Canadian Passport Soon A Necessity For Flying Into U.S.

Going somewhere? If you haven’t already left for your Christmas vacation it’s probably a bit late.

But come early next year, if you’re flying to the U.S., you’ll be going nowhere fast if you don’t have a passport.

“Effective January 23 ^rd, all Canadians travelling to the U.S. by air will have to show their Canadian passports as they pass through customs and immigration at any Canadian airport,” said Sean Shannon of Expedia.ca.

But just because you have a valid passport doesn’t mean you’ll breeze through customs anywhere.

Some countries require your passport doesn’t expire within a certain timeframe, so if you want to hit popular vacation spots like Aruba or the Dominican Republic, ask about specifications.

The truth is at the rate the world is changing if you want to be free to move about the globe the best thing you can do is get your passport and make sure it’s valid and never about to expire. And if you want to fly to the U.S., you better get moving.

“Canadians generally are pretty good about having a passport but for about 50 per cent of Canadians that actually don’t, for those that want to be travelling into the United States, they’re going to have to get themselves organized,” Shannon said.

If you’re planning to drive into the U.S. you can still use traditional forms of identification for now, but under the new rules, no children – not even toddlers – can travel on their parents’ passports.

Here’s some information to get you started.

Travel document requirements are something you should check well in advance of booking your ticket. For a full list of advisories, click here.

To read an online information package on everything you should be doing before you finalize your travel plans, click here.

How Do I Get A Passport?

First, you need to fill out an application form. They can be picked up at any passport office, post office, or you can fill one out online here.

Then, you need to get two identical photographs, which must have been taken within the last 12 months.

Here are the photo requirements:

• Eyes must be open and clearly visible.
• Glasses, including tinted ones with prescription, may be worn as long as the eyes are clearly visible. Sunglasses are unacceptable.
• Facial expression must be neutral (not frowning nor smiling) with the mouth closed.
• Photos must show both edges of the face clearly.
• Photos must show a full front view of face and shoulders squared to the camera.
• The face and shoulder image must be centred in the photo.
• Photos must reflect/represent natural skin tones.
• The length from chin to crown of head (natural top of head) must be 31 mm to 36 mm.
• The image must be clear, sharp and in focus.
• Photos with shadows on the face or background are unacceptable.
• Photos must be taken with uniform lighting and not show shadows or flash reflection on the face and head.
• Photos must be taken against a plain, uniform, white or light-coloured background.
• Hats or head coverings are not permitted except when worn for religious reasons and only if the full facial features are clearly visible.
• Black and white or colour photos are acceptable.
• Only the head and shoulders of young children must appear on the photo (e.g. no hands holding the child).

Size and Paper

• The maximum photo size must be 50 mm wide x 70 mm long.
• Heavy weight paper is unacceptable.
• Photos must be printed on high quality photographic paper.
• Photographic paper must have a backing that accepts and retains the photographer’s stamp and date, and the guarantor’s statement and signature, without smearing.

The maximum photo size must be 50 mm wide x 70 mm long.

Photographer

• Photos must be taken by a commercial photographer.
• The name of the photographer or studio, the address and the date the photo was taken (not the date the photo was printed) must be provided directly on the back of one photo (see illustration). Stick-on labels are unacceptable. Sufficient space must be allowed for the name of the applicant, the signature of a guarantor and the guarantor’s declaration.
• Photos must be originals, not taken from any existing photo.

Guarantor

• One photo must be signed by a guarantor as a true likeness of the applicant
• Notarial seals must not be imprinted on photos.

Then, you must get your application signed by a guarantor. This is a person who can confirm your identity.

How Much Will It Cost?

A regular, 24-page passport will cost $87 for anyone over 16, $22 for children under three, and $37 for children between three and 15.

How Long Will It Take?

By Snail Mail: 20 working days (not including mailing time)

In person at the passport office: 10 working days

At the post office: 15 working days

For more information and to find the closest passport office to you, click here.

Here are some travel tips, courtesy of Passport Canada:

• Try to apply for your passport during the off-season, between June and November.
• Ensure that you are carrying a valid passport. Check that the expiry date of your passport is well beyond your return date.
• Remember to sign your passport on page 3, and fill in your current address and the name of a person to contact in case of emergency on page 4.
• Make two photocopies of the identification page of your passport. Leave one copy with a friend or relative at home and bring the second copy with you on your trip. Carry this photocopy separately from your passport when you travel. This can help with the replacement process if your passport is lost or stolen.
• Read the last page of your passport

Passport Canada Website

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