Haines to anchorage, passport needed? (Seward: home, live, airport)

[Ohemgee.itsOMG]

I'm about to move to Seward, and a friend is going to take the ferry with me up to Haines before flying out of anchorage. I didn't realize that the road to anchorage crosses into Canada until recently. Are they strict with passports? I have one, but if my friend has a US drivers license and a printout of her flight, will that be ok to get us through?

[jabogitlu]

No. You need a passport or a passport card to get into Canada from the United States from Haines.

[AKStafford]

Passports will be needed to get back into the U.S.
Your friend could fly home from Juneau.

[akck]

The reality is that a passport is not required to enter Canada, but a passport is required to enter the U.S. Knowing this, Canada will not let you enter without a passport because they want you to eventually leave. Other acceptable forms of ID include enhanced drivers license and NEXUS cards. If she lives in Washington State, the EDL might be the quickest way to get acceptable ID.

[beenhereandthere]

Originally Posted by akck

The reality is that a passport is not required to enter Canada, but a passport is required to enter the U.S. Knowing this, Canada will not let you enter without a passport because they want you to eventually leave. Other acceptable forms of ID include enhanced drivers license and NEXUS cards. If she lives in Washington State, the EDL might be the quickest way to get acceptable ID.

Which I find weird, since even if you have to be in secondary screening for hours if you can prove your US Citizen status, the CBP cannot deny entry back into America.
Green Card may be another story though

[akck]

Originally Posted by beenhereandthere

Which I find weird, since even if you have to be in secondary screening for hours if you can prove your US Citizen status, the CBP cannot deny entry back into America.
Green Card may be another story though

Here are the Canadian requirements: Travellers - Travel Documents

Identification requirements for U. S. citizens and permanent residents

If you are a U.S. citizen, ensure you carry proof of citizenship such as a passport, birth certificate, a certificate of citizenship or naturalization, or a Certificate of Indian Status along with photo identification. If you are a U.S. permanent resident, ensure you carry proof of your status such as a U.S. Permanent Resident Card.

Whether you’re entering by air, land or water, we recommend you carry a valid passport for all travel abroad, including visits to Canada from the U.S. A passport may be required by your airline or alternative transportation authority, as it is the only universally-accepted identification document.

Citizens of the U.S. who are members of the NEXUS program may present their membership card to the CBSA as proof of identification and as a document that denotes citizenship, when arriving by air, land, or marine modes.

Canadian citizens who are members of the FAST program may use their cards as proof of identity when arriving by land and marine modes only.

Permanent residents of the U.S. who are members of the NEXUS or FAST programs must travel with a passport and proof of permanent residence, and may be asked to present these documents to the officer upon arrival at the border.

All visitors arriving from or transiting through the U.S. are encouraged to visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website for information concerning the U.S. Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, and the requirements to enter or return to the U.S.

They allow more alternative forms of ID. Passports are a U.S. Customs requirement and since Canadian Customs know this, they're likely to turn you away from the border because you may not be able to leave Canada for a long period. I've heard you can eventually get through the border without a passport, just as you can go through TSA security at the airport without ID, but do you want to risk a long delay?

[Dakster]

Used to be a DL and a birth certificate was enough, but not any more.

An Alaska DL at one point won't even be enough for you to fly domestically. You'll need a passport for that unless Alaska gets with the RealID program. Yes, I know that AK keeps getting waivers, but at one point that waver will expire and not get renewed.