Depending on your country of origin, there are specific documents that you must possess to enter Canada.
Do I Need a Passport to Visit Canada from the U.S.?
As of 2009, all United States citizens visiting Canada must possess a valid passport or NEXUS card. For more information on passport requirements for travel to Canada, visit the U.S. Department of State, National Passport Information Center website or access U.S. passport application services from the United States Postal Service.
U.S. Canada Passport Requirements
Citizens or permanent residents of the United States, as well as citizens of another country who plan to temporarily reside lawfully in the United States, can also apply for a NEXUS card by visiting the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website. The NEXUS card will allow you to cross the border more quickly and easily by using automated self-serve kiosks if travelling by air, dedicated lanes at land borders by calling Telephone Reporting Centers prior to arrival by sea.
Do I Need a Passport to Visit Canada from an International Country?
Visitors from the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Mexico, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Australia do not require a visa to enter Canada. If you are not from one of these countries, you should contact your Canadian consulate or embassy to learn what documents you may require. The Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada website provides links to over 150 Canadian embassies and offices around the world.
For complete information on entry requirements and what you are permitted to bring into Canada, visit the Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s Visiting Canada website.
Children’s Passport Requirements for Travel to Canada
All children, including newborns and infants, must have their own passport to travel to Canada. Divorced parents who share custody of children under 18 years of age should also carry copies of the custody agreement and a letter from the other custodial parent that grants permission for the child to accompany the parent travelling to Canada.
Do U.S. Children Need a Passport to Cross the Canadian Border
If travelling from the U.S. in more than one vehicle, parents or guardians should travel in the same vehicle as their children to cross the Canadian border.
What documentation is required for children travelling without their parents or legal guardian when crossing the Canadian border?
If you are not the parent or legal guardian of the child or children with whom you’re travelling, you must have written permission from the parents or guardians to accompany the children into Canada.