Driving thru Canada (home, rent, travel)

[Tarina]

I was wondering if you have to have passports for the entire family to drive through Canada. We will be moving our family of 6 with 3 dogs and a hamster in the spring. I have a feeling if we do need them it will be quite expensive for that many passports. Any information would be helpful.

[Wrennie]

Right now, if you are an American, you just need your birth certificate (certified copy)and a picture i.d. Same for the kids. And they ask about your car (they want to see insurance and registration papers).

[Nephler]

They don't require passport right now. But you never know when that is to change. i think fairly soon. I don't remember how much my passport was 6 years ago, but it wasn't very much. Your dogs need a current vet checkup just before you head off.

We'll be heading through Canada this coming spring/early summer also.

[HG_75]

Seems easy. Would the same apply to a Canadian visiting Alaska?

[warptman]

Starting on January 1st, 2008 you will need a passport to drive thru Canada. Here is more information on it.

Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative

[Nephler]

Originally Posted by warptman

Starting on January 1st, 2008 you will need a passport to drive thru Canada. Here is more information on it.

Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative

I knew it had to be coming up soon.

[Tarina]

Thanks for the responses. They have been helpful. That's my luck, it would change in 08. No passport is going to stop us...We wish we had left yesterday

Alaska bound May 08'

Tired of the heat & humidity!!

[RAMFEB31]

Originally Posted by Nephler

They don't require passport right now. But you never know when that is to change. i think fairly soon. I don't remember how much my passport was 6 years ago, but it wasn't very much. Your dogs need a current vet checkup just before you head off.

We'll be heading through Canada this coming spring/early summer also.

I've heard the Feds have caught up w/ their paperwork on pasport aps so they are reinstituting the passport thing.

[aquariusmom]

Actually now you have until summer 08, they just keep changing it...

see the state dept. link shared in a post above. Good luck!!

[megensmom]

I am doing this as we speak and the Candian Customs people say it will start by 1/31/08,homeland security for the US says you DO need them as well. I personally would want to err on the side of caution and get them,wouldn't it be awful to go that far and then find out you can't cross. I check one site it says one thing and then another says you do have to. And since those 2 big places say you will I am going with them.
Also make sure you have all your vet work in order. I was also told that bringing rodents into Canda was a little hard so you may want to call and check on that for sure.