Citizens of the EU, Norway, Iceland and most Commonwealth countries, including Australia and New Zealand, only need a valid passport to enter Canada. US citizens simply need some form of photo identification plus proof of US citizenship.
If you’re a US citizen, you don’t need a visa to enter Canada as a tourist. All you need is one ID card with your photo, plus proof of US citizenship. This can be a valid US passport, an original US birth certificate, or original US naturalization papers. Note that a US driver’s license alone is not sufficient proof of citizenship.
All visitors to Canada have to complete a customs declaration form, which you’ll be given on the plane or at the US-Canadian border. On the form you will have to give details of where you intend to stay during your trip. If you don’t know, write “touring”, but be prepared to give an idea of your schedule and destinations to the immigration officer.
At point of entry, the Canadian immigration officer decides the length of stay permitted – usually not more than three months. The officers rarely refuse entry, but they may launch into an impromptu investigation, asking how much money you have and what job you do; they may also ask to see a return or onward ticket.
For visits of more than six months, study trips and stints of temporary employment, contact the nearest Canadian embassy, consulate or high commission for authorization prior to departure. Once inside Canada, if you need an extension of your stay, you must take a written application to the nearest Canada Immigration Center well before the expiry of the authorized visit.
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