Does a 14 year old need a passport to go to Canada?
by Sandra
(Waltham, MA )
Question: My daughter will be traveling to Canada with her friend and family. Will they need a passport to travel across the border? I was told that all they need is a birth certificate.
Answer: Children under sixteen need only present proof of U.S. citizenship in order to
enter Canada. When returning to the United States from Canada, U.S. citizens under the age of 16 need only present a birth certificate (original, photocopy or certified copy), Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or naturalization certificate.
If your daughter will be traveling to Canada with someone who does not have full legal custody, CBSA requires those with whom your daughter is traveling to present a notarized affidavit of consent from the minor’s parents or legal guardians. There is no specific form for this document, but it should include dates of travel, parents’ names and photo copies of their state-issued IDs.
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UPDATE: Mailing delays and high demand are impacting passport processing. The Department of State's processing times begin when applications are received at a passport agency or center and not when you mail them or apply at a local acceptance facility.
Standard service may take between 10 and 13 weeks. This timeframe does not include delivery time. Mailing times vary across the country.
Expedited service takes from 7 to 9 weeks excluding mailing times on the front and back end. Current mailing delays are significant. Requesting 1-2-day mailing service is recommended.
Regional passport agencies are offering two types of appointments: Life-of-Death Emergency Service and Urgent Travel Service.
Life-or-death emergencies are serious illnesses, injuries, or deaths in your immediate family (parent, legal guardian, child, spouse, sibling, and grandparent) that require you to travel outside the United States within 3 business days.
If you need to travel due to a qualified life-or-death emergency, please call the National Passport Information Center for an appointment:
Mondays through Fridays 8 A.M. to 8 P.M. ET, call 1-877-487-2778 (TDD/TTY:1-888-874-7793)
Outside of these hours, call 202-647-4000.
For Urgent Travel Service, you need to call 14 days before your scheduled international travel or 28 days if you also need to secure a foreign visa.
If you need to travel urgently for reasons other than a life-or-death emergency, please call the NPIC at 1-877-487-2778 Mondays through Fridays 8 A.M. to 10 P.M. ET.
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