Can I cross the US/Canadian border with a copy of my passport? We left originals at our house in Florida because we didn't think we'd be going to Canada, but we'd like to go to Niagara Falls for a day.
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2Uh, no. (if it were allowed, it would defeat the purpose of having security features). If you had an enhanced driver's licenses, that would work, but I don't think Florida has those yet.– mkennedyCommented May 26, 2015 at 19:10
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Whilst not exactly the same some of the answers in travel.stackexchange.com/q/13867/1820 will be informative– PhilCommented May 26, 2015 at 19:10
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1Why not go to Niagara and just stay on the US side? Or, if you're feeling adventurous, go to the border and show them what ID you do have and say, we didn't plan to be in the area, so we left our passports at home. I doubt you'll get across, but you might, and you won't lose anything for trying.– phoogCommented May 26, 2015 at 20:09
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@phoog Except potentially being denied entry into Canada, which may cause problems in the future.– Michael HamptonCommented May 26, 2015 at 20:17
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3In a situation like this Canada allows you to withdraw your request for entry, which doesn't count against you in the future as you were never actually refused entry. A US citizen can never be refused entry into the US, regardless of a lack of documentation. The issues becomes proving you are a citizen, which can be done but takes time.– DocCommented May 26, 2015 at 22:12
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1 Answer
The short answer: NO
The long answer: To enter Canada from the USA as a US citizen you need to produce the actual passport or an enhanced drivers license or a standard drivers license plus birth certificate.
The return to the USA you need your passport or enhanced drivers license.
Photocopies of passports are not legal documents for crossing a border, as they could be easily forged.
Florida does not issue an enhanced drivers license yet, even though they do now require you to prove yourself to be a legal resident of the states.
You are pretty much limited to viewing the falls from the US side.
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Also, in case it is not clear, passport cards without the passport book can be used, but only for ground travel.– chosterCommented May 26, 2015 at 23:27
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"To enter Canada from the USA as a US citizen you need to produce the actual passport or an enhanced drivers license or a standard drivers license plus birth certificate." Not true. To enter Canada it is sufficient to produce sufficient documentation to prove the person's identity and U.S. citizenship, which does not need to be those things. Commented May 27, 2015 at 1:02
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"The return to the USA you need your passport or enhanced drivers license." Yes, but if you don't, a U.S. citizen cannot be denied entry to the U.S. under any circumstances anyway, as long as they can sufficiently prove their U.S. citizenship. Commented May 27, 2015 at 1:04
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@user102008 - Why not post a comment with details to help the OP, rather than simply attacking my reply as being wrong, Be a contributor not a detractor.– user13044Commented May 27, 2015 at 13:18