Opportunity to Comment on a Proposed Rule: Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative

On June 20, 2007, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) outlining proposed entry requirements under the U.S. Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) for Canadians and Americans entering the U.S. by land and water.

To read the U.S. press release and all the details in the NPRM, please visit the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) website at http://www.dhs.gov. Interested parties are invited to comment or voice their concerns on the NPRM before the August 27, 2007, deadline.

To submit your comments please visit http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main. After arriving on the web page, proceed directly to step 4 and select "Document ID" in the drop down menu. Then enter docket number USCBP-2007-0061-0001 in the box next to "Document ID" and click submit. A new page will open and to the far right of the page you will see a small yellow bubble icon. Click this icon to enter your comments. The Government of Canada has sought stakeholder input and will comment on the proposed rules.

It must be emphasized that the rules are still a proposal. The U.S. will release the final rules for the land and sea modes at a later date.

Travel to the United States

  • Canadians travelling to or through the United States by air must carry a valid passport or a NEXUS membership card when used at a NEXUS kiosk.
  • Canadians are not required to carry a valid passport to travel to the United States by land or sea until the summer of 2008 at the earliest. It is recommended that Canadians carry government-issued photo identification, such as a driver's licence, together with proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate, to enter the United States by land and water borders.

Travel to Canada

  • Entry requirements to Canada have not changed in the context of the WHTI. If you are a Canadian citizen or a citizen of the United States, you do not need a passport to enter Canada; however, you should carry proof of your citizenship such as a birth certificate, certificate of citizenship or naturalization or a Certificate of Indian Status, as well as a photo ID.
  • If you are a permanent resident of the United States, you must bring your permanent resident card (i.e. green card) with you.

For more information on the U.S. WHTI and related entry requirements, please consult the Canada Border Services Agency fact sheet at http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/agency/whti-ivho/tourist-touriste-e.html.

Have an interest in our shared border? Visit the new Meet Me at the Border website.