U.S. and Canadian citizens should not expect to cross the border by orally declaring their identity and citizenship alone. Effective January 31, 2008, travelers will be asked to present documents from one of the options below when entering the United States at land or sea ports of entry.
One Document Option
One of the following documents should be presented to prove both identity and citizenship:
- U.S. or Canadian Passport
- U.S. Passport Card
- Trusted Traveler Cards (NEXUS, SENTRI, or FAST)*
- State or Provincial Issued Enhanced Driver’s License (when available – this secure driver’s license will denote identity and citizenship.)
- Enhanced Tribal Cards (when available)
- U.S. Military Identification with Military Travel Orders
- U.S. Merchant Mariner Document
- Native American Tribal Photo Identification Card
- Form I-872 American Indian Card
- Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) Card
Two Document Option
All U.S. and Canadian citizens who do NOT have one of the documents from the list above must present BOTH an identification and citizenship document from each of the columns below.
- Identification Documents
(All identification documents must have a photo, name and date of birth.)
- Driver’s license or identification card issued by a federal, state, provincial, county, territory, or municipal authority
- U.S. or Canadian military identification card
- Citizenship Documents
- U.S. or Canadian birth certificate issued by a federal, state, provincial, county, territory or municipal authority
- U.S. Consular report of birth abroad
- U.S. Certificate of Naturalization
- U.S. Certificate of Citizenship
- U.S. Citizen Identification Card
- Canadian Citizenship Card
- Canadian certificate of citizenship without photo
U.S. AND CANADIAN CITIZENS CHILDREN
Children of U.S. and Canadian citizens 18 and under will be expected to present a birth certificate issued by a federal, state, provincial, county or municipal authority.
U.S. LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENTS
Permanent Resident Card (I-551) or other valid evidence of lawful permanent residence is required.
MEXICAN CITIZENS
Mexican citizens, including children, must present a valid passport and a B-1/B-2 non-immigrant visa or a Border Crossing Card.
