Crossing the Border with a Driver's License

[links18]

The customer service representative at CIC just told me you do not need to show your PR card when crossing the land border with the United States, any document showing you live in Canada is acceptable, including your driver's license. Is this correct?

 

[Alabaman]

Yes it is correct according to the law as long as you are in a private vehicle.

 

[PMM]

Hi

Yes it is correct according to the law as long as you are in a private vehicle.

Not quite neither country is going to admit you without proof of citizenship and residency status.

 

[links18]

Yeah, I didn't think that was entirely correct. The discussion I had with CIC was, "How soon is too soon to renew your PR card?" The representative said there was no legal obligation to renew your card; you only need it if you are travelling. I asked about returning from the U.S. by car and the that's when the rep said you don't need to show your PR card when returning to Canada by land, any form of official ID that shows you live in Canada is acceptable.

BTW, the answer to the original question is that you can apply to renew your PR card whenever you want.

 

[Alabaman]

Hi

Not quite neither country is going to admit you without proof of citizenship and residency status.

Yes you can. I am talking from experience.