The B.C. EDL is both a licence to drive as well as an acceptable document for entry from Canada into the United States by land and water only.
An enhanced driver's licence contains the same information as your current driver's licence, with additional features such as:
The objective of the B.C. EDL program is to introduce a secure and commonly-held document for British Columbians that allows for more convenient and spontaneous travel to the U.S. by land and water.
The United States Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) requires all travelers, including Canadian and U.S. citizens, to present a passport or other approved documents that confirm identity and citizenship when entering the U.S.
B.C.'s EDL meets these requirements and is an acceptable travel document for entry from Canada into the U.S. by land and water. Passports are still required to enter the U.S. by air. More information about the U.S. WHTI requirements is available on the Canada Border Services Agency's website.
Limiting the number of EDLs in Phase 1 allows the governments of British Columbia and Canada to test the effectiveness of the EDL program, to ensure all citizenship, privacy, and security requirements of the Canadian and U.S. governments are met, and to gather feedback from participants and the various agencies involved before it expands to more people — eventually all Canadian citizens resident in British Columbia.
Once we assess the results of Phase 1, develop the necessary systems for a larger roll-out and train additional staff, we will look to expand the program — eventually to include all Canadian citizens residing in B.C. We anticipate launching the full EDL program in Spring 2009.
