Passports & Visas
Travelling from Canada
For domestic flights, all passengers must be in possession of government-issued photo identification. Children under 16 should carry proof of identity, if no photo ID is available. For international flights, depending on the requirements of the destination country, each passenger must be in possession of proof of citizenship with photo ID in the form of passport, birth certificate and driver's license, or citizenship card. Please consult your travel agent for specific country requirements. Here's a helpful checklist of passport and visa information you may want to check out before you leave.
It is your responsibility to obtain all documents — including those for infants and children — required by relevant government authorities of the country you're visiting.
Some countries have very specific regulations regarding cases where only one parent is travelling with a child. We recommend you obtain information from your travel agent or country consulate.
Check with your travel agent or local officials (embassy, consulate) to find out which documents are required and then make certain that you have the documents in hand at time of check-in.
Failure to provide the required documents may result in being denied boarding privileges by the carrier or relevant authorities, without further recourse or the possibility of a refund.
No refund or replacement is given for lost or stolen travel documents.
For a majority of destinations, tourist cards and/or custom declaration cards are distributed on board Air Transat flights or by your travel agent/tour operator.
Canadian citizens must show proof of citizenship (birth certificate or citizenship card) and official identity card with picture for destinations where passports or visas are not required.
Cruise passengers must present a valid passport, regardless of the entry requirements for their country of embarkation.
Travelling to Costa Rica
Canadians travelling to Costa Rica are required to hold a valid Canadian passport (valid for at least 30 days following their departure).
Minors, up to and including 17 years of age, travelling to Costa Rica must hold their own passport if they travel alone, or be included under their parents' passport if accompanied by a parent.
For more information, visit www.visitcostarica.com.
Travelling to Cuba
For Canadians, a passport valid for the duration of the stay and a tourist card is required.
For more information, visit www.gocuba.ca.
Travelling to the Dominican Republic
While a valid passport is recommended for all Canadians, you may travel with a citizenship card or original birth certificate accompanied by a government-issued photo ID in the same name.
Apart from proof of citizenship, photo ID is not required for children 13 years and under. For 14- and 15-year-olds, a student card is an acceptable form of photo ID. For travellers 16 years and older, a government-issued photo ID is required.
Children 13 and under, travelling alone or travelling with a person who is not a parent or legal guardian or with a parent who does not have the same last name, require a written letter of permission signed by either or both parents. This letter must be notarized and sanctioned by the Dominican Consulate. It must also include a current photo of the child and be translated into Spanish. This document, authorizing a third party to accompany or the airline to transport the child must include the name of the airline, flight number, and date of departure. This document has to be presented to the immigration office at the airport when arriving and leaving the Dominican Republic.
For more information, visit www.consulado-dominicano.com.
Travelling to Mexico
For Canadians, a valid passport is strongly recommended or proof of Canadian citizenship with official photo ID. Proof of citizenship includes original birth certificate, citizenship card (naturalization certificate) or a notarized affidavit of citizenship (a statement under oath before a notary public).
Acceptable photo ID includes driver's license or health card with photo. People born in Quebec must present a birth certificate issued after January 1, 1994, by “le Directeur de l'État civil” in the Province of Quebec.
For more information, see www.embamexcan.com/CONSULAR/TouristCondition1.shtml.
Travelling to the United States
For Canadian citizens, a valid passport or proof of Canadian citizenship with official photo ID is required. A Visa Waiver Program exists for certain countries. However, since March 2003, travellers from certain countries require additional visas to enter the U.S.
For more information visit U.S.A. Embassy.
NEW – Visa Waiver Requirements – Machine Readable Passports
Effective October 1, 2003, the United States imposed new requirements for passport holders of certain countries permitted to enter the USA under the Visa Waiver program. All nationals from these specific countries will continue to be permitted entry into the USA without a visa, provided: their stay is no longer than 90 days; they are holding a signed I-94W; they are holding onward or return tickets; their passport is valid; and they are holding a machine-readable passport.
A machine-readable passport has biographical data (i.e. name, date of birth, passport number) coded into the bottom of the data page, which is readable when the passport is swiped through a passport reader.
As of October 1, 2003, under the Visa Waiver Program, passport holders from the countries listed in the table below are affected by the new machine-readable passport requirement:
Andorra Brunei Belgium
Liechtenstein Luxembourg Slovenia
As of October 1, 2003, air carriers are required to refuse boarding to anyone from Andorra, Brunei, Belgium, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and Slovenia who attempts to check in for a flight to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program without a machine-readable passport. However, these passengers can travel with a valid U.S. visa if they have no machine-readable passport.
Passport holders of other countries permitted to enter the USA under the Visa Waiver program will not be affected by this new machine-readable passport requirement before October 26, 2004. All nationals from these specific countries will continue to be permitted entry into the USA without a visa, provided: their stay is no longer than 90 days; they are holding a signed I-94W; they are holding onward or return tickets; and their passport is valid.
Under the Visa Waiver Program, passport holders from the countries listed in the table below can still enter the USA WITHOUT a machine-readable passport:
Australia Austria Denmark Finland
France Germany Iceland Italy
Japan Monaco Netherlands New Zealand
Norway Portugal Republic of Ireland San Marino
Singapore Spain Sweden Switzerland
Uruguay British passport, endorsed British Citizen
As of October 26, 2004, air carriers are required to refuse boarding to anyone from Australia, Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, San Marino, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay, or the United Kingdom who attempts to check in for a flight to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program without a machine-readable passport. However, these passengers will be able to travel with a valid U.S. visa if they have no machine-readable passport.
All passengers, regardless of nationality, must verify their individual requirements with their travel agent and the U.S. Consulate prior to departure.
Requirements of other countries
Passengers travelling outside Canada, regardless of nationality, must consult with travel agents and local consulates about regulations on passports and visas. For more information on passports and visas, consult the Canada Customs & Revenue Agency web site.
Source: Air Transat
(This Source is intended as a helpful guide, but is opt to change and may not be accurate. Executive Travel (London) Limited does not in any way or form imply that any of the above information is accurate.)
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