lisa

A friend of mine was stopped at check-in and not allowed on a plane to Canada because she didn't have her passport. She was told the airlines are fined $10,000 if they let someone on board without a passport or other notarized id. My friend was not flying from her home and had no quick access to the information required, so had to cancel her entire trip to Whistler.

Please excuse me if this news has already been posted. I remember lots of posts on what is required to enter Canada, but not this specifically.

joebob

Well, Canada is like another country. so generally, when I go to like another country, I like bring my passport.

I go to Canada all the time and you do need a passport to get in and out, unless you are a terrorist, then you can just pass freely.

Me

I entered Canada a couple of weeks ago from the U.S. using a birth certificate and driver's license as photo id. A passport is not required for U.S. citizens, but you must have something that provides proof of citizenship.

Jim

A passport is NOT required for travel to Canada but some form of ID and proof of citizenship IS required. (Birth certificate is the usual proof).

If you have a passport, then by all means use it. Makes life a lot easier.

aaa

Americans entering Canada are required to provide proof of citizenship. When travelling by air Canadian customs automatically asks for a passport although it is not a strict requirement. When flying it is a good idea to have a passport (and if not proof of citizenship is essential).

TvlPro

I went in Dec with a DL and Military ID and was told that soon a passport would be required.
Airlines are required to document identification in the reservation but at this point I do not believe a passport is required.
I would certainly fight that airline for a refund +

x

So did your friend think Canada is just another state?

Tvlpr, why should the airlines return the friends money? The friend obviously didn't have proper documentation.

Deborah

You must have a "certified" birth certificate and photo id or passport to fly into Canada.

TvlPro

Because the airline was incorrect with this statement "the airlines are fined $10,000 if they let someone on board without a passport or other notarized id"
A government issued ID is all that is required unless it just changed.
This is assuming she had a gov't issued ID in the first place.

lisa

The airlines did refund her money, interestingly. I guess they had forgotten to tell her the requirement when she made her reservations.

A passport to Canada is a new flying requirement, at least since I flew there last. And, like I said in the original post, a notarized id will work as a substitute at this point. This would be an "original" birth certificate, not a mere copy. Forget the drivers license.

xx, I had to go get my sunglasses to read your brilliant post about Canada being another country. We're just not as bright as you, Oh Shining Light.

x

Lisa, you obviously aren't as bright as a burnt out bulb.

Canada is a different country!

To go to a different country, you need proper documentation!

Anyone with any common sense would have found out what that documentation was ahead of time!

See? Or are you still confused?

Me

I'll say it again. You are NOT required to have a passport to fly into Canada if you are a U.S. citizen. This requirement has not changed. I flew in to Montreal 2 weeks ago without a passport. You can enter with a birth certificate and photo id like a driver's license. The airline personnel gave your friend the wrong information if they told her that a passport was required to enter via air. I had no trouble whatsoever with Canadian immigration entering without a passport.

joebob

hey, what about me? I was the first to suggest that Canada was like a different country.

What I forgot to state was if you really want to get the customs agents in an uproar you should tell them you are coming to Canada to take a Canadian's job. I told them I was there on business and they had all sorts of questions and sent me to have my bags checked and verify who I was visiting. After the third time of this happening (in Halifax, Toronto is much more laid back, it is almost not like another country), I finally got annoyed and asked: "do I fit the profile of a drug dealer or a terrorist? Why do I get stopped and searched every time I come through customs?" They laughed (some people think I am funny) and said "Oh no, we just need to make sure you aren't here to work". So I said, "Why would I come here to work, when 1. You have no jobs to offer, 2. Your exchange rate is ridiculous, 3. It is as cold as a witches tit here?" They laughed again, put a funny looking stamp on my passport and I haven't been stopped since. I guess it pays to be a smartass.

Lisa

ME.

I'll say it again. I said a notarized id was an alternative to a passport in my original post. I said this in my second post too.

Guess I'll go so y'all can find other posts to half-read and attack. There are plenty of them.

Me

Allow me to quote you Lisa. "A passport to Canada is a new flying requirement, at least since I flew there last. And, like I said in the original post, a notarized id will work as a substitute at this point."

Your statement makes no sense. If you can enter using something other than a passport, then clearly a passport is NOT A REQUIREMENT, as you stated in your first sentence. Please learn how to express yourself and stop giving out erroneous information.

joebob

Me you can say it as many times as you want, but if you are traveling to Canada you SHOULD bring a passport. So when the customs agent says "passport please" you don't have to go into your babbling about how you can come to Canada with a birth certificate and a drivers license. Isn't it just easier to bring the passport? Before you fly to Canada do you argue with yourself? "Yes I have a passport, but damnit, I am going to bring my birth certificate and license just because I can!"

The simple answer is bring a passport, the more complicated answer is bring birth certificate and driver's license (because a douchebag on fodors told me I could) and hope the requirement hasn't changed.

x

Lisa, the hospital will not give you your original birth certificate. No way, no how. What they give you is a certified copy of the original.

An original birth certificate is NOT required to get into Canada.

I give up. You'll never get it.

xxx

Myself and some colleagues have always been required to have a passport when boarding a Canadian flight originating in the US. I'm not a Canadian customs official, though. I don't understand why they don't truly require this, and why they don't require it for ground transportation. One time I lost every important document I had, and it was ridiculously easy to get a birth certificate and drivers license with my name on it. All I think you need to know is the town/hospital in which someone is born and you are in.Maybe they asked my social security # to get a birth certificate but I don't think sobecause we are not issues ss#'s at birth. I think passports should be required for anyone to enter the US, and I think we Americans should need one to enter any other country including Canada.

Me

joebob, only about 10% of Americans have a passport. Mine expired several months ago, and I have not yet had it renewed since I have not needed to travel to a country in which it was required for entry in the past few months. However, since most Americans do not have one, it is not at all unusual for people to cross the border into Canada without a passport.

joebob

Thanks ME for the stats lesson though I doubt it is correct. The bottom line is if you are traveling to another country and you want to have the preferred method of documentation--bring your passport. If you don't have one and you want to visit ANOTHER COUNTRY go get one.

The alternative is to bring your license and birth certificate and hope that the wisdom ME from fodors gave was correct.