crossing border into Canada with Washington drivers license

I believe you need proof of citizenship, which can be a passport, an Enhanced WA DL or a regular WA DL and birth certificate.

All Washington state DL's are EDLs now. The license will tell you btw. Should have zero issue in or out.

A Enhanced drivers license is sufficient. The trick is you can only get an enhanced drivers license if you can prove citizenship. There is a list of acceptable documents on this website.
https://dol.wa.gov/driver-licenses-and-permits/enhanced-driver-license-edl

Not all Washington Licenses are enhanced. The information posted previously does not match with current info on DOL website.

What does her Washington license look like?

Enhanced-- https://dol.wa.gov/media/84/download?inline

OR

"Regular"---https://dol.wa.gov/media/77/download?inline

Canada entry requirements:

US travellers
What you need to bring to Canada as an American depends on whether you’re a citizen or a permanent resident.
American citizens
In most cases, you must travel with your valid US passport.
If you don’t have a valid passport, there are other documents you can show. These include, but are not limited to your
birth certificate
certificate of citizenship or naturalization
certificate of Indian status, along with photo identification
US enhanced driver’s license
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/entry-requirements-country.html#american-traveller

EDLs are acceptable for entry into the U.S. from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean at any land or sea port of entry – not just at ports of entry in the issuing states or provinces.
https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/western-hemisphere-travel-initiative/faqs#
https://dol.wa.gov/driver-licenses-and-permits/enhanced-driver-license-edl/guide-enhanced-driver-licenses-edl

My WA DL is not an Enhanced DL.

Assuming you mean a land crossing, if so, a passport card works.

@ Jules. If she doesn’t have a passport, she won’t have a passport card……..

@ Carol now retired, you do not need a passport book to have a passport card.. I know a few people that have little interest in international travel that do travel to Canada and have passport cards. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/need-passport/card.html Additionally, this past Friday, I took my mother to obtain a passport and she was specifically asked if she wanted a book or card or both.

ah, point taken. all REAL ID compliant DLs in Washington State are EDLs.

What Joe32F has listed is the correct information. You need more than your EDL/DL to get IN to Canada from US (refer to his post.) But your EDL is sufficient to get from Canada back to the US.

I am curious. It has been years since I entered Canada on my enhanced drivers license alone. I have a NEXUS card so I use that instead. I was able, in years past to enter with just the enhanced drivers license alone. I am curious when this changed.

Edited to add: my curiosity led me to research. An enhanced drivers license continues to be listed on the CBP website as acceptable documentation for land/sea crossings into Canada.

Forget the conflicting info you are receiving here. Go to the government websites and look for yourself.

Here is the link that the previous posters have failed to think about. This is the link to the Canadian Border Services which clearly states what documents can be used for entry to Canada. I am so sorry for the conflicting and often false information being spread on this forum. Please go to the government sources directly so you don't get mislead.

https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/td-dv-eng.html

US citizens
To prove your identity and citizenship, regardless of age, the CBSA recommends travelling with a valid passport. However, you may also present documents that show your:

full name
date of birth
citizenship
If one document doesn't include all of this information, you can use a combination of documents.

If your proof of citizenship does not include a photo, you may be asked to provide a separate photo ID.

Examples of valid documents
These include, but are not limited to:

birth certificate
certificate of citizenship or naturalization
certificate of Indian status along with photo identification
US enhanced drivers license

So, just for clarity, Carol, reading your information from the Canadian government, a U.S. passport card does work to get in and out of Canada. A person can chose to purchase either a U.S. passport book or card or both. I'm not sure what conflicting information you are referencing.

To try and answer the original question (getting back into the US), if the license is Enhanced (not just Real ID), she can get back into the US at a border land crossing. Here's the link.

My Enhanced License has a US flag on it verifying my citizenship.

This is the false information that I am trying to counter.

“ What Joe32F has listed is the correct information. You need more than your EDL/DL to get IN to Canada from US (refer to his post.) But your EDL is sufficient to get from Canada back to the US.”. This is false

At no point have I ever disputed anything about passport cards as ID.

For questions like this, it’s always best to check the official source. Carol provided the link above and I am providing it again here:

https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/td-dv-eng.html#us_citizens

I have a feeling that you will have less problems at the Canadian border than at the US border. I don't go the US anymore but previously I found that the US border people were overly harsh and judgmental.

I have read that the new drivers license for Washington state is adequate ID for crossing into British Columbia.

Only if it is the "Enhanced" license -- https://dol.wa.gov/media/84/download?inline --

It must have "ENHANCED DRIVER LICENSE" printed on the top.

If it looks like this -- https://dol.wa.gov/media/77/download?inline --
it will NOT work for border crossing.

If she has a 'regular' WDL, it probably is quicker to renew her passport, than wait the 4-6 weeks it takes for an appointment to get in at a DOL office to upgrade to an "Enhanced" license

To be clear, I've never had an issue using my NYS EDL to get into Canada (last May was the last time); I also have multiple friends w VT EDLs who have never had an issue getting into Canada.

Enhanced Washington license should work for land border crossing, regular one won’t. Biggest thing is making sure it’s actually the enhanced version before showing up there and getting cooked by border agents 😭