For air travel, all citizens traveling to Mexico from the United States and Canada, regardless of age, must present a valid passport. For land or sea travel, U.S. or Canadian citizens 16 years of age and older are expected to present a passport or an alternative WHTI-compliant document, like a passport card. Children 15 years and under are required only to show evidence of citizenship, such as a naturalization certificate or a birth certificate.
Canadian law requires that people entering the country should possess both proof of citizenship and evidence of identity. A U.S. citizen traveling to Canada needs a valid U.S. passport, passport card or NEXUS card to satisfy this requirement. For children under the age of 16, only evidence of U.S. citizenship is required to enter Canada. However, if returning to the U.S. by air, you must present a valid U.S. passport. For entry by road or sea back into the U.S., a passport, passport card or other WHTI-compliant document is required.
Getting your valid passport early enough before you travel out of the country is important. In certain cases, passport numbers may be requested well before your actual departure date. For example, some cruise lines request that one provides these numbers at least 75 days before the cruise. Before traveling, always check for updates on passport and documentation requirements as the rules may change.
