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Passports
You should have a valid Canadian passport for all trips outside Canada. A passport is the only reliable and universally accepted identification document, and it proves that you have a right to return to Canada. Some countries do not require a passport for entry but do require photographic identification (such as a driver’s licence) as well as proof of Canadian citizenship (such as a birth certificate or citizenship card). However, this varies from country to country.
You are advised to:
- Carry a passport for all trips outside Canada. Some countries require that your passport be
valid for six months beyond your date of entry. Check the Country Travel Report for your
destination to establish whether the six-month rule applies.
- Complete the emergency contact information on page 4 when you receive your new passport. Passport Canada recommends that you provide the name of someone who would
not normally accompany you.
- Photocopy the identification page of your passport and carry this separate from your passport while abroad. Also leave one photocopy at home.
Passport Canada has launched an initiative called passport on-line. This initiative allows Canadians 16 years of age and older living in Canada to fill in the adult passport application electronically.
As of October 26, 2004, the U.S. Visa Waiver Program requires visitors from various countries to have Machine Readable Passports to enter the U.S. This requirement does not apply to Canadian citizens even if the Canadian passport is issued abroad.
Please consult the Canadian Border Services Agency's (CBSA) Web site for information on the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.
To avoid delays and other problems that will hinder their return to Canada, Canadian citizens are strongly advised to obtain a Canadian passport prior to initiating international travel and to use their Canadian passport at all times for international travel. Before attempting return travel to Canada, Canadian citizens who do not hold a valid Canadian passport should contact the nearest Canadian government office abroad.
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