Enhanced drivers license

avatar for clubdude
clubdude
I've been told that an enhanced drivers license is good to cross into Mexico. However all I read about are passports and a special pass card to get in and out of Mexico. Can anyone let me know if an enhanced license is good for the crossing?

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We have here some "Real Id" program or something from the DMV. Need to show a birth certificate and pay an extra fee.

Makes it a Federally approved id.

I remember they said that in a few years one will have to have this to travel at all.

https://realid.dmv.ca.gov/

SJG


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avatar for DrStab
DrStab
Motor City
5 years ago
Good question, Dude. Being from Michigan myself, I have an enhanced license to ease my journeys into Canada.
avatar for bdirect
bdirect
usa
5 years ago
NOTE: International travel, including Canada and Mexico, still requires a Passport
Not to Canada (as DrStab can attest bdirect). We have "enhanced" driver licenses here, and they get us into Canada with no problems. They are suppose to be good in Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. I have yet to here of anyone using one to enter Mexico though.
It's a bit of a mess right now. An enhanced license from Michigan gets you in and out of Canada.... one from Ohio does not. They are working on legislation to solve and make this all uniform from what I have read so far.

Solution: Get a passport CARD.... Cost $30 if you already have the regular passport and fits in your wallet. Good for travel to Canada and Mexico:

https://travel.state.gov/conte…

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/…

Is that Papi in that photo on the card? Does it say PAPPY on it? (His given name)
avatar for PhredJohnson
PhredJohnson
5 years ago
The enhanced DL is only issued by four or six states and is good for ground only transportation into Canada & Mexico and return.
You can also cross into Mex anytime w/o passport by paying a $25 bribe fee at entry.
Going into Mexico is the easy part. Returning to the USA is the hard part.
The problem is that only 5 states issue them - Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, and Washington.
California also offers them, they're called 'Real ID'.
^Real ID is not the same. The enhanced licenses have additional RFID technology that allows border patrol to automatically pull up biographical and biometric information when you approach the border patrol station.
Looked it up. rickdugan is right about not having the RFID chip. "Enhanced driver's licenses are another way to enter Canada and Mexico without having to present your passport." Likely you can get across the border with a CA license, but they tend to fine you and give you some grief about having a passport next time. It will be interesting to see if someone reports success or failure crossing the border with an enhanced DL.
^^^^good to know @Rick Dugan and @tahoecruz. With the requirements to get a Real ID in California I thought for sure the thing should at least be as good as a passport card. I mean for fucks sake you need to present a passport to get the damn thing lol.

No worries, not like my passport card takes up too much space in my wallet anyway.
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