You must have proof of citizenship and nationality to enter the US from Canada by land or sea starting January 31, 2008 Citizens of the US and Canada must have proof of Identity and Citizenship in order to enter the US from Canada starting January 31. You must have your State/Province/Territory-Issued Drivers' License or other government issued photo ID --AND-- your Birth Certificate or naturalization papers. The key to these documents are that, combined, they must be issued by government entities (no student IDs) and the identity document must have your picture. Alternatively, you can use your passport, your NEXUS card, or the new State/Province/Territory-Issued Enhanced Drivers License, which provides information on both identity and nationality. For information on how to get an Enhanced Drivers License in Washington State or British Columbia, go to: Washington State Dept. of Licensing - EDL Info ICBC Licensing - EDL Information Border Wait Time Information US to Canada: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/border/I5_SR543.htm Canada to US: http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/ATIS/index.htm |
Land and Sea Border Crossings
As of January 2007, all people entering the US by Air (including US Citizens) must have a passport. There are a limited number of other documents available to certain individuals, but generally, you must have a passport if crossing the border by air. However, if you drive across the border, and fly out of a US airport to another US destination, no passport is required. So, people in the Lower Mainland and elsewhere in Canada can feel free to cross at the land crossings and fly out of Bellingham International Airport without a passport. Information on the airport, and airlines serving it, can be found at the Port of Bellingham website. |
Air Border Crossings
| A Production of the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and the BESTT Coalition. |
| What Documents do I need to Cross the Border?? |
| Information on getting your NEXUS Card can be found at http://www.getnexus.com |
| Important Dates to Remember: January 31, 2008 - All Oral Declarations for Land Crossings End - This means you must have something to prove nationality (birth certificate, naturalization papers, etc.) June 2009 - New Document Requirement for Land and Sea - The documents that will be allowed after this date are Passport, NEXUS Card and Enhanced Drivers License. Birth Certificates will no longer be accepted after this date, nor will Drivers' Licenses that have not been upgraded to the new Enhanced Drivers License. |