The USA and Canada share what could be the closest and most extensive relationship between two countries. About $1.5 billion a day in goods is traded bilaterally, and 300,000 people cross the shared border every day.
Canada spans some 9.9 million square km, or 3.8 million square miles, and is the second-largest country in the world. The terrain is predominantly plains, with mountains in the western part of the nation and lowlands in the southeast.
According to the Canada Border Services Agency, Canadian law requires that anyone traveling into Canada must carry both proof of citizenship and proof of identity. For American citizens, these may include a current U.S. passport, a passport card or a NEXUS card.
Children who are under the age of 16 can cross into Canada only with proof of American citizenship.
For travelers entering Canada by car, the Canada Border Services Agency offers a table on its website (see Resources) that shows the estimated wait times for reaching the primary inspection booth at each Canada/USA land border.
Individuals who have a criminal record (which can include misdemeanors or DWI charges) may not be allowed to enter into Canada and should obtain a special waiver prior to travel. For more information, see the Canadian Citizenship and Immigration website (see Resources).
