that your child have official ID in order to fly on their own. A passport is the ideal child identification to use for unaccompanied minor travel. Because it has a photograph, it will allow the airline to positively identify your child and make sure your child gets where he needs to go.

4. Enrolling in TSA PreCheck or Global Entry

Frequent travelers love the TSA PreCheck and Global Entry programs! By assigning you a Known Traveler Number, these Trusted Traveler programs allow you to get through TSA security checkpoints and US immigration quickly using designated express lanes. Children age 12 and under can also use the express lanes if they are traveling with a parent who is part of TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. That’s great for your little kids, but what about your middle-schooler? Children age 13 and over need to apply for their own Known Traveler Number, and in order to get one, they must have official ID. You can use your child’s passport book or passport card as child identification for TSA PreCheck applications for your young teen. If you’re enrolling them in Global Entry, you will need to have their passport books. Global Entry is specifically focused on international travel, so passport books are a must.

5. SATs and Other College Testing

We’ve talked a lot about the many ways your child’s passport can come in handy when you’re traveling. But it can also be useful when you are at home! One important use of a passport for child identification is for college testing, like the SAT. To prevent testing fraud, the College Board checks IDs against the name listed on the test. All students must show official photo ID when they arrive to take the test. A passport book or passport card is one of the few universally-accepted child identification documents that can be used for college testing.

6. Medical Emergencies and Child Identification

Imagine this: your 14 year old daughter is traveling with her soccer team. You’ve got to work, so you’re not with her. During the game, she falls and breaks her wrist on the pitch. It’s not a life-or-death emergency, but she’s in pain, and she needs medical treatment right away. Does she have the right documents to get registered at the hospital without you? If she has her passport book or card, she can use that as identification with her health insurance card.

How has your kid used their passport for child identification? Tell us in the comments!

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Passport cards have been an option for US citizens since 2008, but they are still not as well known or well understood as the traditional passport books.  Today, we’ll answer the most frequently asked questions about passport cards and show you how you can get a passport card along with your next passport renewal.

What is a Passport Card?

A passport card is a card the size of a driver’s license that is issued by the US State Department.  Like a passport book, it proves your identity and US citizenship. They are valid for ten years for adults, and five years for children age 15 and younger.

How Can a Passport Card Be Used?

Passport cards can be used for any identification purpose inside the United States, such as job applications, buying alcohol, or checking in to a doctor’s office or hospital.  Most importantly, your passport card is an official form of REAL ID. The REAL ID Act of 2005 set federal standards for identification cards.  When it is fully implemented, you’ll need to show federally-approved ID to enter government buildings or to go through TSA security at the airport.  Not all driver’s licenses meet REAL ID standards, but your passport card will always be accepted as official identification for domestic air travel.

Although the passport card is great for flying inside the US — especially for children, who are too young to have driver’s licenses — it is not valid for any international air travel. You’ll need a passport book any time you are flying to a destination outside the United States.

Passport cards can be used for land and sea travel between the US and Mexico, Canada, and certain Caribbean nations.  It’s perfect for people who frequently drive to Canada or Mexico, since it fits conveniently in your wallet!

Requirements to Get a Passport Card With Your Passport Renewal

If you want to get a card along with your next passport renewal, make note of the following requirements:

• Passport Application Form DS-82. When you fill out your passport renewal application form online, you’ll come to a page called “Passport Products and Fees.” On that page, make sure to select that you want both a passport book and card.  On the printed version of the application, this option appears at the very top of the first page of the application.
• Government Passport Fees. Your passport card will cost an additional $30.  When applying for expedited passport renewal service through G3passports.com, your government fee for both a passport book renewal and passport card will be $200.
• One Photograph. You only need to submit one photograph with your application for a passport renewal and passport card.  Your photo will be scanned and printed onto both the book and the card.

When Will I Get My Passport Card?

The US State Department doesn’t always provide the same type of expedited processing for passport cards as they do for passport books.  When you apply for your passport renewal through G3, your passport book will be processed and returned to you within the time frame that you have selected.  However, your new passport card may take longer to be issued, and will be sent to you under separate cover.

Can I Renew a Passport Card?

Yes, passport cards can be renewed just like passport books!  If you get a passport book and card at the same time, they will expire at the same time.  You’ll need to submit both documents when you do your next renewal.  Your old passport card will be marked cancelled by having one corner clipped off.  Your old card and your old book will both be returned to you.

Any other questions?  Ask us in the comments!

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You May Need a Passport to… Get a Driver’s License

The REAL ID Act of 2005 set national standards for state-issued driver’s licenses. In order to get a REAL ID compliant driver’s license, you now need to show conclusive proof of your identity and citizenship. If you have a valid passport, this will be easy. If you don’t have a passport, you’ll need to provide a lot more documents in order to get your driver’s license.

You May Need a Passport to… Board a Domestic Flight

Starting in 2016, you will need to show REAL ID compliant identification in order to get through TSA security to board both domestic and international flights. If you are flying internationally, you will have to have a Passport Book, but even for domestic flights, you may need to pull out your Passport Book or Passport Card. Residents of Louisiana, Minnesota, New Hampshire, and New York are particularly affected, as their states don’t yet issue REAL ID driver’s licenses. If you live in any other state, you may need to use a passport if you haven’t renewed your driver’s license in several years and still have a non-REAL ID license. You can check your license by looking to see if there is a star in one of the upper corners. If you don’t have a star, you’re going to need your passport to get on your flight!

You May Need a Passport to… Buy Alcohol

You’re probably used to pulling out your driver’s license to prove your age when you order a glass of merlot at a restaurant or pick up a six-pack of beer at the convenience store. However, you may run into problems if you are a twenty-something who still has a vertical driver’s license. Some states, like New Mexico or Arizona, have a “vertical license ban” that forbids them from selling alcohol to anyone with a vertical driver’s license, even if the birthdate shows that you are over 21.

We have also heard about travelers from smaller jurisdictions like the District of Columbia who have been denied alcohol when traveling in the US. Store clerks in other states weren’t familiar enough with the license to be certain it was real.

Your passport is conclusive proof of your age… we’ll toast to that!

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