PASSPORT INFORMATION

ACCEPTABLE I.D. INFORMATION
For U.S. Citizens coming into Canada:
All persons, including U.S. citizens, travelling between the United States and Canada are required to present a valid passport, or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. Recent legislative changes have introduced new documentation (alternative to a passport) that are accepted at land or sea border crossings from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean or Bermuda. These include a Passport Card and/or an Enhanced Michigan Driver's License. For further information on all of these documents under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, please visit www.GetYouHome.gov for more information.

To apply for a passport, U.S. citizens can visit the State Department's website at http://travel.state.gov/ or call the U.S. National Passport Information Center at (877) 4USA-PPT, (877) 487-2778. Please allow 6 weeks for processing of the passport application. If you need to travel urgently and require a passport sooner, please visit http://travel.state.gov/ for additional information on expedited processing. Peak domestic passport processing is between January and July. For faster service, we recommend applying between August and December. U.S. citizens living outside the U.S. should contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

For Canadian Citizens:
All Canadians require a valid passport or other accepted documentation to travel to the United States by air and at land border crossings like the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel or the Ambassador Bridge. An enhanced driver's license has been made available in select provinces, including Ontario.

While you are required to show one of these acceptable forms of I.D. to enter the U.S. by land, you do not require that I.D. to board a U.S. domestic flight (i.e. Detroit to Orlando). However, if you are boarding an international flight in the U.S., you will require a passport.

Canadians are most familiar with the 24-page passport. This passport is issued to Canadian citizens, and is used for occasional travel such as vacations and business trips. The maximum validity period varies with the age of the passport holder as in, but not limited to, the following examples:

Adults (16 years of age or over): 5 years
Children (3 to 15 years of age): 5 years
Children (under 3 years of age): 3 years

For more information, call toll free 1-800-567-6868, or go to Passport Canada at http://www.ppt.gc.ca/.

Ontario drivers who are Canadian citizens can now apply for the Ontario Enhanced Driver's License. The Ontario Enhanced Driver's Licence (EDL) is a passport alternative only for Ontario drivers who are Canadian citizens crossing into the United States at land or water border entry points. An enhanced driver's licence is completely optional, and is an additional $40.00. Those who wish to apply for a licence should visit serviceontario.ca to book an application appointment.

ServiceOntario centres in seven border communities, as well as two in Toronto, offer the enhanced licence. To apply, the applicant can make an appointment to attend an in-person screening at one of the nine ServiceOntario centres. (Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Windsor, St. Catharines, Toronto Downtown, North York, Kingston, Cornwall and Ottawa)

For more information, go to serviceontario.ca

For U.S. Citizens returning to the United States:
To prevent delays at ports of entry, we would encourage all U.S. citizens to obtain the appropriate documents before they travel. For the general public, people who apply for return entry to the U.S., but do not have appropriate documentation, will be referred for secondary screening at the port. In secondary, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers will evaluate any evidence of citizenship or identity the individual may have and will verify all information against available databases.

American visitors may be asked to verify their citizenship with either a passport or other accepted form of identification. Naturalized U.S. citizens should carry a naturalization certificate. Permanent U.S. residents who are not citizens are advised to bring their Alien Registration Receipt Card (Green Card).

For more information, call The National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778.
Or go to the U.S. Department of State website at http://travel.state.gov/passport.

Traveling with pets
Crossing is also easy with Fido or Fluffy - as long as you have the proper paperwork. You will need a certificate of rabies vaccination, issued within the preceding three years, for any pets over three months of age brought into Canada. Service animals are exempt from this requirement. Remember, a tag will not be accepted in place of a certificate.

PLEASURE BOAT REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

For Canadian Citizens going to the U.S.
Visit www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/pleasure_boats/boats/ for more information.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has implemented enhanced security procedures for small boat arrivals and inspection of associated crew and passengers. These procedures may require physical reporting to a local CPB office within 24 hours of arrival, reporting to a designated Physical Reporting location, or using OARS (Outlying Area Reporting Station). This will be determined at the time of reporting.

Who Reports:
All U.S. Citizens and aliens seeking entry to the United States MUST REPORT their arrival.
When Reporting is Required:
Masters must report their arrival to CBP if they have engaged in any of the following activities: Reporting Procedures:
If everyone on board is registered in an alternative inspection program (either I-68 or NEXUS), the master may report the arrival telephonically via the numbers below. All others must report the arrival to CBP in person or via OARS (see website for more information). No other person may leave or board the boat, and no baggage or merchandise can be removed or loaded until the report of arrival is made and release granted by a CBP officer.
Alternative Inspection System Programs:

I-68 Program:
Under the I-68 program, applicants for admission into the U.S. by small pleasure boats are pre-registered and issued a single boating permit for the entire boating season. The I-68 permit allows boaters to report their arrival to CBP for further inspection by placing a phone call. I-68 holders are still subject to a physical inspection if requested by CBP.

NEXUS:
The NEXUS alternative inspection program allows pre-screened, low-risk travellers to be processed with little or no delay by U.S. and Canadian border officials. Approved applications are valid for 5 years. Small boat operators in possession of a NEXUS member card may report their arrival via phone.

For U.S. Citizens going to Canada
For more information, visit http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/canpass/privateboat-eng.html, or call the Automated Customs Information Service (ACIS) at 1-800-461-9999. If you are calling from outside of Canada, you can access ACIS by calling 1-204-983-3500 or 1-506-636-5064. Long distance charges will apply.

The master of a recreational boat is the person in charge. As master of the recreational boat, you have to go to a designated telephone reporting marine site, call the telephone reporting centre at 1-888-226-7277. No one except the master may leave the boat until authorization is given by customs.

Note: To find designated telephone reporting marine sites in your area, call 1-888-226-7277.

What are the import restrictions?
All travellers can import goods for their personal use. United States residents must return all goods to the United States unless those goods were consumed while in Canada.

If you import any promotional materials, including samples, commercial goods, or equipment, you have to clear your importations through a commercial broker, pay duties and taxes, or provide security, as required.

You cannot import controlled, restricted, or prohibited animals, plants, or goods as described in the publications for Canadian residents called I Declare, or in Customs Information for Visitors to Canada and Seasonal Residents, for United States residents.

There are restrictions on importing alcohol and tobacco products into Canada. For more information, see the publications called I Declare, or Customs Information for Visitors to Canada and Seasonal Residents.

You cannot import prohibited firearms or weapons including Mace, pepper spray, and stun guns. If you plan to import firearms or weapons, for hunting or for a competition for example, read and follow the procedures stated in the publication called Importing a Firearm or Weapon Into Canada.

Controlled, restricted, or prohibited goods will be seized and you may be subject to criminal prosecution.

CANPASS Program
CANPASS for Private Boats can facilitate customs clearance procedures. See the website for more information, or call ACIS.