My family and I will be crossing the border into Canada next week and I need to know what type of identification to bring. My wife and I have a passport so I assume this is all we will need.

What will our minor children need? Should I bring their birth certificates or will a photo ID be sufficient.

Thanks all,

RM

I would bring both to be on the safe side. When we crossed the border with our then 3 year old daughter (a blond in the midst of a family of brown hair) we were questioned at some length about whether she was ours and if we could prove it. A little unnerving to say the least as we did not know how to prove it if they had not believed us!

Are you all US citizens? If so, you need proof of citizenship. That means (a) your U.S. passport or (b) original or certified copy of your birth certificate and photo identification.

Each of you needs proof of citizenship to cross back into the USA. Passports are fine, so are birth certificates, so long as they are originals and have a raised seal. Documents are rarely requested, but when they are you had better have them.

RETURNED FROM CANADA RECENTLY, NO PROBLEM ENTERING CANADA BUT RETURNING TO USA WAS ANOTHER STORY. WE ALL HAD TO HAVE PICTURE ID'S AND BIRTH CERTIFICATES ESPECIALLY CHILDREN, WHO USED THEIR SCHOOL PHOTO ID AND BIRTHCERTIFICATES TO ENTER USA. WE ENTERED CANADA AT WINDSOR AND INTO USA AT BUFFALO NY. HOPE THIS HELPS.

Lots of detailed info on this question can be found onthe Candain forum-look there for a link to the official Canadian Embassy site that says what is and isn't acceptable

The official requirements are certainly stricter than what you'll 'probably ' need, so you have to decide your comfort level--how upset will you be if you end up being the one in a thousand who's actually asked for ID and you don't have it?

We also ran into problems entering Canada. Kids did not have any photo ID except for one w/ a driver's license. Adults had driver's licenses. We were questioned at length regarding kids since there were 2 families involved in 2 different cars. If you have a passport Take It. If the kids have one - Take it or get original birth certificate. Like the other post said, you could be the one asked and you want to be prepared.

You will need a driver's license and proof of citizenship. I would bring the children's birth certificates to be on the safe side.