Before You Board:

Proper Identification for border crossing

Passengers traveling on Amtrak Cascades® across the U.S./Canada border are subject to inspection by Canadian and American law enforcement officials. .

Effective June 1, 2009, the only acceptable documents to cross the US/Canada border by land or sea are:

US Citizens 16 and Over:

• Passport
• Passport card
• Trusted Traveler card (NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST)
• Enhanced driver's license
• Merchant Mariner document
• Military ID combined with a copy of military orders
• Form I-872, American Indian Card
• Amish and Mennonite Old Order only:

• - copy of birth certificate, and
• - signed copy of IRS form 4029, application for exemption from Social Security and Medicare taxes and waiver of benefits.

Canadian Citizens 16 and Over:

• Passport
• Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) card
• Trusted Traveler card (NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST)
• Enhanced driver's license

US and Canadian Citizens Under 16:

(Under 19 if traveling with an organized group such as a school trip)

• One of the above documents, or
• Birth certificate (copy; certified preferred), or
• U.S. citizen children only: consular report of birth abroad, or naturalization certificate
• Canadian citizen children only: Canadian citizenship certificate card

Amtrak policy does not allow children 14 and under to travel unaccompanied into Canada, regardless of ID or notarized letter.

Citizens of Other Countries

Citizens of all other countries who are permanent residents of the United States:

• Form I-551, permanent resident card. A foreign passport may also be presented, but the form I-551 is required.

Citizens of all other countries who are not permanent residents of the United States:

• Passport (with visa, if required)
• Re-entry permit
• Refugee permit

Documents No Longer Accepted:

Effective June 1, 2009, the following will no longer be accepted from travelers 16 and over:

• Regular driver's license and birth certificate or US consular report of birth abroad
• Birth certificate alone (ages 16, 17, 18 — unless in an travel group such as a school tour)
• Naturalization certificate
• Canadian citizenship certificate
• Canadian permanent resident card
• Anything else not mentioned above

For further information, contact the appropriate US or Canadian government offices prior to travel:

Canadian Resources:

• http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca
• 1-800-O-CANADA (1-800-622-6232)

United States Resources:

• http://www.travel.state.gov
• 1-800-FED-INFO (1-800-333-4636)
• Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)