What documents are required to cross the Canada-US border by sea or land [duplicate]

What documents are required to cross the Canada-US border by sea or land [duplicate] - Top view of paper world map with continents and different countries oceans and seas placed in sunny room

Am I allowed to cross the Canada-US border by sea or land if I am not a citizen of either country?

I have a valid Australian passport and have entered both countries by air. I have a USA-ESTA and Canadian eTA but no visa.

From Citizen and Immigration Canada:

Your application for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) has been approved. You are now authorized to travel to Canada by air.

This seems to imply there is another way to authorize travel by land or water.

The website for the Clipper ferry says that to pass US customs (from Victoria to Seattle), one requires a "US passport" or other enhanced ID which seems to be only available to Canadian citizens.

Edit: At the risk of broadening the question, I am planning to ferry to the US and back, then drive to the US again. I am not committed to the Clipper ferry specifically, though I expect I will take it. The core of the question is to confirm which land and sea options are available to me. Word of mouth suggests that it's okay for me, but I'm not sure.

I'm planning a trip where I ferry (or train) from Canada to the US and back, then drive to the US.



Best Answer

The answer to your question may be found at https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1258/~/esta---traveling-to-u.s.-by-land:

Do I need ESTA to enter the United States by land?

No. If you are coming by land you do not need to apply for ESTA.

Note: VWP citizens do not need an ESTA to travel on the ferries between Vancouver and Victoria, BC and Washington state. They are treated as a land border port.

You do not need ESTA or any other document aside from your passport.

As I understand it, if you don't have ESTA authorization or a visa, you'll need to pay $6 for an I-94 form.




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The Places Where Sneaking Over the US-Canada Border is Legal




More answers regarding what documents are required to cross the Canada-US border by sea or land [duplicate]

Answer 2

From Visa Waiver Program (emphasis mine):

In order to travel without a visa on the VWP, you must have authorization through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to boarding a U.S. bound air or sea carrier.

If you have an Australian passport and an ESTA, you can enter the US via the Clipper ferry. You will be required to clear US CBP either on arrival in Seattle, or on departure in Victoria.

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