Passport for Alaska Cruise from Vancouver

[cantellu]

Is a passport required for a Canadian citizen who is leaving from Vancouver and returning to Vancouver for an Alaska cruise. Will a drivers license be enough ?

 

Passport delays are getting me worried ...

 

 

[Jimbo]

14 minutes ago, cantellu said:

Is a passport required for a Canadian citizen who is leaving from Vancouver and returning to Vancouver for an Alaska cruise. Will a drivers license be enough ?

 

Passport delays are getting me worried ...

 

 

Best to have the passport since you will be out of your country.

[martincath]

Since you're entering the US and then re-entering Canada, you definitely need something compliant with WHTI rules. That means an Enhanced Driving License, a NEXUS card, or a Passport for Canadian citizens.

 

If you don't already have NEXUS, it's a lengthy first time process as an interview by both US and Canadian border agents is required so if you have a passport renewal under way already that will likely be quicker despite the current delays. Application for this and all the other Trusted Traveler Programs is here. You can probably find the most up-to-date chat about current application delays, interview locations with closest availability etc. on the FlyerTalk forums, which are far more active than Cruise Critic on all things Trusted Traveler...

 

Depending which province you live in, you may or may not be able to get an EDL - details on this page, including links to the provincial licensing authorities. No idea what sort of delay is involved in processing these.

[cantellu]

Thanks folks. Passport is the only option for us at this point. Hopefully the application made in April will come through in August.

[Joseph2017China]

7 hours ago, martincath said:

Since you're entering the US and then re-entering Canada, you definitely need something compliant with WHTI rules. That means an Enhanced Driving License, a NEXUS card, or a Passport for Canadian citizens.

 

If you don't already have NEXUS, it's a lengthy first time process as an interview by both US and Canadian border agents is required so if you have a passport renewal under way already that will likely be quicker despite the current delays. Application for this and all the other Trusted Traveler Programs is here. You can probably find the most up-to-date chat about current application delays, interview locations with closest availability etc. on the FlyerTalk forums, which are far more active than Cruise Critic on all things Trusted Traveler...

 

Depending which province you live in, you may or may not be able to get an EDL - details on this page, including links to the provincial licensing authorities. No idea what sort of delay is involved in processing these.

Is not the poster a Canadian Citizen, doing a closed loop out of Canada?  You posted USA rules?  They need to check on the Canadian rules for a closed loop cruise.  

[Homosassa]

2 hours ago, Joseph2017China said:

Is not the poster a Canadian Citizen, doing a closed loop out of Canada?  You posted USA rules?  They need to check on the Canadian rules for a closed loop cruise.  

Read the post again.  US rules were not posted.  Canadian information was posted.

Edited July 12, 2022 by Homosassa

[martincath]

4 hours ago, Joseph2017China said:

Is not the poster a Canadian Citizen, doing a closed loop out of Canada?  You posted USA rules?  They need to check on the Canadian rules for a closed loop cruise.  

 

1 hour ago, Homosassa said:

Read the post again.  US rules were not posted.  Canadian information was posted.

You're both right in this case 😉

 

WHTI rules are shared travel rules, covering US/Canada as well as some other countries. But while Canada will allow a short Victoria stop without proof of citizenship for US citizens (the famous 'RT Loop exception') the US has no such exemption for Canadians entering the US. So whether we drive or fly or arrive by boat, us Canadians need proof of our citizenship - not just identity - on a single government-issued document with a picture.

 

EDLs and NEXUS fit the bill - regular DL does not as there is no citizenship check to get one. US CBP pre-clear folks bound for Alaska at the pier before boarding in Vancouver, and they would most definitely NOT allow boarding without US-acceptable documentation!