Crossing into Canada

Here in Quebec the EDL was never a big hit; both sides of the border are promoting NEXUS cards as the way to go.

The same issues apply to Canadians that have enhanced drivers licenses from BC, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec. Quebec is dropping their EDL and not issuing any after Sept 30, 2014. Current, Quebec EDLs, will be good till they expire. As mentioned above, the EDLs are good only for land and water entry into either country, no air.

A year or so back, our local paper here in Florida, had an article about a Canadian snowbird couple, that drove their car down here and crossed into the US on their provincial EDL. About mid way through the winter, they had an emergency situation develop, back home and needed to return to Canada quickly. But found out they couldn't buy a plane ticket, back into Canada, without a passport. The article stated they ended up flying to upstate New York, renting a car and driving across the border. It mentioned they both applied for a Canadian passport, while they were back home, before returning to Florida to finish out their stay.

I suspect the EDLs were created mainly for people that cross over and back, often, for work, shopping, to see family, to farm, etc. Passports just aren't that expensive in the long scheme of things, a bit of a hassle at times to get or renew but overall somewhat painless.

It is my understanding that if you cross into Canada on an EDL and get sick and need to be airlifted back to the US, for insurance coverage, you have a problem. If you have a passport, no problem. Now I have also been told if you do die, from your illness, while in Canada on an EDL, then the rule no longer applies, for them to ship your body back to the US by air. A very comforting thought, I am sure.

After doing a Goggle search on " How many US states offer a enhanced driver's licence " I found this .

FIVE US states offer a "enhanced driver's licence" Here is the link, read it for your self. I wouldn't say that five states is " MANY " would You ?

link. http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/travel/244738141.html

AND, information from a friend who works for Citizenship and Immigration Canada, in the enforcement section, I am told that EDL is going to be removed from the list of "approved documents " for entry into Canada, soon. As in later THIS year.

Jim B. In Toronto.

camper19709 wrote:
You can go to Canada with your DL but you will need a passport to get back into the US.

To those who keep saying this you are wrong! Many states (perhaps not yours) issue Enhanced Drivers Licences that will get you back into the USA just fine. Here in Michigan we use ours all the time.

to the best of my knowledge, if for some reason you have to fly home you will need a passport. Other forms of Id will not suffice.

Like lakeside013104 had just posted, an enhanced driver license is a passport equivalent under the WHTI documentation requirements as it establishes both proof of identity and proof of citizenship, as one of the four US states (New York is one) that issue them can be used for permitted entry into the United States at ANY land or sea port of call.

More on the details of the overview on enhanced driver licenses

Passport, passport card, NEXUS card, FAST card, or an Enhanced Drivers License will allow you reentry into the USA across any LAND border.

lakeside

You can go to Canada with your DL but you will need a passport to get back into the US.

A passport is a US requirment: Canada still accepts a DL and birth certificate.

crossed at Houlton New Brunswick into Maine 8/10/14 and you will need a passport