u.s. western hemisphere travel initiative

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Entering the U.S. from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda

Learn what travel documents you need to enter the U.S. from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, or Bermuda.

To strengthen U.S. border security, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative set standards for proving identity and citizenship for people crossing U.S. borders. 

Visit the Department of Homeland Security's Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative page to find the specific travel documents you will need to enter the U.S. from these locations as a U.S. citizen or a non-citizen.

Port of entry officials issue everyone entering the U.S. a Form I-94, which electronically records arrival dates. If you are a Canadian citizen, you will not need Form I-94 in most cases if you are visiting or in transit through the U.S. Learn more about Form I-94 and how to apply .

LAST UPDATED: December 6, 2023

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• Border Security

Securing and managing our borders have been priority mission areas for DHS since its creation The United States shares 7,500 miles of land border with Canada and Mexico, as well as rivers, lakes and coastal waters along both borders. 

In addition, our international airports receive international flights, serving as the primary entry point into the United States for large volumes of travelers and commercial goods. Land, sea, and air borders are important economic gateways that account for trillions of dollars in trade and travel each year and are found in many of our nation’s largest cities and are integral parts of many American communities. 

Protecting our borders from the illicit movement of weapons, drugs, contraband, and people, while promoting lawful entry and exit, and lawful trade, is essential to homeland security, economic prosperity, and national sovereignty. 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a DHS component, is one of the world's largest law enforcement organizations and the United States’ first unified border agency. CBP applies a comprehensive approach to border management and control, combining customs, immigration, border security, and agricultural protection into one coordinated and supportive activity.  

Other component agencies like U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Coast Guard protect our borders from the illicit movement of weapons, drugs, contraband, and people, while promoting lawful entry and exit, and lawful trade, is essential to homeland security, economic prosperity, and national sovereignty. The Federal Emergency Management Agency provides support for processing and provides resources to local governments.  

In February 2022, Secretary Mayorkas announced the creation of the Southwest Border Coordination Center (SBCC), which leads the planning and coordinating of a whole-of-government response to the anticipated increase in border encounters.  

Information on Immigration Laws, Lawful Pathways, and Border Enforcement can be found here  and are detailed below.

Facilitating Lawful Trade and Protecting Revenue

Enabling fair, competitive and compliant trade and enforcing U.S. laws to ensure safety, prosperity and economic security for the American people are a priority for DHS.  On a typical day, DHS monitors and operates 328 U.S. ports of entry that screen cargo and passengers arriving by air, land, and sea; and vehicles entering the U.S. through our land ports of entry. In doing so, DHS every day will inspect and clear 91,065 truck, rail, and sea containers, and 10,572 shipments of goods, collecting more than $306 million in duty, taxes, and fees. On a daily basis, DHS seizes $8.2 million worth of goods for intellectual property rights violations.

Facilitating Lawful Travel

More than a million times each day, DHS welcomes international travelers into the U.S. In screening foreign visitors, returning U.S. citizens, and Lawful Permanent Residents, DHS agencies use a variety of techniques to assure that global tourism remains safe and strong.  Among those, DHS pre-screens 263,000 passengers on international flights that fly into, out of, within, or over the United States. 

Expanding Trusted Traveler Programs, like TSA Pre-Check, Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI increases the ability to quickly facilitate known, low risk "trusted travelers" arriving in the United States. This makes it faster and easier for millions of visitors and business people to cross the border while allowing DHS Officers and Agents additional time to focus on higher risk, unknown travelers. 

Migration and Border Security Strategy

Over the past decade, there has been a fundamental change in migration patterns that has far-reaching impacts for DHS and the broader U.S. immigration system. The displacement of people across the region is greater than at any time since World War II. 

To address these hemispheric migration trends, DHS developed and continues to implement a six-pillar Southwest Border Security and Preparedness Plan : surging resources; increasing efficiency to reduce strain on the border; administering consequences for unlawful entry or irregular entry such as a five-year bar on admission; bolstering the capacity of NGOs and working with state and local partners; targeting and disrupting networks of cartels and smugglers; and working with our regional partners to deter irregular migration.  

DHS also works closely with Canada and Mexico, and our many federal, tribal, and territorial partners. 

The management of these migration trends is a shared responsibility among all countries in the hemisphere, as confirmed in the June 2022 Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection. DHS will work with our interagency colleagues to engage regional partners to address the root causes of migration and enhance migration management and border enforcement through technical assistance, law enforcement cooperation, and migration agreements and arrangements throughout the Western Hemisphere. DHS will continue to work in close partnership across the Federal Government to help countries in the region enhance protection for migrants, create robust migration management mechanisms, foster economic opportunity, and increase resiliency to the effects of climate change within the region. 

DHS continues to confront increasing complexities placing the nation’s broken and outdated immigration system under greater strain. DHS will make investments in policy, technology, human capital, and infrastructure to better position our agencies to secure our borders, administer immigration processes, enforce our laws, and support matters of public safety and national security concern. These efforts will be designed to manage our borders in a safe, orderly, and humane manner, upholding civil rights, civil liberties, and privacy in ways that embody our nation’s highest values.   

Modernizing Our Border Security Capabilities

DHS makes our borders more secure through personnel, technology, and infrastructure. Using high-tech assets such as drones and manned aircraft for aerial surveillance, sensors on border barriers, radar, and autonomous surveillance towers allows DHS to increase capacity and effectiveness at the border. 

U.S. Border Patrol agents, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers and agriculture specialists, and Air and Marine Operations agents; along with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations Special Agents and Enforcement and Removal Operations personnel; and the U.S. Coast Guard protect America’s borders. These men and women prevent terrorists, drug traffickers, and illicit drugs from entering the United States while continuing their mission of seizing contraband and apprehending criminals and noncitizens who attempt to enter the United States without authorization or without documents sufficient for admission. 

Through increases in staffing, including an additional 300 Border Patrol agents allocated for Fiscal Year 2023; construction of and continued investment in new technology and infrastructure, including autonomous surveillance towers, sensors, radar, and aerial assets; investments to modernize the ports of entry; and stronger partnerships and information sharing, we are creating a safer, more secure, and more efficient border environment. 

• Every day, DHS flies 225 hours and floats 79 hours in enforcement missions along our borders to disrupt the smuggling of weapons, drugs, and migrants.
• Every day, DHS patrols more than 7,500 miles of our land borders with Canada and Mexico and more than 2,500 miles of coastal border.

Countering Drug Smuggling

Transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) continue to threaten the security of the homeland through illicit narcotics smuggling and other illegal activities. On a typical day, DHS seizes 1,797 pounds of illegal narcotics, which criminal networks primarily traffic through ports of entry. In Fiscal Year 2022, DHS seized more than 1.8 million pounds of narcotics and 14,700 pounds of fentanyl. In March 2023, DHS launched new operations for a coordinated surge effort to curtail the flow of illicit fentanyl smuggled into the United States, leading to 156 arrests and preventing over 5,600 pounds of fentanyl, over 3,500 pounds of methamphetamines, and nearly 1,000 pounds of cocaine from entering the United States in its first month. DHS counter-smuggling efforts leverage advanced analytics and intelligence capabilities at HSI and CBP, including investigative work and forward operating labs (FOL) at ports of entry. 

Additional Information

Migration and borders.

Expanding Lawful Pathways + Enhanced Enforcement

Measuring Effectiveness

DHS measures the effectiveness of border security.

International commerce is critical to America’s economy, and the entire world.

Trusted Traveler Programs

Trusted Traveler Programs provide modified screening for preapproved members and improves security by being more efficient during screenings at Ports of Entry.

Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative requires all travelers to present a passport or other acceptable document that shows identity and citizenship when entering the United States.

Latest Border Security News

Statement from secretary mayorkas on the death of u.s. border patrol agent chris luna and two national guardsmen, fact sheet: president’s state of the union highlights dhs efforts on the front lines combating illicit opioids, including fentanyl, statement by secretary mayorkas on federal court decision to allow parole processes for cubans, haitians, nicaraguans, and venezuelans to continue.

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What Document are Considered to be a WHTI Documents?

Answer:   Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative or WHTI documents require all citizens in the United States, Mexico, Canada, Bermuda and the Caribbean to have a valid passport when entering or departing from the U.S. within the Western Hemisphere. If you do not travel with your passport, you can use a Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative document.

Types of WHTI Compliant Documents

When traveling via air, use the WHTI compliant documents which include, a NEXUS card or a Merchant Mariner Document. Also, a Merchant Mariner Documents can be used by U.S. citizens that are traveling on official business. NEXUS cards can provide expedited processing when traveling to or from the United States and Canada.

If you are traveling by sea or land, you can provide an Enhanced Driver’s License , a NEXUS, FAST, or SENTRI card, and/or a valid passport card.

Though it is not completely necessary, you are encourage to carry and use an up-to-date and effective passport while you travel to and from the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or the Caribbean.

You could also obtain a Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative such as a passport card . When submitting your passport card document, you will need to complete and provide the following documents.

Passport Photos

Proof of Identity

Photocopy of Proof of Identity,

Proof of Citizenship

The complete and unsign  DS-11 or D2-82 application form , and lastly, bring with you the $20 fee for passport card. Give these documents to the agent at the passport application acceptance facility. You will be sworn in and will have to sign the application in front of the agent.

Nov 14, 2023.

Choose your passport office location, passport services.

•  New Passport
•  Passport Renewal
•  Child Passport
•  Passport Replacement
•  Name Change
•  Lost Passport
•  Passport Correction
•  Second Passport
•  Passport Card

Where to Apply

•  Passport Offices
•  Expedited Services
•  Regional Passport
•  Expedited Visa & Passport Directory
•  Acceptance Agent

Passport Forms

•  Passport Photos
•  Passport Requirements
•  Passport Fees
•  Passport Books
•  Passport Applications
•  International Drivers Permit
•  Travel Visa

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• Documents Library

Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative

U.S. Government Accountability Office

Observations on Implementing the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative

Securing the nation's borders has taken on added importance since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. For years, millions of citizens of the United States, Canada, and Bermuda could enter the United States from certain parts of the Western Hemisphere using a wide variety of documents, including a driver's license issued by a state motor vehicle administration or a birth certificate, or in some cases for U.S. and Canadian citizens, without showing any documents. In the heightened national security environment following September 11, we have previously reported that documents like driver's licenses and birth certificates can easily be obtained, altered, or counterfeited and used by terrorists to travel into and out of the country. To help provide better assurance that border officials have the tools and resources to establish that people are who they say they are, as called for in the 9/11 Commission report, section 7209 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, as amended, requires the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to develop and implement a plan that requires a passport or other document or combination of documents that the Secretary of Homeland Security deems sufficient to show identity and citizenship for U.S. citizens and citizens of Bermuda, Canada, and Mexico when entering the United States from certain countries in North, Central, or South America. The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) and the Department of State's (State) effort to specify acceptable documents and implement document requirements at 326 air, land, and sea ports of entry is called the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). DHS is required by law to implement WHTI document requirements at the land and sea ports of entry on the earlier of two dates: June 1, 2009, or 3 months after DHS and State certify that certain implementation requirements have been met. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a component within DHS, is the lead agency in charge of inspecting travelers seeking to enter the United States at air, land, and sea ports of entry. CBP has created a WHTI program office within CBP's Office of Field Operations to manage efforts to propose acceptable documents, implement document requirements, and oversee technological upgrades. In fiscal year 2008, DHS requested about $252 million for WHTI implementation, including approximately $166 million for related technological upgrades--to develop new software and to deploy that software and new hardware at 13 of the highest-volume U.S. land ports of entry. According to DHS, implementation of the WHTI document requirements and related technological upgrades will support its strategic goal of facilitating legitimate trade and travel while enforcing all U.S. trade, immigration, drug, consumer protection, intellectual property, and agricultural laws and regulations at the borders. According to DHS, the technological upgrades are designed to improve customer service by avoiding a more time-intensive and intrusive inspection process that would result from meeting WHTI document requirements without this technology. In May 2006, we reported our observations on steps taken and challenges faced by DHS and State in implementing WHTI in five main areas: (1) proceeding through the rulemaking process, (2) making a decision about what documents individuals will need when they enter the United States, (3) carrying out a cost-benefit study, (4) resolving technical and programmatic issues, and (5) managing implementation of the program. This report provides updated information in those five areas.

Full Report

Office of public affairs.

Chuck Young Managing Director [email protected] (202) 512-4800

Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, Panel 3

A panel moderated by Janice Kephart talked about the necessary coordination across federal departments and with Canada and Mexico to success… read more

A panel moderated by Janice Kephart talked about the necessary coordination across federal departments and with Canada and Mexico to successfully implement the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) mandated that all people traveling by air outside of the U.S. are required to present a passport or other valid travel document to enter the U.S. and that U.S. citizens need to present either a passport or a government issued photo ID to enter the country.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies' Canada Project and its Homeland Security Program held a day of discussion on the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. close

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• Text type Closed Captioning Record People Graphical Timeline
• Filter by Speaker All Speakers Elaine Dezenski Janice Kephart Kathleen L. Kraninger Eric Marquis Alan Snyder
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*This text was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.

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• Center for Strategic and International Studies | Canada Project Center for Strategic and International Studies | Canada Project
• Center for Strategic and International Studies | Homeland Security Program Center for Strategic and International Studies | Homeland Security Program

More Videos From

Western hemisphere travel initiative, western hemisphere travel initiative, panel 2, western hemisphere travel initiative, panel 1, airing details.

• Nov 23, 2006 | 5:43am EST | C-SPAN 1
• Nov 27, 2006 | 9:36am EST | C-SPAN 2
• Dec 04, 2006 | 3:35pm EST | C-SPAN 3

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