Passport Question
 

Hey everyone. I have a question about getting some kind of a temporary passport and i figured this would be as good of a place as any to ask. Me and my friend wanted to do something for spring break but we're both a little low on cash. We decided on going to canda, but appearantly you need a passport now to get in? Is there any way we can get some kind of a ten day passport or something? I was really looking forward to going to canada, and don't think sneaking in would be the best idea lol.

First - do not rely solely on my information or that of anyone else here - you do not want to be stranded in Canada if we are wrong. US Dept of State has a great website that lists entry/exit requirements to every country - and also has a section called "Do I need a passport". This is the only 100% reliable information.

There is no such thing as a temporary passport or a cheaper version of a passport. Until 5/31/09 it is not necessary to have a passport to get into/out of Canada if you have a government issued photo ID (like drivers license - not a student ID) PLUS an authenticated birth certificate - that usually means an original with a raised seal. If you don't have one, you get it from the town/city of your birth and you will have to pay for it - anywhere from $5 up. It can take a while to get it.

But remember - check this out on Dept of State website. I am not coming to your rescue if I am wrong.

There is no such thing as a temporary passport. If you are traveling by air, you need a passport, period.

If you are traveling by land before June 1, 2009, you need to present proof of identity <i>and</i> citizenship. This can be a photo ID and a certified copy of your birth certificate (not a photocopy). If you're going to encounter problems it will likely be returning to the US rather than entering Canada. You can check the US State Department site for requirements at http://tinyurl.com/aospnk.

Oops, I missed the last sentence. The above link will show what you need to re-enter the US. For the requirements to enter Canada, check the Canada Border Service Agency site: http://tinyurl.com/acm6wg.

There is not such thing as a short-term or temporary passport. Either you have one or you don't :-)

Passports are good for 10 years, so if you get one it will last a while!

Kapell, there is such a thing as a passport card, much cheaper then a passport

http://travel.state.gov/passport/ppt...card_3926.html

IT IS VALID FOR CANADA AT LAND CROSSINGS ONLY

http://travel.state.gov/pdf/ppt_pptCard.pdf

And for everybody else: these cards are not valid for international air travel

I too was wondering why no one had mentioned the $20 passport card which would work for the OP if traveling into Canada by land.

But meanwhile, if you don't have even $75 for a full passport, then how much fun are you going to be able to afford in Canada? What kind of total budget for the trip are you working on?

Or by 10 day passport, were you possibly referring to a passport you can get in 10 days?

I was going to raise the same budget question, but didn't. Now that is has come up, why spend money you don't seem to have???

A passport is $100 per person for first-time applicants, not $75. Given the OP is looking at Spring Break at it's already a week into March, adding another $60 per person for expedited service is probably wise. That brings the total to $160 apiece or $320 for both of them. That's a fair amount of money for college students (assuming they're in college since they're going on spring break) and seems to be money they don't have, hence the question about a cheaper alternative.

It's quite easy to surmise $320 would pay for a hotel room for at least 4 nights if not more, depending on which part of Canada they're going to.

Well im not gonna lie to you guys. I'm a college student and was originally supposed to fly out and visit my friend stationed in north carolina for spring break. Im pretty broke at the moment though so we're going to canada for saint patricks day instead. Not 21 yet so we cant have as much fun here in the u.s....

Only thing that worries me is that someone said you dont need a passport to get into canada but you need one to get out.

Please read my response above - the Dept of State (US) website gives details - you do not need a passport until June 2009 - but you do need a certified birth certificate and govt issued ID - but please check out the info yourself - there is always a chance I read it wrong.

If you are a college student it is likely your parents have this birth certificate somewhere - or do you not want to ask them for it because you do not want them to know you are going to Canada? (I have 2 college student almost-adult kids and I have their passports in my home so they do not disappear off to some foreign country without my knowing)

Although it was many years ago, I had a friend at University of Vermont and the main attraction to visitng her in the winter was to go to Canada.

My 19 year old and eight friends just spent the week in Canada on their Spring Break from NC State and had NO problems with Drivers Licenses and Valid Birth Certificates... Have Fun and don't get too stupid !!!

Gary, what does that mean, they had NO problems....do you mean they had their drivers licenses and valid birth certificates, or do you mean they were never asked for either?

You need proof of identity and proof of citizenship to get a passport card so you are back to needing the certified copy of your birth certificate plus driver's license.

The "no problems" refers to the ease of crossing with the proper ID.......... not always easy for teens jammed into cars full of luggage, coolers, and college kids...

You don't need anything to get out of Canada. You do ned proper documents to get back into the US (much harder than getting into Canada to begin with).

Red the above posts - and get what you need. Or - get stuck at the border trying to get back in.