Did you know that everyone as of June 1, 2009 from every country arriving in Canada by air, land and sea needs a passport or equivalent travel documents?  What about those children?  Do you know what they need?  They are another whole issue!

Passport requirements have complicated traveling from the United States to Canada due to the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) which was introduced in 2004 by the U.S. government to strengthen the U.S. border security and standardize travel documentation.  Visitors from other countries have always needed a passport in order to enter Canada and Canada will now not allow a U.S. citizen into the country who does not have the proper documentation to return home.  Some substitutes for a passport to enter Canada are a NEXUS Card, a U.S. Passport Card or a FAST/Express card.  If you want more information on these alternatives, go to http://gocanada.about.com/od/canadatravelplanner/qt/valid_travel_ID.htm .

Traveling with children is also a challenge.  They will also need a passport or equivalent travel documents.  Any child over the age of 15 will definitely need a passport, while the younger ones can get away with other documents.  Solo Parents, Grandparents and Guardians also have legal requirements before crossing international borders with these children.  There must obtain and carry a permission letter from the missing parent(s) which must be notarized.  This has come about in an effort to halt the international child abductions, runaways and the transport of children involved in child-custody disputes.

Is the thought of traveling to Canada worth it?  YES!  There are many wonderful places to go, many great things to see and many fantastic things to taste!