Identification requirements
Remember your ID and travel documents.
You've planned and paid for your trip and you're ready to go - don't let missing travel documents stop your plans short. Each country on your itinerary may have different entrance and exit requirements and all are strictly enforced. It's your responsibility to ensure the documents you use to leave are sufficient to get you back home. If you do not have documentation that will allow entry for you or your children to all countries on your reservation, you will not be allowed to board your flight.
Guests of all ages require identification that matches the name and spelling on their ticket. You are responsible for making sure that you, and any child travelling with you, have the proper identification and travel documentation required to enter or connect through each country on your itinerary. Please consult with the nearest embassy or consulate of each country you plan to visit.
International travel
Guest type | Identification required* *must be presented during boarding at the gate and the name on the ID must match the name on the boarding pass |
Adults, children and infants |
A valid passport is required. A valid (not expired) Nexus card will be accepted for travel to/from the US only. For country-specific information and other important travel issues, contact the nearest embassy, consulate or Travel.gc.ca |
Children travelling with one parent | Consult Travel.gc.ca for information on child custody, consent letters and other documents, as well as the nearest embassy or consulate for the destination you are travelling to as there may be additional documentation required. |
Children travelling as an unaccompanied minor | WestJet does not offer unaccompanied minor service for flights to, through or from the U.S. |
Travel to the Dominican Republic | Canadian citizens travelling to the Dominican Republic require a passport valid for the length of their stay, and hold proof of onward travel for entry. |
Travel to Jamaica | If you are travelling to Jamaica, you must hold a return ticket or proof of onward travel for entry. Baggage allowances into Jamaica are reduced. Please see checked baggage for more information. |
Travel to St. Lucia | You may require a visa to travel to Canada. For more information please see FAQs. |
Travel to Turks & Caicos | If you are travelling to the Turks and Caicos, you must hold a return ticket or proof of onward travel for entry. |
Lost or stolen passports
If your passport has been lost or stolen, contact the consulate/embassy of your issuing country immediately. Canadians can report a lost or stolen passport to the nearest Canadian embassy or consulate. Passports located or turned in to a WestJet representative will be returned to the originating country.
Passports
We strongly recommend that you apply for a new passport if your current passport is damaged. Guests travelling with a passport that is damaged in any way could face significant delays and may be denied boarding.
Requirements of government authorities
As mentioned in the WestJet Privacy Policy, we are required to collect personal information by government authorities in the U.S., Canada and other countries, and that information may be disclosed to those authorities without your knowledge or consent as required by law. It is the policy of WestJet to only collect and disclose what is required by law, and nothing further.
Transit without Visa Program
WestJet is a member of the Canadian Transit without Visa Program for guests entering Canada through Vancouver International Airport only. This program allows Chinese, Indonesian, Thai and Filipino nationals to travel Visa exempt with WestJet from the U.S. to Vancouver and connect to another flight departing Canada. Chinese, Indonesian, Thai and Filipino nationals must have a Temporary Resident Visa to enter Canada via any other city and connect to another flight departing Canada. Please view the Government of Canada website for more information.
Travel to Canada - Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
Canada has introduced a new entry requirement, known as an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). If you are a foreign traveller and you do not require a visa to travel to Canada, you're expected to apply online for an eTA before travelling to Canada by air; exceptions include U.S. citizens and travellers with a valid Canadian visa. Canadian citizens, including dual citizens, and Canadian permanent residents cannot apply for an eTA.
The application process is affordable, doesn’t take long to complete, and in most cases the eTA will be granted within minutes of applying. To apply and find out more, visit Canada.ca/eTA.
If you are a Canadian Permanent resident travelling to Canada, please ensure you are travelling with a valid Canadian permanent resident card or permanent resident travel document. Failure to present a valid Canadian permanent resident card or permanent resident travel document may result in delays in travel. To find out more, visit Canada.ca/eTA.
Travel to, from or over the U.S.
Airlines are required to submit specific information to the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for all guests travelling to, from or over the continental U.S. (excluding flights between two Canadian locations). The following information must be submitted 72 hours before travel or at the time of booking for bookings made less than 72 hours before flight departure:
- name (as it appears on the government-issued ID that will be used when travelling)
- date of birth
- gender
- redress number (if applicable)
- known traveller number (if applicable)
For more information, please refer to the TSA's website regarding the Secure Flight Program.
U.S. Customs and Border Protections (CBP)
U.S. CBP is required to collect the following information from persons entering the U.S.:
- Full name
- Gender
- Date of birth
- Citizenship
- Passport number
- Passport country of issuance
- Passport expiration date
- Country of residence
- Your address while in the U.S.
Note: Address information is not required of U.S. citizens and legal U.S. Permanent Residents (who must provide their alien registration number).
TSA Pre✔®
- is an expedited security screening program that connects travellers departing from specific airports within the U.S. with smarter security and a better travel experience. TSA Pre✔® helps take the stress out of travel with no need to remove shoes, laptops, liquids, belts or light jackets.
- uses a risk-based, intelligence-driven approach to provide the most effective security in the most efficient way.
- travellers who have passed the TSA Pre✔®/ NEXUS or Global Entry vetting requirements become trusted travellers and receive expedited security screening.
With TSA Pre✔®
- dedicated security lane
- expedited airport security screening
- no removal of belts, shoes, light jackets, bag of liquids, gels and aerosols (100 ml limit) from carry-on, laptops
Guests with TSA Pre✔®
To obtain a boarding pass with TSA Pre✔®, please enter your Known Traveler Number (KTN) during web, mobile, kiosk check-in or at a WestJet guest assistance counter at the U.S. departure station. If eligible, you will receive the TSA Pre✔® indicator on your boarding pass and you can head straight to the TSA Pre✔® security checkpoint.
Guest type | Identification required* *must be presented during boarding at the gate and the name on the ID must match the name on the boarding pass |
Adults, children and infants | WestJet requires a valid passport or NEXUS card |
Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) | Non-Canadian visitors from Visa Waiver countries. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security requires an online application be completed for travel authorization prior to travel to the U.S. |
Children travelling with one parent | Consult Travel.gc.ca for information on child custody, consent letters and other documentation. |
Children travelling as an unaccompanied minor | WestJet does not offer unaccompanied minor service for international travel. |
Travel within Canada
Guest type | Identification required* Must be presented during boarding at the gate and the name on the ID must match the name on the boarding pass. Also, Transport Canada requires every guest 18 years of age and older to present original identification to board a domestic flight. A photocopy is NOT accepted. |
Adults 18 years of age or older | One piece of valid (not expired) government-issued1 photo ID that includes name, date of birth and gender.(1) OR Two pieces of valid (not expired) government-issued2 non-photo ID (one of which must show name, date of birth and gender). The names on the two pieces of ID must match. If the last names do not match due to a name change, the guest must present a marriage certificate or legal change of name certificate to verify the change.(2) Expired, accreditation documents e.g. "tradesman certificate" will not be accepted for travel. |
Infants (under two years of age) | Proof of age required* (a photocopy is acceptable) *If you do not have proof of age, you will be required to purchase a seat for your child. The purchase price for the seat will be fully refunded if proof of age is provided to WestJet within 7 days of the flight having been completed. |
Children | All children must be accompanied by an adult on WestJet operated flights until they reach their twelfth birthday unless they travel as an unaccompanied minor. We strongly recommend that all children travel with one piece of government-issued identification. The age to travel alone may differ if your child is travelling on a code-share flight. Please review the other airline's guidelines for restrictions. |
Children travelling with one parent | Consult Travel.gc.ca for information on child custody, consent letters and other documentation as additional information may be required if you are planning onward travel to the U.S. or another country. |
Children travelling alone (12 to 17 years of age) | Your child may be denied boarding if they appear to be less than 12 years of age and are not able to present proof of age. |
Children travelling as an unaccompanied minor (see age restrictions) |
A photocopy (not the original) of your child's government-issued identification showing their name, gender and date of birth must be presented and sent with your child. Each parent/guardian that is picking up or dropping off a child must also have government-issued identification. |

NEXUS
Avoid long line-ups and save time by using automated self-serve NEXUS kiosks when entering Canada at nine major international airports and U.S. Global Entry kiosks for entry into the U.S.
Valid identification
You are responsible for making sure that your identification is valid and not expired. Please consult with the nearest embassy or consulate of each country you plan to visit for entry requirements.
Our airline partners
WestJet is excited to connect our guests to the world as well as welcoming new guests from around the globe by growing our network of code-share and interline partners.
Legal, Restrictions and terms and conditions
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- Alberta Registries - Identification Card
- BC Enhanced Identity Card, BCID, BC Services Card
- Canadian Certificate of Identity
- Canadian Citizenship Card
- Canadian Emergency Travel Document
- Canadian Military Identification
- Canadian Permanent Residence document
- Canadian Refugee Claimant Document ###
- Certificate of Indian Status
- Citizenship and Immigration Canada Single Journey Travel Document
- Department of Community Government and Transportation of the Territory of Nunavut - General Identification Card
- Department of Government Services and Lands of the Province of NFLD - Identification Card
- Department of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations - Identification Card
- Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal of the Province of PEI - Voluntary ID
- Department of Transportation of the NWT Temporary Driver’s Licence##/General Identification Card
- Driver's Licence (including enhanced)* issued by any Province, State or Country
- Firearms Licence
- Health Card
- Incarceration Form/ID**
- Insurance Corporation of British Columbia - Enhanced Identity Card
- Laissez-Passer
- Manitoba Public Insurance Identification Card
- Nexus card (not expired)
- Ontario Photo Card
- Passport***
- Permanent Resident Card
- Restricted Area Identity Card (RAIC)
- Saskatchewan Government Insurance - Identity Card
- Seafarer Certificate
- Service New Brunswick - Photo ID Card
- Transport Canada Aviation Document Booklet
- Travel Visa (within Passport)
- Trusted Traveller Card (NEXUS, Global Entry, SENTRI, FAST)
- U.S. Passport Card
- Yukon General Identification Card
*If the driver's licence is expired but accompanied with a paper temporary extension, it is considered valid and accepted for travel.
**If the incarceration form/ID does not contain a photo, a supplementary document must be presented with it.
***If the issuing country cuts the corner off or punches a hole through a passport before it expires, it can only be used as photo ID to board a domestic flight, not for non-domestic travel.
##A NWT Temporary Driver’s licence is accepted as a single form of valid photo ID.
###When used for travel within Canada, the "not valid for travel" caveat is not applicable.
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- Birth Certificate
- Canadian Citizenship Certificate
- Canadian Military ID*
- Federal Police**
- Government Employee ID*
- Health Card (Including BC Care Card)
- Industry Canada Certificate of Proficiency in Radio
- Old Age Security (OAS) Card
- Pleasure Craft Operator Card
- Provincial Hunting/Fishing Identification (if government-issued)
- Provincial Investigative/Security Services Licence
- Record of Landing Form
- Social Insurance Number (SIN) card***
- Study Permit
- Temporary Driver's Licence or Identification Card****
- Visitor Record
- Work Permit
*Canadian military identification that does not contain gender or expiry date can only be used as a second piece of ID to support a non-photo ID containing name, date of birth and gender.
**Federal Police and Government Employee ID can only be used as a second piece of ID to support a non-photo ID containing name, date of birth and gender.
***A SIN letter is not accepted. A SIN card stating "Not valid as identification" is not accepted.
****Any interim/temporary driver's licence with a note stating it is not accepted/recommended/valid as identification or for travel is not accepted, even as a supplementary piece of ID.