Question re US citizens travelling to Canada or Mexico

[taipan168]

Coming from a country which has no land borders and from which travelling internationally means 3+ hours on a plane, I am intrigued by the concept of crossing an international border without a passport.

So if you are driving from the US to Mexico or Canada and back, what ID do you need to show on the way out? What about on the way back? How does immigration determine your eligibility to (re-)enter the US if you don't carry a passport?

[cardsman1992]

US citizens are required to carry a passport into Mexico now, I believe. They give you a "tourist card" which you must carry at all times or risk jail. This tourist card and your passport are reviewed when re-entering the US, and you cannot return without your tourist card. If you lose it, you must obtain a new one through the Embassy.

Canada--all you have to do is show a driver's license, although soon they will require a passport too, I believe.

[AHiltz]

driving from Canada to US - some sort of photo id
flying from Can to US - passport

[WildBobAA]

I went to Canada last year and I had to get a passport. I'm not exactly sure if it was required or not but they asked for it at the border and the whole process took about 5 minutes and that was it.

[taipan168]

driving from Canada to US - some sort of photo id

But how do you prove that you are a US citizen? Surely non-citizens can get a US drivers' license?

[JL]

Before you needed photo ID + Birth Certificate...well that's still the case, until 2008 you will need a passport.

[Isop]

US - Canada border definitely requires a passport to enter the US. Back into Canada, I'm not sure, but it's best to have a Passport if you can't prove you're Canadian.

Isop