Cross Canada border with temporary license?
I just purchased my enhanced license. Right now I have a "temporary" license, and my family is going to Canada this weekend. I was told at the Secretary of state that if I brought my license, my MI id, and my birth certificate that I could cross the border. Is their an official website that verifies this?
Comments
This is true. If you're getting your enhanced license renewed (or getting it in general), all you have to do is bring proof of this (as well as the other cards aforementioned) and you should be all set. I don't know of any official website that verifies this, but I recently had to go through it with getting my passport renewed and enhanced licenses work the same way.
If you are flying, you must have a passport.
If you have an enhanced driver's license (only available in Michigan, New York, Vermont, and Washington State) you can cross into Canada most land crossings. It doesn't matter if the license is temporary as long as it hasn't expired. You must have the license with you as it includes a chip and is electronically scanned.
US law *requires* that US citizens over 15 has a passport, NEXUS pass, or EDL to re-enter the United States. While Canadian law does only require US citizens (crossing via land or sea) to have proof of citizenship, all visitors must satisfy Canadian Border Services that they will leave Canada. Since CBSA knows that US citizens requires passports, NEXUS, or EDLs to leave Canada... they won't allow you in without one - baring exceptional circumstances.
If you try entering Canada with only a birth certificate... CBSA will want to proof that you have applied for EDL, that you have been approved for it (i.e. passed the criminal and immigration check requirements), that it is being sent to you in Canada, and proof of some type of emergency which required you to be in Canada so urgently. Considering you can get an emergency passport within 48 hours... that will be an interesting conversation. It is also likely they'll send you back to US immigration in order to get a letter stating that they will allow you back into the US even if you don't have valid ID, which US officials might also require.
If you don't have your EDL by the time you leave Canada, you'd either need to talk your way past US border services (good luck) or remain in Canada (or a US holding cell) until you pay several hundred dollars for an emergency passport from the nearest embassy or consulate.
Vermont Enhanced License
Provided you have a birth certificate or other document to prove you are a US citizen you need nothing else to meet document requirements for entry to Canada.
Where you may have a difficulty and are best to ask about the temporary licence is for return to the US since Customs and Border Patrol will want to see one of the approved documents for entry to the US for US Citizens.
A call to CBP is wise in the circumstances. You can see the required documents for Canada at the first link below.
nope. enhanced license or passport.
Passport or passport card.