Do you need a passport to go to Canada? An enjoyable visit to our neighboring nation begins with making sure you’ve got the proper documentation. Here’s what you need to know.
Planning a trip to Canada? Here’s what you need to know:
Yes, U.S. citizens need a passport to visit.
Your passport must be valid for the duration of your stay.
You’ll need at least one blank page.
No tourist visa is required for stays under 180 days.
You can’t enter Canada with just an ID—you’ll need a passport book, passport card, or NEXUS card, depending on how you cross the border.
Have a NEXUS card? It’s accepted at 8 Canadian airports, 20 land border crossings, and 396 marine reporting centers.
Want to stay in Canada for more than 180 days? You’ll need to apply for a Visitor Record before your stay expires—it sets a new departure date and lets you stay longer.
Wherever you go, KAYAK is here to help you travel smart. Because every trip starts with a plan—and we’ve got yours.
Do you need a passport to go to Canada?
Yes, in most cases you need a valid passport to enter Canada, particularly for air travel. Limited exceptions exist for specific land and sea crossings, but travelers should always plan to travel with a passport.
Passport Needed?
Yes
Blank pages needed
At least 1 page (other than the last page)
Passport validity
Duration of stay
Visa tourist needed
Not for U.S. citizens staying under six months
Do US citizens need a passport to go to Canada or can they just use their ID?
To enter Canada, whether a passport is always needed depends on how you plan on crossing the border (air, sea, or road). You’ll need a passport book, passport card, or NEXUS card. However, there are some restrictions about when and where a passport card and NEXUS card are acceptable.
For air travel, U.S. citizens should travel with a valid U.S. passport book for commercial flights to Canada. NEXUS cards can expedite entry at designated NEXUS airports for NEXUS members (CBSA lists 9 Canadian airports with NEXUS arrival kiosks for entering Canada).
For land or sea travel, WHTI-compliant documents such as a U.S. passport card, an Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) from participating states, or Trusted Traveler/NEXUS cards are accepted. A standard state driver’s license alone is not a valid travel document for entry to Canada.
Admission for any traveler (with any document) still depends on admissibility, meaning no disqualifying criminal convictions, and meeting health, security, and financial considerations as determined by the border services officer’s decision.
If you do not need a passport to go to Canada, what do you need?
If you are flying, you need a U.S. passport book. NEXUS may be used to expedite entry at participating airports for members. In the case you are crossing by land or water, you can present a passport card, EDL (where issued), or NEXUS card, as well as a passport book.
This is all you need for entry purposes, as long as you are staying in Canada as a visitor (typically up to six months) and you meet admissibility requirements.
Can I get into Canada with a driver’s license?
Your standard driver’s license will not work to cross the border. A passport will work, but there are other options, too. An Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) from participating states is WHTI-compliant for land and sea crossings.
If you are crossing into Canada from the U.S. by land or sea, you can show a valid passport card. A NEXUS card will also work at 9 Canadian airports with NEXUS arrival kiosks for entering Canada, 18 land crossings for driving into Canada, and 396 marine reporting centers.
If you are driving across the border, you will definitely need your driver’s license for operating a vehicle. If you are flying or sailing, bring your license in case you rent a car or drive another vehicle while in Canada. And if you want to go to a bar, a license or ID is much less cumbersome to carry than a passport book.
Can I travel to Canada with my US birth certificate?
For most adult international travel, especially by air, a passport is required. However, for land and sea crossings, U.S. children (and in some limited circumstances adults) may present an original or copy of a birth certificate or other proof of citizenship. IRCC and CBP describe specific limited allowances. Do not rely on a birth certificate for air travel. Always confirm with official sources for your mode of travel.
What is a birth certificate useful for?
A birth certificate is an acceptable civil document to prove citizenship for passport applications and may be accepted for some limited border cases (notably children at land and sea ports). It is not a general replacement for a passport for international air travel.
Is a travel visa needed to go to Canada from the US?
If you are an American traveling to Canada as a tourist for a short visit (typically up to six months), you do not need a visa. U.S. citizens are visa-exempt for visitor purposes. The border services officer determines the final length of stay.
However, if you intend to stay longer than the authorized visitor period, or to work or study, you must apply for the appropriate permit or apply to extend your stay (visitor record) before your current status expires.
What if I want to stay in Canada for more than 180 days?
To stay beyond the period authorized at entry (typically up to six months), you must apply for a visitor record before your current status expires. If you apply before expiry, you may remain in Canada under implied status while the application is processed.
A visitor record is an official document (not a visa) that shows the new expiry date of your authorized stay in Canada. If approved, it sets the new date by which you must leave.
Frequently asked questions about traveling to Canada
It depends on your nationality. Some travelers need a transit visa to pass through Canada, while visa-exempt nationals may instead need an eTA if flying. Always check Canada’s entry requirements for your country before travel.
No. You only need the one document that applies to you: a visitor visa if your nationality requires one, or an eTA if you’re visa-exempt and flying to Canada. You do not need both.
If you are a U.S. citizen, no eTA is required (use your U.S. passport). If you are a U.S. lawful permanent resident (Green Card holder) and plan to fly, you need an eTA. For other visitors, requirements depend on nationality.
You must apply for a new eTA using the details of your new passport. The eTA is linked to a specific passport number and won’t transfer to a replacement passport.
Carry a signed consent letter from the other parent or legal guardian, copies of custody or guardianship documents (if applicable), copies of the other parent’s ID or passport, plus the child’s passport and any travel itinerary. Border officers may ask for additional proof.
Apply online at the official Government of Canada eTA portal, provide your passport details, and pay the fee with a credit or debit card. You’ll usually get approval within minutes, though some applications can take several days.
Conclusion: Can you go to Canada without a passport?
By air, U.S. citizens should travel with a valid U.S. passport book for commercial air travel. NEXUS cards can expedite entry at designated NEXUS airports for NEXUS members (CBSA lists 9 Canadian airports with NEXUS arrival kiosks for entering Canada).
By land or sea, WHTI-compliant documents such as a U.S. passport card, an EDL (from participating states), or Trusted Traveler/NEXUS are accepted.
U.S. citizens generally do not need a visitor visa or eTA for short visits. Routine vaccination requirements for entry were lifted (no COVID vaccination or ArriveCAN requirement since October 2022), but border officers may request evidence of funds, a return or onward ticket, or other proof of the purpose of visit. Admission is subject to officer discretion and admissibility rules.
So, grab your duffle, and let’s go enjoy Canada!
The foregoing article was last updated in January 2026. It does not contain legal advice and is for informational purposes only. KAYAK does not guarantee, and accepts no legal liability arising from or connected to, the accuracy, reliability, currency, or completeness of any of the information contained in this article and/or any of the content linked to within it. Always check the official government website of your departure and arrival destinations prior to travel for up-to-date information.
Sources:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/need-passport/card.html
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Canada.html
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/entry-requirements-country.html#us-citizens
https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/td-dv-eng.html#s3
https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/services/travel-voyage/prog/nexus/locations-emplacements-eng.html
https://nexus-card.ca/
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/need-passport/apply-in-person.html
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/extend-stay.html
