For all U.S. citizens crossing the border by air, it is necessary to carry either a U.S. passport or a NEXUS card. Merchant Marines and U.S. Military personal are permitted to cross the border with travel orders and proper identification.
All U.S. Citizens traveling across the border by land or sea must comply with the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. This means that all U.S. citizens must carry either a U.S. passport, U.S. passport card, enhanced driver's license, or a NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST trusted traveler program card.
For all Canadian citizens crossing the border by air it is necessary to carry either a Canadian passport or a NEXUS card. In rare cases, a parole letter is also an acceptable form of identification.
Like U.S. citizens, Canadian citizens must also comply with the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. For Canadians, this means it is necessary to carry either a Canadian passport, an enhanced driver's license or enhanced identification card, or a NEXUS, FAST/Express or SENTRI trusted traveler program card.
U.S. and Canadian children under the age of 16 traveling traveling by sea or land may present a birth certificate, a consular report of birth abroad, a naturalization certificate, or a Canadian citizenship card.
U.S. and Canadian children under the age of 19 traveling with a school group, religious group, social or cultural organization, or sports team essentially have the same requirements as children traveling by land or sea under the age of 16. In addition to those requirements, the group must present a letter stating the name of the group and supervising adult and a list of the children, including their primary address, phone number, date of birth, place of birth, the name of at least one parent or guardian and a "written and signed statement of the supervising adult certifying that he or she has obtained parental or legal guardian consent for each participating child."
Native Americans are permitted to present a tribal document affixed with a photo.
