The US shares the entire border of the continental states with Canada and there are many popular destinations spread out across the northern neighbor. Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, and Niagara are just a few of the most well known destinations in Canada that each attract many visitors from the US every year. From some major cities in the US, Canadian destinations are just a short drive away, such as in Detroit, MI, Buffalo, NY and Seattle, WA. With such close proximity, it seems as easy as driving to any other city around the US. Taking a trip to Canada, however, isn’t that simple.
You now need a passport to go to Canada. In the past, border relations between the US and Canada were a lot less strict than they are now. Travelers were allowed to move freely between the two countries. There were always border checkpoints for security but a regular ID was typically the only thing needed when crossing the border to Canada. After recent policy changes, passports became a requirement for anybody who was traveling to the country. Immigration stations have been set up at the border check points when entering the country and they now check for passports. Visa stamps aren’t given when entering the country so you can stay for undetermined amounts of time for general travel purposes, but your passport will still be examined upon entry to Canada.
There are several ways that you can travel between the US and Canada. Either way that you plan on entering the country you’ll need to have a valid US passport. Flying and driving are the most common ways to travel, although traveling by water is also frequently done.
Canada has a couple international airports with routes arriving from the US. These airport destinations are popular routes for most airlines in the US so you can find plenty of flights traveling to various destinations around Canada. When you arrive in Canada, you’ll be required to go through customs and immigration. To complete this process, you’ll need to already have your passport in hand before even boarding your flight from the US.
Driving internationally to Canada is actually a very easy process. People travel so frequently between the US and Canada that the process is often streamlined and you’re able to get through the process within minutes. Driving to Canada, however, also means that you’ll need to have a passport before you’re allowed to cross the border. There is one exception however, when you are driving to Canada. Some states grant you an “Enhanced Drivers License.” An Enhanced License allows you special privileges when driving, including traveling internationally. Getting an Enhanced License doesn’t replace a passport completely, but traveling to Canada is so common, it’s generally accepted to allow you to cross the border into the county. Having this special license does not fully replace a passport but it is sufficient when traveling to Canada.
You can also choose to travel to Canada by boat. There are many docks in coastal Canadian cities where people often arrive either on personal, private boats, cruises, or related. Even when you travel to Canada via boat, you will have to present your passport when docking in the country. As for cruises that travel to the country, passports are examined prior to boarding the ship to ensure that you’ll be allowed entry into the country as per your itinerary.
If you need to get your passport to go to Canada, you can use a company such as Texas Passports for completing the service. Texas Passports is a traveler-recommended travel service that can assist with various pre-trip preparations, including getting a passport. Our experienced staff will be able to assist with any questions or troubles you may have when completing the passport application. You can also renew your passport with us. Passports must have a specific condition before you’ll be allowed to travel with them. There must be blank pages left for passport stamps, time before it expires, and a great overall physical appearance. If your passport doesn’t pass all of these conditions, you’ll need to send it in to our offices as well as completing a passport application so that we can process it and send you a renewed passport.
Texas Passports provides a fast and easy way to get a passport for traveling to Canada. We even provide rush travel services for last minute travel plans to Canada. We’ll ensure that you have everything you need in your hands before your trip to Canada.