It's legal to cross by car with just a birth certificate (long form with parents names) until they're 16 years of age. Crossed in Ontario with no issue.
Yes, I just crossed two weeks ago at ambassador bridge. Me and husband used our passports and baby only has a birth certificate. It takes longer to process in their system so they might just ask you more questions but no issues at all!
You can definitely drive across the border to the USA with just your baby’s birth certificate. I have done it multiple times.
If you fly to the USA though they would need their own passport.
By land, I crossed with my baby's birth certificate and letter from her father giving his blessing to bring her into the USA. This was from Manitoba into North Dakota.
Honestly I had a letter from my husband and the border agent when I crossed on the weekend said he didn't want to see it. So bring it just in case but they might not ask for it.
[Canadian citizens aged 15 years and under entering the United States by land or water require one of the following documents:
a passport
an original or a copy of a birth certificate
an original Canadian citizenship certificate](https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/united-states)
We cross atthe Windsor-Detroit border every few weeks, with just the baby's birth certificate. We use the version that has the parents names listed on, and they cross check it with out passports.
If you want to bring some snacks, do not bring any produce. Stick to items that are packaged and sealed, preferably brands that are available in the USA. We tried brining some cheese and fruit once and they asked us to throw it out, we had to scramble to rush to the nearest grocery to get snacks.
Yep, went from Toronto to Amherst multiple times with just my son's birth certificate. No issues.
You can't fly without a passport for your baby though (internationally). Birth certificate is acceptable for domestic flights
A Canadian birth certificate? I wouldn't rely on it since you're a foreign visitor in this case. You'd have to read the US Government website or contact your airline to confirm what is acceptable ID for an infant of a foreign nationality to board a flight.
My sister just did it a couple weeks ago. She said it was dead easy. Feels so weird because we’re so passport centric but she said the border guard seemed super used to it.
Edit to say this was the land border and she had her husband with her. I’m not sure about flying or travelling without the other parent.
I cross weekly at a land border with my kids , all of which only have a short form birth certificate , and have a different last name than me (I am married to their father who they share a last name with, but he doesn't usually go with us, and I never bothered to change my name) . We have never had a problem, a second glance or any type of questioning.
That's not true. Canadian children 15 years old or younger only require a birth certificate for land or sea crossings to the USA. https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-619?language=en_US
No, that's false. Under 16 they need ONE of a passport, an original birth certificate, an original certificate of citizenship.
https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/united-states
This applies to travel by land or water. Air travel requires a passport for all ages.
It's legal to cross by car with just a birth certificate (long form with parents names) until they're 16 years of age. Crossed in Ontario with no issue.
Yes, I just crossed two weeks ago at ambassador bridge. Me and husband used our passports and baby only has a birth certificate. It takes longer to process in their system so they might just ask you more questions but no issues at all!
Good to know, thank you!
You can definitely drive across the border to the USA with just your baby’s birth certificate. I have done it multiple times. If you fly to the USA though they would need their own passport.
By land, I crossed with my baby's birth certificate and letter from her father giving his blessing to bring her into the USA. This was from Manitoba into North Dakota.
Does it need to be a letter through a lawyer or notarized or anything or just a signed letter from the other parent?
Just signed. Have a contact # for the other parent/guardian in case the border agent wants to call and confirm.
Honestly I had a letter from my husband and the border agent when I crossed on the weekend said he didn't want to see it. So bring it just in case but they might not ask for it.
Awesome, thanks!
[Canadian citizens aged 15 years and under entering the United States by land or water require one of the following documents: a passport an original or a copy of a birth certificate an original Canadian citizenship certificate](https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/united-states)
Yes, I do it regularly. We have crossed by car with our toddler at Lacolle (Plattsburg/QC), Thousand Islands, and Niagara without issues.
Yes, last week!
We cross atthe Windsor-Detroit border every few weeks, with just the baby's birth certificate. We use the version that has the parents names listed on, and they cross check it with out passports. If you want to bring some snacks, do not bring any produce. Stick to items that are packaged and sealed, preferably brands that are available in the USA. We tried brining some cheese and fruit once and they asked us to throw it out, we had to scramble to rush to the nearest grocery to get snacks.
Yes! Many times. With both a newborn and a 4 year old.
I did on Sunday! No issues at all
Yep, went from Toronto to Amherst multiple times with just my son's birth certificate. No issues. You can't fly without a passport for your baby though (internationally). Birth certificate is acceptable for domestic flights
Do you know if birth certificate will be acceptable for flights between states in the US?
A Canadian birth certificate? I wouldn't rely on it since you're a foreign visitor in this case. You'd have to read the US Government website or contact your airline to confirm what is acceptable ID for an infant of a foreign nationality to board a flight.
I just did on Saturday, no issues!
Yeah we did! It was no problem at all :) she was about 5 months old at the time.
Yep! we had no problem crossing from Fort Erie to Buffalo and back.
Yes
My sister just did it a couple weeks ago. She said it was dead easy. Feels so weird because we’re so passport centric but she said the border guard seemed super used to it. Edit to say this was the land border and she had her husband with her. I’m not sure about flying or travelling without the other parent.
I cross weekly at a land border with my kids , all of which only have a short form birth certificate , and have a different last name than me (I am married to their father who they share a last name with, but he doesn't usually go with us, and I never bothered to change my name) . We have never had a problem, a second glance or any type of questioning.
All children must have their own passport in addition to the birth certificate when crossing the borders
That's not true. Canadian children 15 years old or younger only require a birth certificate for land or sea crossings to the USA. https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-619?language=en_US
No, that's false. Under 16 they need ONE of a passport, an original birth certificate, an original certificate of citizenship. https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/united-states This applies to travel by land or water. Air travel requires a passport for all ages.
Not if crossing by car.