Canada

[royal]

Hi All,

I'm planning on a trip for the week of Labor Day. Our plans are to go from Scranton, PA, northwest to Pittsburgh. Then north to Niagra. Across that little part of Canada to Lake Huron. Then northeast around Lake Erie and then down through the Finger Lakes and back to Scranton. My question is, do we need passports to get into Canada ? What do we have to have with us to get into the country ? I'm a little confused by what I have heard.

Thanks, Roy

[donsobeck]

Its nice to have to get into Canada but you need a passport to get back into the U.S. (Or did last year)

DON

[Moot]

Roy, I just returned from a trip from Colorado to Canada on my BMW. I used my passport and it certainly made things easier. As I understand it the confusion comes in the differing requirements between travel by air and entry at a border crossing. If traveling by air you are required to present a passport. At a U.S. / Canada border crossing, a U.S. citizen must have government-issued photo identification and a document showing their U.S. citizenship (for example, a birth certificate or certificate of nationalization). If you have a passport that makes it easier. If you do not, you still have time to get one before your trip and it will save you from carrying multiple identification including evidence of U.S. citizenship. I recommend you check the US State Department Website since things do seem to change on a regular basis. Sounds like a great trip. Ride Safe and Enjoy.

[Launchpad]

Use caution however. Today I made the trip to the US post office to get my pass port card. They required my birth certificate to be sent in with the application. Then they informed me that I could cross in and out of Canada with my birth certificate until next year. The problem now is that I do not have a birth certificate until I get it back with my new passport.
Not really a problem unless my passport does not arrive in 4 weeks.
If you get a passport I suggest you do it at a Department of state as you will save at least $25 on the secondary fee. Take a photo with you as it will save you $15. MY total cost would have only been $20 had I done that.
Brian

[Moot]

Out of caution I would go ahead and order a new certified birth certificate which you know will arrive in time so at least you have that if the passport does not get there.

[Launchpad]

Out of caution I would go ahead and order a new certified birth certificate which you know will arrive in time so at least you have that if the passport does not get there.
LOL...Shortly after my last post I did just that. Thanks for the heads up. Better safe than sorry.
Brian

[garry_kramer]

Hi All,

I'm planning on a trip for the week of Labor Day. Our plans are to go from Scranton, PA, northwest to Pittsburgh. Then north to Niagra. Across that little part of Canada to Lake Huron. Then northeast around Lake Erie and then down through the Finger Lakes and back to Scranton. My question is, do we need passports to get into Canada ? What do we have to have with us to get into the country ? I'm a little confused by what I have heard.

Thanks, Roy

Sounds like your going right past my house, drop in for a coffee if you want.

Garry

[Tracus]

Get the passport and use it. Just crossed back and forth between Glacier National Park and the Waterton Lakes (Montana and Alberta). Absolutely no problem when we stated and then showed that we had passports. But, make sure you sign it! We forgot and the customs officer noticed it. Fortunately, no problem.

[TouringProf]

Hi All,

I'm planning on a trip for the week of Labor Day. Our plans are to go from Scranton, PA, northwest to Pittsburgh. Then north to Niagra. Across that little part of Canada to Lake Huron. Then northeast around Lake Erie and then down through the Finger Lakes and back to Scranton. My question is, do we need passports to get into Canada ? What do we have to have with us to get into the country ? I'm a little confused by what I have heard.

Thanks, Roy

Recently went into Canada at Ogdensburg and came out a Sault Ste Marie. Passport made the crossings a snap. BTW, make sure you get a Canada Non-Resident Inter-Province card (Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance Card - Certificat D'assurance) from your insurance agent/company. They rarely ask to see it entering Canada, but if they do ask for it, and you don't have one, they can turn you away.

[motorman587]

Passport, Canada insurance card, registration and DO NOT take pepper spray. Yup, got nailed at the border with pepper spray. Did not get in trouble they just ask and I told....................

[Moot]

With my passport in hand, neither
entering Canada nor returning to the US was I asked for registration or insurance. Upon returning to the US after 10 days in Canada, the (very attractive red headed female) customs agent asked if I had purchased anything while in Canada. I replied "Two T-shirts" to which she responded: "My, arn't we the big spender?" and waved me on through. I guess they arn't all hardened humorless souls. Oh, did I mention she was also quite attractive?