It is posted on the departments website as a courtesy to stakeholders. Its convenient, inexpensive and gives you access to a. The enhanced driver s license is a costeffective and convenient document that meets driving, identification and bordercrossing needs. Enhanced drivers license first time cruisers cruise. Enhanced driver license edl erie county clerk michael. These provinces earlier agreed to make available enhanced documents such as a driver s licence or an identification card that meets the requirements of the western hemisphere travel initiative, allowing canadian citizens to use the identification to facilitate land or water travel between canada and the united states us. An enhanced driver license also known as a passport card eases your ability to travel in and out of the united states by land and sea, doubling as a drivers license and passport with it, no other documents are needed for proving citizenship and identity when entering the u. British columbians can now extend expiring drivers licence. Learn how to apply for an enhanced licence edl, enhanced id card eic or bcid.
The enhanced drivers licence is a new, voluntary option for drivers that allows for more convenient travel to the united states, said premier campbell. They provide travelers with a lowcost, convenient alternative for entering the united states from canada, mexico or the caribbean through a land or sea port of entry, in. Since 2006, british columbia has worked with the government of canada and washington state to develop an enhanced drivers licence that will meet the new u. The insurance corporation of british columbia icbc is allowing british. They provide travelers with a lowcost, convenient alternative for entering the united states from canada, mexico or the caribbean through a land or sea port of entry, in addition to serving as a permit to drive. Bc enhanced drivers licence participant guide icbc. British columbia renew your enhanced driver license. Enhanced drivers license ask a cruise question cruise. Ontario enhanced drivers licence edl as an accepted secure document under the whti.
Last month, british colombia was the first of the provinces to bring out the enhanced drivers license. The address on your driving record will be updated at no charge. But the cost to privacy and security far outweighs any benefits. A stateissued enhanced drivers license edl provides travelers not only a license to drive but also a proof of identity and citizenship when exiting and reentering the united states borders. Cross the border faster these cards are made for crossing. Except if you have the enhanced drivers licence edl it cant be combined with a bc services card. Previously, this was a separate card that you never showed to anyone except professionals in the health sector, but now anyone you give your id to can see and possibly note down this number. It seems like common sense, said nicole ozer of the aclu of california. Im thinking of getting an enhanced drivers license. The dmv started offering real id driver licenses and id cards on january 22, 2018.
In the usa, there are real id drivers licenses and enhanced drivers licenses. A valid passport or nexus card is still required to enter the united states by air. New yorks edl is compliant with the western hemisphere travel initiative whti. Jun 04, 2010 sample cards showing key features and hologram motion, etc. Enhanced driver s license for international travel. Renewing your bc dl early wont decrease its validity. If you have a valid edl, you can use it until it is expired or needs to be replaced. The province of british columbia and the insurance corporation of british columbia icbc, in cooperation with the canada border services agency cbsa and citizenship and immigration canada cic, are developing an optional enhanced drivers licence edl that will authorize holders to drive and could serve as an alternative to a passport for entry by land or water into the united states. Visit your nearest british columbia driving license office. Upon the expiration of the previous contract with the commonwealths driver license vendor and the issuance of a new contract, penndot has updated the design and enhanced the security features of its driver license and identification card products. Ontario plans to eliminate enhanced drivers licences used at.
Edls are available to canadian citizens residing in british columbia and manitoba, and formerly in ontario and quebec. An enhanced license permit, or non driver id is a new york state dmv issued document that you can use instead of a passport to return to the us by land or sea from canada, mexico and some countries in the caribbean. Except if you have the enhanced drivers licence edl it cant be. An edl is valid for 8 years, the same as a regular nys drivers license. The alberta government has rolled out a new design for drivers licences and identification cards.
Electronic communication devices makes it a class c felony to intentionally read, capture, or possess information from a persons enhanced driver license id card without that persons knowledge or consent. Applying for an enhanced drivers license over 18, already licensed the enhanced drivers license is a costeffective and convenient document that meets driving, identification and bordercrossing needs. Sample cards showing key features and hologram motion, etc. This license acts as a substitute for passports when entering into the us via land or water you still require a passport at the airport. This is a card under the western hemisphere travel initiative whti that has security features and technology that make travel a lot easier and safer. The enhanced drivers license edl is a special drivers license that allows michigan motorists to cross into the u. The real id, or real id, was created in 2005 to increase federal security measures after the terrorist attacks on sept. Enhanced drivers licence edl and enhanced identification card eic programs this section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by immigration, refugees and citizenship canada staff. Are already enrolled in the medical services plan msp. Enhanced driver license edl what is an enhanced driver license edl. The new bc enhanced driver s licence is now available to those people who would like to travel to the united states and may be used as an alternative to a canadian passport. Enhanced driver s licences are available to canadian citizens residing in british columbia, 11 manitoba, 12 ontario, and formerly quebec.
With it you can enter the united states by land or sea from canada, mexico, or the caribbean without needing any other proof of identification. Ontario plans to eliminate enhanced drivers licences. The processing of enhanced drivers licences and enhanced identification cards has been suspended since it requires facetoface interaction that does meet physical distancing guidelines. An individual that does not understand the privacy and security risks of an enhanced drivers license edl might think, why not get an one so that i can use it to drive and also cross the border. The card activation number was printed on the edleic card activation instruction sheet provided at the time you applied for your edleic card. I want to take a trip to canada in a few months and i dont have a passport, so im deciding between a nexus pass and an edl. The enhanced drivers licence was developed by the ontario government, in consultation with the government of canada and united states government, as a passport alternative for ontarians who are canadian citizens to use when entering the u. You will need a federal compliant card such as a passport, military id, or real id to board a domestic flight or access some federal facilities beginning october 1, 2020. Switching to an enhanced drivers licence is a matter of choice. Jun 06, 2018 the alberta government has rolled out a new design for drivers licences and identification cards. New canadian enhanced drivers licenses for us border entry. An enhanced driver s licence in canadian english, enhanced driver s license edl in u.
Icbc enhanced drivers license edl ive been considering getting an enhanced drivers license, but im not sure if it is worth it. Bc drivers licence and services card province of british. It denotes both identity and citizenship, per the western hemisphere travel initiative. Find out how to replace your enhanced driver license or enhanced id card if its lost or stolen. Regardless of whether you are using a us passport or enhanced drivers license to cross the canadian border, a dui or dwi can make you inadmissible to the country and cause you to be denied entry at the border. Enhanced drivers licences are available to canadian citizens residing in british columbia, 11 manitoba, 12 ontario, and formerly quebec. An enhanced license permit, or nondriver id is a new york state dmv issued document that you can use instead of a passport to return to the us by land or sea from canada, mexico and some countries in the caribbean. These provinces earlier agreed to make available enhanced documents such as a drivers licence or an identification card that meets the requirements of the western hemisphere travel initiative, allowing canadian citizens to use the identification to facilitate land or water travel between canada and the united states us. It is a federally approved document that allows you to reenter the u. The expiry date is on the front of your edl other travel documents. Drivers license chips soon will allow government to track. It, too, serves as a passport alternative when entering the u. May 14, 2019 british columbia and manitoba have enhanced drivers licences, and quebec used to, but phased out the program other provinces rejected the idea because it was too costly or there wasnt. Requirements vary by state, but in all cases you must be a u.
Vancouver canadas first enhanced driver s licences edls will be available in british columbia for use by eligible b. Bc drivers licence and services card province of british columbia. New york dmv get an enhanced driver license edl or real id. English, or enhanced id in other common usage, is a card which functions both as driving licence and id card with limited passport features issued in some provinces in canada, in some states in the united states, and for the people who are both citizens of the country and residents in the relevant region. Fees can be paid by the visa or master or american express debit cards. Enhanced drivers licenses can be used for domestic u. As a measure to help protect against counterfeitin g, fraud and identity theft, penndot makes periodic improvements to its products and processes. No, tampering with or deactivating the rfid tag embedded in. Travel to canada with enhanced drivers license and dui. These cards are made for crossing cross the border faster. The new design includes updated security features such as clear windows, laser engraving and 3d. The new bc enhanced drivers licence is now available to those people who would like to travel to the united states and may be used as an alternative to a canadian. In arkansas, getting an enhanced id drivers license.
British columbia drivers license online renewal process. Mar 24, 2020 the real id, or real id, was created in 2005 to increase federal security measures after the terrorist attacks on sept. Aug 10, 2012 an enhanced driver license edl works doubleduty as a drivers license and a passport. Which one is easiest to use and the quickest to obtain. The latter are only issued in vermont, new york, michigan and washington, and they also count as real id licenses. Sep 19, 2018 the residents of british columbia holding bc driving license can renew their bc dl before six months i. New alberta drivers licences, id cards with enhanced. It is an optional travel document that also serves as a nys drivers license that will be accepted as an alternative to a passport for all land and sea travel between the united state, canada, mexico, bermuda and the caribbean. British columbians can now extend expiring drivers. Photo by nikki dawes the voluntary enhanced security drivers license has a small white star encircled in yellow. British columbia and manitoba have enhanced drivers licences, and quebec used to, but phased out the program other provinces rejected the idea because it was too costly or there wasnt enough.
British columbia and manitoba have enhanced drivers licences, and quebec used to, but phased out the program other provinces rejected the idea because it was too costly or there wasnt. The residents of british columbia holding bc driving license can renew their bc dl before six months i. Convenient walletsized alternative to a passport for travel into the u. Sponsored links apply for british columbia enhanced driverslicense or enhanced id card or bcid online. Stateissued enhanced drivers licenses edls provide proof of identity and u. Sos applying for an enhanced drivers license over 18. The enhanced drivers licence edl was a travel document that acted as proof of identity and citizenship when traveling to the united states by road or water. Enhanced drivers license this is a drivers license that can also be used as a crossborder travel document to enter the u. Apply for an enhanced licence, enhanced id card or bcid.
Enhanced drivers licence edl and enhanced identification. The enhanced drivers license is a costeffective and convenient document that meets driving, identification and bordercrossing needs. Aug 02, 2009 nexus pass or enhanced driver s license. A fee is charged for a normal drivers license or b. Current enhanced drivers license drivers licence plus. You may apply for other travel documents, such as a. British columbians can now extend expiring drivers licence over the. Its convenient, inexpensive and gives you access to a faster ready lane at certain border crossing points. Changing to an enhanced drivers licence is completely voluntary. Comparisons for nexus, edls enhanced drivers licence, and eids enhanced identification card. Sep 09, 20 an individual that does not understand the privacy and security risks of an enhanced drivers license edl might think, why not get an one so that i can use it to drive and also cross the border. If you dont drive, you can instead apply for an enhanced id eid.
What im a bit more worried about is the bc services card which has your care card number written on the back. In arkansas, getting an enhanced id drivers license requires. The processing of enhanced drivers licences and enhanced. Ontario plans to eliminate enhanced drivers licences used. Mar 24, 2020 the processing of enhanced drivers licences and enhanced identification cards has been suspended since it requires facetoface interaction that does meet physical distancing guidelines. Renew british columbia drivers license online renewal form. Aug 10, 2012 applying for an enhanced driver license or enhanced id is on a voluntary basis. See how to update your address or name on your enhanced driver license id card. Enhanced drivers licence enhanced identification card. Learn more about enhanced driver licenses and enhanced id cards.
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