Passports Requirement Change Effective June 1

Effective June 1, 2009, citizens of the United States, Canada and Bermuda will be required to present a passport or an acceptable alternative document when entering the United States by land or sea.  At present, Canadian and Bermudian citizens are only required to present a passport when entering the United States by air.  The change will more required passports is traveling by sea as well.

In essence, United States, Canada and Bermuda citizens will be required to present one of the following when entering the United States by land or sea on or after June 1, 2009:

• A valid passport.
• A valid U.S. passport card (U.S. citizens only).
• A Department of Homeland Security trusted traveler program card, such as a NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST program card.
• An enhanced driver’s license (EDL).  EDLs are driver’s licenses that require applicants to provide proof of their citizenship or immigration status.  Currently, EDLs are issued by some U.S. states and Canadian provinces, including the States of Michigan, New York, Washington and Vermont, and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Manitoba and Quebec.  The province of Ontario is to begin issuing EDLs later this month.
• A U.S. military identification card, with proof of military travel orders.
• A U.S. Merchant Marine Document.
• An enhanced tribal identification card, issued by some Native American tribes.

Children under the age of 16 will be able to enter with proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate, naturalization certificate or citizenship card.

U.S. lawful permanent residents are not affected by new document requirements. These individuals may continue to present their Form I-551 permanent resident cards when entering the United States by air, land or sea.