Can you get into Canada with an enhanced license 2023?

Do I Need a Passport to Go to Canada If I Have an Enhanced ID? If you plan to fly into Canada, you will need a passport. If you plan to cross into Canada via a land border, however, a qualifying enhanced license can work as long as you do not have a DUI arrest in your past.



As of 2026, you can still enter Canada using an Enhanced Driver's License (EDL), provided you are crossing by land or sea. An EDL is a specialized document issued by only a few U.S. states—currently Washington, Minnesota, Michigan, New York, and Vermont—that serves as both a driver's license and a federally approved proof of citizenship under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. It is a highly convenient alternative to a passport for American citizens who frequently drive across the border. However, there is a major limitation: an EDL is not valid for international air travel. If you plan to fly into Canada, you must have a valid passport or NEXUS card. It is also worth noting that a "Standard" license or a "REAL ID" is not sufficient for border crossings; it must specifically be the "Enhanced" version, which requires an in-person interview and proof of citizenship during the application process.

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To fly to Canada, you must have a passport or a NEXUS card, which is acceptable at 9 Canadian airports. To cross by land or water, you should present a passport, or instead, a passport card or NEXUS card.

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Ensure that you have proper identification for you and your family readily available. Acceptable forms of identification for entry into Canada include a passport, a NEXUS card and an enhanced driver's licence.

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Canada requires proof of citizenship or resident status to enter the country under §§14(3) and 14(4) of the Passport and Travel Documents section of the Immigration Regulations of Canada (enclosed). A birth certificate is one form of proof.

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Crossing the border to Canada is Easy! provide proof of vaccination; undergo pre- or on-arrival testing; carry out COVID-19-related quarantine or isolation; monitor and report if they develop signs or symptoms of COVID-19 upon arriving to Canada.

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If you're arriving by land, follow the signs to the first checkpoint, also called “primary inspection.” Here, a border services officer will examine your identification and other travel documents and take your verbal declaration. Visit U.S. to Canada border wait times for estimated wait times at certain locations.

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Niagara Falls Border Crossing Information If you plan to visit Canada for a few hours, the day, or even an extended period of time, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, or WHTI, requires U.S. and Canadian travelers to present a passport or other document that denotes identity and citizenship when entering the U.S.

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U.S. citizens under age 16 may present a birth certificate or alternative proof of citizenship when entering by land or sea. All travelers must have a passport book for international air travel. Please note that hospital-issued birth certificates, voter registration cards, and affidavits cannot be used.

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