Passport question for the group. Can someone verify for me if this is true? I can enter the US if my passport is only three months from expiry? I did searches and found conflicting information…..

Similar to Mexico, the U.S. is one of the 42 countries where a Canadian passport technically just needs to be valid for the duration of your stay (Canada is one of the countries with an exemption for U.S. entry). That being said, there is a small risk that you will run into someone along the way who isn't familiar with this rule.
The official rules: https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-619?language=en_US
The reality: https://www.snowbirdadvisor.ca/how-long-do-canadian...
HELP.CBP.GOV
Visiting the U.S. - Documents required for Canadian Citizens / Residents / Landed Immigrant to enter the U.S. and how long they can stay

Chris hey Chris, do you have a list of the 42 countries?

Hi Craig:
North America: Canada, Mexico, United States
Caribbean: Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Curaçao, Dominica, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Lucia
Central America: Costa Rica
South America: Argentina, Chile, Falkand Islands, Paraguay, Uruguay
Europe: Georgia, Gibraltar, Kosovo, Ukraine
Middle East: Yemen
East Asia: Japan, North Korea, South Korea (short term visitors)
Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Congo (Republic Of), Liberia, Libya, Mali, Mauritius*, Niger, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, The Gambia, Tunisia, Western Sahara
South Pacific & Oceania: Australia

Yes I have heard that you can do a land border cross into the USA with less than 6 months left on your passport. But flying you have to have the 6 months or more. I haven’t tried it though!

This should never be a issue, renew once you have less than12 months remaining.

Glyn well - in an ideal world I would have. Except, the passport office was months behind after Covid, and my child’s passport doesn’t expire until the end of this October. So - I thought there would have been plenty of time - except now they are on strike. And there will be a backlog again. So thanks for the advice, but this was just bad timing and I’m trying to anticipate some September travel.

Carrie I feel this. My kids expire in July and we travel in September to the US. I’m hoping the strike won’t last long and it will be ok. As a back up, kids under 16 only need a birth certificate to cross the land border to the US. My back up is to drive across the border and then fly to where we are going.

Carrie It's for reasons like this I jump on it early. I couldn't imagine being without a passport. I actually have two of them...

Carrie recently took us 3 weeks. Super quick

Jacklyn I bet that was before the strike…. The passport office said they will not be processing ANY passports for leisure travel. Only urgent business purposes, etc.

It was right before

I just entered the US when mine was about to expire and no issues

I think you are good unless you plan to be gone past the expiry date.

Yes

They can deny you. It depends on the Custom Agent's mood.

Caroline no it doesn’t depend on mood. valid length of stay for a Canadian is the requirement.

My son went to Hawaii with less than 3 months on his and was fine!

Canada to US is validity for length of stay

Canadian Passport go to US just need to be valid during stay .
We went to Orlando my son’s passport only few months left valid about 3 months , it’s fine .

I know someone that was going to Mexico for a Week and her passport was set to expire within 3 months and they wouldn’t let her travel. That would be taking a huge chance.

Shelley who denied her? The airline? Customs at the airport? Curious which airline?

Carrie the people working the check in desk. Doesn’t matter which airline. I agree with Karen….I think it’s 6 month, not 3.

Shelley but the actual rules in the USBPA and homeland security state valid for the duration. It is not 6 or 3 months. So whoever denied her is wrong - period.

Carrie that’s only for the states though, not Mexico isn’t it?

Shelley it’s 6 months.

Shelley it is 6 months.

Tiffany Mexico has the same rule. Canadian Passport technically just needs to be valid for your stay. Same small risk that you will run into an airline employee unfamiliar with the rule. Official info for Mexico: https://embamex.sre.gob.mx/.../en/servicesforeigners/11729
EMBAMEX.SRE.GOB.MX
Passport validity to travel to Mexico

Chris good to know, thanks!

Shelley yes most won’t let you travel if your passport expires within 6 months dumb but it’s their rules

Karen Buehler but it’s not actually the rules. Chris quoted them in the article above.

Karen Buehler if the airline denies you not much you can do . Your trip is cancelled. It’s their rule.

We went to Disneyland in March and my kids passports expire in May and there wasn’t even a comment

Only need it valid for length of stay

Yes you can

How about going to Mexico, for less than 6 months passport validity? any experienced?

It really depends on the border agent. My son went to the US, and his passport was a month from expiring. i told him they would not let him enter (he was doing a coast to coast road trip) but they let him in! The agent did tell him if his passport expired while he was there, he would have a lot of trouble EVER getting into the US again.

Into US only your fine

It depends on when the last time was that you entered the US. When you enter the US you are given a tourist visa B1/B2 and it’s valid for 6 months. Visas cannot be issued for longer then the time left on your passport therefore say you haven’t been to the US in over a year and your last B1 is expired well that means you’ll be getting a new one requiring 6 months be left on your passport.
Now say you last entered USA in April and we’re given a B1 which expires in October, your visa is valid until October therefore you can still enter with a passport that expires in January.
Make sense?