OH Canada

[mbramley]

  I know there is much knowledge on this forum. I have been hearing that the new compliant license like my state has can be used for travel into Canada. When I get online to investigate I come up with conflicting information. Does anyone here have any knowledge/ experience with this? 

[t-man403]

Humm, from what I’ve read, it seems you would not be able to fly into Canada but possibly could drive in. If it were me, and for what it takes, I’d just get a passport and not be caught off guard. Interesting though and maybe someone else here can enlighten us.

[scooperhsd]

Humm, from what I’ve read, it seems you would not be able to fly into Canada but possibly could drive in. If it were me, and for what it takes, I’d just get a passport and not be caught off guard. Interesting though and maybe someone else here can enlighten us.

+1 . after all, you are going to a foreign country...

[Serk]

Q: Can I use my REAL ID card to cross the border into Canada and Mexico and for international travel?

No.  REAL ID cards cannot be used for border crossings into Canada, Mexico or other international travel.


Source: https://www.dhs.gov/archive/real-id-public-faqs

So yeah, get a passport. (And if you're jumping through the hoops to get a passport, I'd recommend paying the extra money to get the passport book AND the card. I keep the card in my wallet so I've always got a 2nd form of government photo ID on me.)

[mbramley]

 Thanks for the response and advise. I am following the advice and have an appointment to get my passport. Doing it before I'm on a fixed income so I will get the book and card both. Maybe now that I'll have a passport I can find a way to attend a European Inzane!

[HayHauler]

Also, IF, you lose your passport while traveling overseas, the passport card REALLY helps you at the embassy while trying to get a replacement travel document so you can get back home to the USA.  A person on our Italy trip had this very thing happen to them.

Hay 
Jimmyt

[mbramley]

  Update: I went to do all the necessary steps at the post office. The nice lady at the post office told me (after everything was done) that she is recommending anyone wanting to go to Canada get a passport. It seems there is a possibility that the new ID could do the job with the current political environment it is advisable to have the passport anyway, possibly depending on who holds the gate key.

[Serk]

Sorry yeah, definitely get the passport book, I meant to get the card as WELL. You can get both.

[McJeep]

 with the current political environment it is advisable to have the passport anyway, possibly depending on who holds the gate key.

ayup, belt and suspenders definitely advisable right now - me on the other hand, I don't think I'm gonna need mine for foreseeable future

[mbramley]

Sorry yeah, definitely get the passport book, I meant to get the card as WELL. You can get both.

I understood your response and got both. It's not that much extra to get the card.

[SCain]

There are only a few states where the Real ID can be used for proof of US Citizenship, this is Michigan, Minnesota and New York, all other state issued Real ID only verifies a person's lawful presence in the United States.

I wouldn't trust that one of these Real ID's would get me across the border into another country.

I just went through a situation here at work, management told me that as long as the visitor had a Real ID they were a US Citizen, Not True.

If I were crossing a border, I would get a passport

[0leman]

One of my grandsons just Moved to northern Washington close to Spokane.  He was told his new driver license will allow him to cross the border into Canada.  He was told this by the licensing folks.  He hasn't tried it yet.

[Jess from VA]

I was in Canada 40 or more times, and never showed any ID at all. 

About half in boats and half in cars.

Never got pulled over either.

Of course, this was a while ago. 

[Willow]

I was in Canada 40 or more times, and never showed any ID at all. 
...
Of course, this was a while ago. 

And that is key.  Just a few years ago requirements for crossing from U.S.A. to Canada changed dramatically, not to mention requirements for returning to the U.S.  Passports are necessary.

[fudgie]

One of my grandsons just Moved to northern Washington close to Spokane.  He was told his new driver license will allow him to cross the border into Canada.  He was told this by the licensing folks.  He hasn't tried it yet.

A real ID wont but a enhanced will.

[fudgie]

Thanks for the response and advise. I am following the advice and have an appointment to get my passport. Doing it before I'm on a fixed income so I will get the book and card both. Maybe now that I'll have a passport I can find a way to attend a European Inzane!

I got both this spring with thoughts of doing a cruise for our birthdays. The card works great for border crossing but you cannot fly with the card alone. You need the book to fly.

Made a last min trip detour for our summer trip a few weeks ago. The night before we left we decided to hit Niagra Falls on our way back to Indiana from Gettysburg.  After "unpacking" at the hotel we went to the Canada side. I used my card and she used her book.

[DIGGER]

My son left Sturgis this year in a group and entered Canada and went to Banff National Park.  He said one thing he noticed in Canada was everywhere he went and everywhere they stopped he estimated the population was about 75 percent Muslim.    Said it made him a little uneasy.

[McJeep]

'not sure where he was hanging out but that is certainly not representative of the population as a whole
- but, as with everywhere now, there are areas

My son left Sturgis this year in a group and entered Canada and went to Banff National Park.  He said one thing he noticed in Canada was everywhere he went and everywhere they stopped he estimated the population was about 75 percent Muslim.    Said it made him a little uneasy.