I’ll be driving across to the US in July and got married and changed my name on my drivers license. I am wondering if anyone has crossed the border by land with a valid passport in their maiden name? I have 4 years till it expires and that seems like a waste to get it replaced.

You should be fine as long as you take your original marriage certificate with you!

Danielle does this work for flights too?

Steve, I was told “no”. I flew using my maiden name for four years so that it matched my passport.

Noranna thank you

I believe I have done so in the past, but it may have only been for domestic flights...I don't know if I would chance that, but you could reach out to the airline and ask ((if you can reach a real person lol))
**Edit** now that I think of it, I wouldn't have had my new passport with my married name for my honeymoon so I believe this is what I did to go to Mexico in 2007 flying Calgary to Cabo direct. (Old passport with maiden name, drivers license ((usually can get this redone and back within 7-10 days with new name)), and marriage certificate).

You will be fine

Even flying you can use your maiden name as long as your ticket matches your travel document

they don’t ask for a second piece of ID at land borders. Just show your passport and you’ll be fine.

I’ve been married for almost 23 years and still Havel my maiden name on my Dutch passport, because Dutch laws don’t allow that to be changed. I travel on my maiden name, and never bring a marriage certificate with me. All you need to do is make sure that the name on your ticket is the same as the name on your passport, otherwise you can’t fly. There shouldn’t be a problem at land border crossings either.

I’ve done this lots, I always bring a copy of my marriage certificate just in case, but I’ve never needed to show it. I have flown internationally several times with the different names on different ids too and it’s never an issue.

I’m actually the opposite. I got divorced 6 years ago but had a 10yr passport and while everything else is back in my maiden name my passport is still in my married name. 2yrs left and the passport offices are crazy right now, so I’m just leavin it!

Candice Lynn, you just need to make sure you book flights in the name on the passport. I did it for four years.

Noranna exactly. I’ve flown all over the place and kept 1 credit card in my married name to match until I get a new passport!

Candice Lynn Yes same for me..

My passport is maiden name (12yrs) and drivers license and vaccine QR are married name. You won't be able to add your vaccine QR into the ArriveCAN app for the drive home, you will have to show proof at the border.
I keep the wallet size of my marriage certificate with me, and my drivers license, so they can compare my photo on both documents.
We travel to/from the US regularly and I get asked every time for the 2nd piece of photo ID to verify my QR.

Giselle oh I didn’t even think of the arriveCAN process. Is it ok if you show the stuff at the border and not have it submitted?

Gillian you still have to do the app and attempt to load your QR, but will get a message that it can't be loaded/names don't match, and then select the option of "I have my record and can't load it".
You will be coded as "V-vaccinated" and your partner will be coded as "I-immunized" as it prompts them to ask for your records at the window

Awesome thank you so much for the information!

Gillian

You will just need to bring the original copy of your marriage license with you

I didn't have my married name on AB health so my Vax certificate was in another name. In the early days of pandemic travel I was never able to get my vaccine certificate verified through automated systems (like arriveCan) until I changed it...like stopping at the registry on my way to the airport!

Carry original copy of marriage license and birth certificate just in case. Covers both sides of proof of maiden name and married name

You can update your name on your health care card really easily. Then download new QR codes with the new name on it. I also didn't update my passport for a few yerlars and traveled with my marriage certificate.

Phoebe my healthcare card was automatically updated when I updated my name on my CRA/tax account!

Your married name is an assumed name not a legal name change. You aren't required to change it so they don't care if you do. Carry your marriage certificate and your birth certificate and you are good to go

Sherry actually that only applies to Alberta.
Quebec actually no longer allows a name change when married and requires people to go by their maiden name even for work, whereas in Ontario, it is considered a legal name change and all documents must match

Unless you fill out legal name change papers it is assumed. I legally changed my name and trust me it is a different process that involves finger printing, and hundreds of dollars then you have to apply for a birth certificate in your new legal name. When you marry it is an assumed name in Canada. Quebec is smart to insist people keep their names.

I never changed my name on my passport until like 3 months before we split lol. Traveled all the time

You don’t need to get it replaced you can get a name change in it and it’s printed in the same passport

Yes! I went with my maiden name passport for 4 years after everything else was changed... you are ALWAYS your birth name.

Danea Helmeczi