Travel to the United States
Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)

As of June 1, 2009, the United States government's Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) is now in effect. U.S. and Canadian citizens are required to be in possession of a valid passport or other accepted documentation that establishes the bearer’s identity and citizenship for entry or re-entry into the United States by land or sea from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean or Bermuda. A valid passport is still required to enter the U.S. by air.

For further information on the WHTI, visit the U.S. Department of State or the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Click on the links below for valid and accepted forms of proof and citizenship:

Canadian travellers

American travellers

Travel to Canada

American Visitors
When entering Canada from the U.S., American citizens are required to show either a U.S. passport or an original or certified birth certificate in addition to at least one piece of photo identification. U.S. citizens entering Canada from a third country must show a valid passport. A visa is not required for U.S. citizens for a stay up to 180 days.

International Visitors
International visitors to Canada, not including U.S. citizens, must carry a valid passport and, if required, a visa when entering the country. Citizens from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Mexico, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia and others do not require a visa to enter Canada.

For a complete listing of countries whose citizens require visas to enter Canada, visit, www.cic.gc.ca.

Citizens of countries not required to carry a visa for entry into Canada should contact their Canadian consulate or embassy for information regarding the documentation they are required to be in possession of. Information on international Canadian embassies can be found on the Foreign Affairs Canada website, www.international.gc.ca.

Close