Alaska cruise w/ a stop in Victoria, passport question

[cruzinfamilyof4]

I'm not sure where to post this question, here, Canada, Alaska... so I'm going to try here. Is Canada one of the country that your passport can not expire within 6 months of your visit? Thanks!!

[beg3yrs]

Don't think so. If you're a citizen of the USA you don't even need a passport. Birth certificate will do.

[crystalspin]

I assumed this was true last year (June 2016) and had my brother renew his passport, only to find that it was a shorter expiration window (maybe 3 months? don't remember) and he wouldn't have had to re-up... however, that was last year and I recently read on CC that Canada's visa structure has changed since then with the addition of something called ETA (not ESTA). I don't know if anything else (like the expiry window) might have changed at that time, so I recommend going to the Canada Consulate/Embassy site and read the current requirements.

[VibeGuy]

US passport holders/nationals are exempt from ETA requirements.

 

Canada does not have an extended validity requirement. Worry not.

[donswife]

Don't think so. If you're a citizen of the USA you don't even need a passport. Birth certificate will do.[/quote

 

If you want to take an excursion that crosses into Canada (ie to the Yukon on a tour from Skagway) you need a current passport.

[Yosef42]

If you're looking at a cruise that stops in Canada, you need to determine your cruise line's policy, not just Canada's. As I recall, Princess still wants six months of validity (but check with them).

[casofilia]

ETAs are for passengers flying into Canada.

[sherryf]

If you're looking at a cruise that stops in Canada, you need to determine your cruise line's policy, not just Canada's. As I recall, Princess still wants six months of validity (but check with them).

 

For US citizens on a closed-loop cruise to Alaska from Seattle, you do NOT even need a passport for the cruise, nor do you need one to visit Victoria on your port stop. You do need one, as others have mentioned, if choose to cross into Canada from Skagway, either on a tour or on your own if renting a car.