Under the 2004 Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), the United States developed travel requirements for people entering or re-entering the country. The initiative covers travelers from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and 17 nations in the Caribbean region.
Under the initiative, a valid travel document is required from anyone who wants to enter or re-enter the U.S. following travel by land, air or sea to destinations outside the U.S.
For residents of countries under the WHTI, accepted travel documents are a passport, an enrollment card from NEXUS, FAST/Expres, SENTRI or other trusted traveler program, or an enhanced driver's license.
U.S. citizens traveling to Canada are required to show a valid U.S. passport or NEXUS card to Canadian Border Services Agency officials in order to enter the country. Americans without such documentation are allowed to present their driver's license along with a U.S. birth certificate or other proof of U.S. citizenship. Children under 16 only need to show proof of U.S. citizenship.
Because the U.S. and Canada are bordering countries, government officials agreed on an expedited border crossing program. By using the NEXUS trusted traveler program, U.S. and Canadian residents can cross the U.S. and Canadian border showing only a special travel card. However, if a U.S. citizen is entering Canada from a third country, a valid U.S. passport is required.
All U.S. citizens, regardless of age, must show a U.S. passport when entering the United States. Legal permanent residents, such as refugees or asylees of the U.S., need to present their applicable Permanent Resident card, Alien Registration card, or other issued travel document.
Visitors to Canada who are not U.S. citizens must apply for a Temporary Resident Visa and provide a passport from the country in which they are a citizen. Those exempt from needing a visa are citizens of Austria, Australia, Antigua, Andorra, Bahamas, Belgium, Barbados, Botswana, Barbuda, Brunei, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Finland, Greece, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Republic of Korea, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Republic of Latvia, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Netherlands, Namibia, Poland, Portugal, Papua New Guinea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Singapore, St. Kitts and Nevis, San Marino, Slovenia, St. Lucia, Solomon Islands, St. Vincent, Slovakia and Western Samoa.
British citizens and citizens of British dependent territories are also exempt from the temporary visa requirement if they hold a passport issued by the United Kingdom or are re-admissible to the United Kingdom.
All international visitors to the U.S. are required to show a passport and a valid visa issued by a U.S. Consular official. Citizens of certain foreign countries may not need to present a visa if they are only staying in the U.S. for 90 days or are visiting for vacation or medical purposes. Citizens of these countries are exempt from the visa requirement: Australia, Austria, Andorra, Belgium, Brunei, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Monaco, Malta, New Zealand, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Singapore, Slovenia, Slovakia, Slovak Republic, South Korea and United Kingdom.
Lawful permanent residents of the U.S. are also exempt from the visa requirement. However, they must present their Permanent Resident Card and a Re-entry Permit if they have left the U.S. for more than a year or a Returning Resident Visa if they are re-entering the U.S. after two or more years.
