Has anyone out there flown from Canada directly to Mexico with out a passport ?? Did it take longer at airports to get through just with your birth certificate and drivers ?? We have heard that you don't need a passport till 08 for direct flights.
Hey from NS! We've done it several times. You need a picture ID like a Driver's lisence and your birth certificate. You had to go in a different line than the passport one, but it didn't take any longer. They barely glanced at it. I don't know if it depends on the time of day or not. It's probably a good idea to get your passport in the works, though.
That's right - if you have a direct flight from Canada to Mexico you don't need a passport but you need your birth certificate and picture ID. If you have a stop in the US, you do need a passport.
thanks I have called a travel agent and she told me not to worry. i was a bit worried though because 2 yrs ago myself , husband and our 3 kids went to Mexico and the guy for customs on the other end { Mexico } was refusing to let us in because our kids { all minors } didn't have passport. THis lasted for about 3 minites before he said we could go in ,but said it was the last time we'd be able to because we didn't have passports, and that was 2 yrs ago!!! It was pretty bad, stressful and we wern't sure what rights the guy had. Im not concerned any longer, so we are heading off shortly back to BBG !
We have used passports for the last six years, but note many Cdns still travel without. Doesn't really seem to make a difference, but found it easier to cash traveler's cheques with passport (weird!). Good idea to apply now for passport instead of waiting for the '08 regulation to come into effect. Will be delays if you wait. BTW, best is to apply online instead of standing in line at passport office. Another strange thought to add to this - we wondered what would happen if our plane was diverted or forced to land in the U.S. and we had to de-board the plane. What would happen to those without passports if flight was delayed several hours or especially overnight?
You don't need it yet but, if for some reason your plane is diverted it may be a problem. If you have time get one. I used picture ID and my birth certificate last year because I forgot my passport and grab two of my husbands. Yep! He had his old one with his new one. I grabbed them thinking it was mine.
It does take longer to get through Immigration without a passport, and you get examined more closely. With a passport the agent can scan the passport to capture your information, with a b/c they have to type everything in. So instead of 30 secs per person it takes 3 or 4 minutes per person. Not a big deal to you but a huge deal to the agents when the line has 1000 people in it...
