Passports for Niagara Falls?

All I can say is yes, every time you cross the border in either direction, you will have to show your passport. They spent all that money on entry gates and pay for all those Immigration agents and they need to get some use out of them.

When I was there I spent all my time on the Canadian side. The boat ride leaves from there. If you're driving you can visit the NY side on your way home if you like.

According to what I read you can use a passport card or an enhanced drivers license in place of actual passport. So, if you have either of those you can leave your passport behind.

Yes, you need your passport every time you cross the border, but why not organize your trip to do all the Canadian side stuff together, and then the American side stuff. Border crossings can take time and I wouldn't want to do it more than necessary.

This makes a good little case for the passport card, which is in plastic and wouldn't get wet like the passport book.

What Nancy said.

Why would you be going back and forth from US to Canada more than once? Not only having to show passport or passport card, but when we went the lines were really long, thus you would be losing valuable vacation time every time you went back and forth.

I agree with previous poster about arranging your trip so that you only have to make the border crossing twice -- once going in and once going back out.

BTW, if you are worried about getting wet on the boat ride, just bring a light weight, easily packable disposable-type poncho. Check the official site for the boat ride, maybe they still hand out the free ponchos.

https://www.ezbordercrossing.com/the-inspection-experience/documentation-needed-to-cross-border/

Bring your passports to come and visit us, it says it is strongly recommended.
Better than being turned back.

Thanks for the responses.

We definitely will bring our passport, very clear you need that to get into Canada from US.

We figured we would be walking a lot and could go back and forth across the pedestrian bridge during the day to see the falls from different vantage points, thus the question about whether to bring the passport during the day.

I'm used to passport controls at airports and main borders, just haven't encountered a passport control yet on a pedestrian bridge.

If you're a member of NEXUS or FAST, you can use those cards in lieu of a passport, FYI. And as Nancy mentioned, if you have an enhanced driver's license, you can use that, although there are only about 6-7 states now that have that.

At least you don't need the ETA any longer. :)

You might get a grumpy border guard who might insist it’s passport or nothing, so bring them.

Hi:

I live about 30 minutes from the US side of Niagara Falls and have been to both sides many times. Yes, you will need to show your passport, Nexus Card or Enhanced Drivers License every time you walk across the bridge. I don't think most people walk across the bridge to get different views of the falls, although you certainly could.

I would do as others have suggested & organize your trip to do the things you want to in Canada and the US on different days.

You can take the Maid of the Mist & Hornblower boat trips from either the US or Canadian side. The Cave of the Winds on the US side is also neat. I believe either of the boat trips & the Cave of the Winds will give you a poncho as you will certainly get wet! Make sure you are wearing shoes that can get wet though. Enjoy!

Could put your passport in a ziploc bag prior to putting it in your money belt to keep it dry.

On our trip to Spain last year with friends, one person sent his passport, zipped in his pants pocket, through the washing machine. Twice. It came out just fine (and very clean!).

I’m not suggesting you try this at home, but they’re tougher than you think. Put your passport in a ziploc and it will be just fine.

Have fun!

You don't specify exactly how you're getting to Niagara Falls Canada from California. If you are flying into Canada from the US, perhaps into Toronto, then you absolutely must have your passport, as the passport card or enhanced driver's license will not suffice. If you are flying to somewhere in the US (Buffalo?), and then crossing over, I agree with other posters, the passport card or enhanced driver's license is the way to go, if that's an option for you. I live in NY and cross over often with my passport card only. It's never been a problem.

Just in case some readers are unfamiliar with the term, an "enhanced driver's license" is not the same as a "star" license or "real ID" that may be required to fly some day in the future (May 2025, last I heard). An enhanced license is specifically designed for border crossing into Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean and is only issued by a few states that are on the border. Enhanced Drivers Licenses: What are they?

@Paul - your terminology is incorrect.
A REAL ID compliant document includes:
Enhanced DL/State ID
Passport
REAL ID license/ID
TWIC card
etc.

Regardless, back to OP - your border crossing isn't just a 'wave passport and keep walking' kind of crossing. We drove from the Canadian side over the Rainbow bridge to get wings in Buffalo (yes, we're nerds) and it took 30+ minutes each way - so I'd def avoid thinking you need to go back and forth.
And we stayed on the Canadian side and didn't feel we missed anything from the US side.