Do We Need Canada Visa For Alaska Cruise?
A cruise to Alaska is a relaxing, all-inclusive way to explore America’s last frontier. These ships unpack once and visit multiple ports and cities in a single vacation, making it a great choice for first-timers to the region.
Small ships sail Alaska’s Inside Passage and share waterways with local fishermen and yachts. They offer a more authentic experience than Caribbean and Bahamian cruises.
Passport
We need a passport for alaska cruise
A valid passport is the most common travel document required by foreign nationals. It is a document that allows you to enter or leave the United States and its territories without any restrictions. It is also a legal proof of your identity and citizenship and can be obtained at any travel agency or embassy.
Many people think that it is not necessary to have a passport for an Alaskan cruise because the trip only involves disembarking in Canada at one port or the other and returning to Seattle, Washington at the end of the voyage. However, this is not the case.
Almost every large cruise ship that departs from a US port was built and flagged in another country, which means that they have to stop in a foreign-flagged port before returning to the US. This is done under the Jones Act, which requires US-flagged ships to abide by foreign laws in order to transport passengers and cargo between the US and its international ports of call.
The reason for this is that if any passenger or crew member is inadmissible to Canada due to criminal convictions, then that person cannot complete the entire cruise and they will be escorted off the boat and sent back to the US. This is true no matter how long a passenger has been on the ship.
In addition, if you are going to disembark in Canada and take a tour that crosses over by land (like the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad excursion from Skagway, Alaska), then you will need a passport. It is also possible to use a trusted traveler card or a green card (if you are a lawful permanent resident) as proof of citizenship, but these documents do not have the same criminal inadmissibility standards as a passport and you will be subject to delays and possible denials at border crossings.
Having a passport is the safest way to travel and it’s recommended that everyone carry one while cruising to Alaska. It will give you peace of mind if there is an emergency and you need to fly back to the US from Canada. Having a valid passport will also help you return home should you decide to cancel your cruise before it’s completed or if you have to fly out of a port in a foreign country to get back on the ship because of a mechanical issue.
Visa
Whether you are visiting Canada or Alaska as part of your cruise, your visa requirements depend on the point of embarkation and your nationality. Generally, a cruise line or WMPH Vacations can provide information about the type of visas needed for your visit to both countries.
Passports are also necessary for travel to the United States, and this is especially true if your Alaska cruise begins or ends in the US. Guests will need a valid passport to return to the United States from either Alaska or Canada, even if it is considered a closed loop cruise under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI).
You can check your current travel documents before you leave home by visiting the State Department’s website. You can also call the embassy in your home country or consulate in your destination to learn more about passport and visa requirements.
There are a few exceptions to this rule, and the most recent ones involve ships that originate from Vancouver or an American port with an intermediary stop in Vancouver between Alaska and the US mainland. This is because the Jones Act, which restricts non-US flagged vessels from carrying cargo and passengers between US ports, requires these ships to stop in a foreign port.
The cruise lines and WMPH Vacations recommend that all travelers carry a valid passport for their trip to Alaska. This will allow you to re-enter the US with ease.
Guests who do not have a valid passport may still be able to get a travel authorization, called an eTA. This authorization can be obtained by submitting an application to the Government of Canada at least 72 hours before you depart.
For visitors who do not qualify for an ESTA, or if you are a UK or ROI citizen, a full passport with at least 6 months of validity from the end of your cruise is required. Children and infants must also have a valid passport.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that all cruise ship passengers must be fully vaccinated and tested for COVID-19 before they board their vessel. This is to ensure the safety and security of everyone onboard.
ESTA
When planning a cruise, many guests have questions about their travel documents. They want to ensure that they have all the necessary paperwork in order for their trip to go smoothly and without any issues.
One of the most common questions from travellers is if they need a visa for a cruise to Canada. The answer is that if you’re a citizen of a country that doesn’t have visa-free entry to Canada, you will need a Canada travel visa. This type of visa is known as an eTA, which allows you to enter Canada for up to six months without having to visit a Canadian embassy.
In the case of a Canada eTA, all eligible travelers can apply online to obtain their ETA e-Visa. This is an easier process than a traditional visa and the document will be delivered electronically to the applicant prior to their trip.
Another issue to consider is that you’ll be entering the United States under the Visa Waiver Program, which permits citizens of 40 select countries to enter the United States for up to 90 days. You can enter the United States under the Visa Waiver Programme without a visa if you have a valid ESTA approval.
If you’re traveling with children on your trip, you may need to provide an original signed letter from one or both parents authorizing the minor to travel. It’s best to bring this document as it will help the cruise line expedite your immigration process.
You can also check with your cruise line to see if your itinerary will make you a port of call in Canada on your cruise. Typically, this will be the case and you will need to present a valid passport.
Finally, some passengers on a round-trip closed-loop cruise from Seattle or San Francisco don’t need to carry a passport as long as you’re a US citizen and have an up-to-date one that doesn’t expire within 6 months of the trip’s end. The cruise line will also accept a government-issued photo ID as well.
You can apply for an ESTA on the Department of Homeland Security website, or you can use the ESTA mobile app to get your approval at home. Regardless of where you choose to apply, make sure that you submit your application well in advance of your trip so that you won’t miss out on your ESTA approval. This will save you a lot of time and hassle, and it’s always a good idea to get your ESTA approved before you leave for the United States.
Travel Documents
If you are cruising from the United States to Alaska, then you need to comply with the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) regulations. In other words, you must have a passport, Nexus card or WHTI compliant document to re-enter the United States by air from Canada.
Whether you need a visa for your cruise depends on your country of citizenship, your length of stay in Canada, and the port of entry you visit. You can find more details on the Canadian Immigration website.
The most common reason why a foreign citizen will need a visa for a cruise to Alaska is because their itinerary involves disembarking in a different country than the U.S. In this case, a passport is the most important travel document to carry.
Many international itineraries, including a cruise to Alaska, will make stops in Canada. These cruises are often considered “closed loop” cruises. This means that passengers must only provide a government-issued photo ID, like a driver’s license or birth certificate, to enter and leave Canada.
Other cruises that take guests to international destinations, such as Mexico or the Caribbean, will require travelers to bring a valid passport book. This is required even if you are traveling on a closed-loop cruise that departs and returns to the same port of origin.
This is a good reason to keep your passport book in a safe place so that you can always have it with you. You never know when you may need it.
It also serves as a backup plan if you should ever need to go back to the United States in an emergency. It can be very difficult to get a passport or the proper paperwork from a foreign country, so it is best to prepare for this possibility ahead of time.
Another good reason to have a passport is because it allows you to re-enter the United States from any port of entry in Mexico, Canada or the Caribbean. However, if your ship breaks down or you need to evacuate during an emergency, you will not be able to re-enter the United States on your cruise.