Passports or special ID to be required for all U.S.-Canada travel from June 2009

American and Canadian citizens entering the United States through land or sea borders must have a passport or other special federally-approved ID starting June 1, 2009. The new identification requirements will affect Washingtonians driving home from a Vancouver, B.C., weekend trip or taking a ferry back from Vancouver Island.

The U.S. State Department and Department of Homeland Security announced the new rule today. It's the final phase in requiring more standardized and secure border-crossing ID between the U.S. and Canada. All air travelers between the U.S. and Canada already must have a passport.

For decades, U.S. and Canadian citizens could travel between the two countries and simply declare their citizenship verbally or show a driver's license. That's been steadily tightened since the Sept 11, 2001 terrorist attacks through what's called the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.

Since January this year, proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate, plus ID has been required for American and Canadian adult travelers entering the U.S. at all land and sea crossings. Children 18 and under just need to show a birth certificate. Those requirements will change again in June 2009 when the new ID rule takes effect, although there are some federally-approved alternatives to a passport. Among them:

• Washington state residents who don't want to pay for a passport (it costs $100 for an adult first-time passport) can instead apply for what's called the Washington enhanced driver's license. It's authorized by the federal government as an alternative document for land and sea border crossings between the U.S. and Canada, serving both as ID and proof of U.S. citizenship. (It's also valid for Mexico land/sea travel, but not any air travel.)

Other states also are developing similar licenses, which are issued after a personal interview and contain radio-tag ID. Washington began them in late January, and has issued 6,400 so far; other states and Canadian provinces are developing them. Washington's costs $15 more than a normal driver's license, and a similar enhanced Washington state ID card also is available.

• U.S. and Canadian citizens under 16 will be able to present a birth certificate or other proof of citizenship (instead of a passport) for crossing land/sea borders between the U.S. and Canada. There also will be special provisions for children traveling in school or sport groups or other organized groups.

• Travelers who have been prescreened can use "trusted traveler" cards issued by the federal government, including Nexus cards that can be used by motorists at fast-clearance lanes at the Blaine border crossing on Interstate 5.

• A passport card — a cheaper ($45 for an adult) but more restricted document than a passport — is available for land/sea travel between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean.

• The June 2009 requirement will bring little change for Mexican citizens entering the U.S. by land or sea. Mexicans, including children, already are required to have a passport and visa or a visa border crossing card to enter the U.S.

Kristin Jackson: kjackson@seattletimes.com