EDL is for travel to Mexico,
Canada and the Caribbean

Beginning September 16, Wayne County residents will have more options for obtaining identification documents to cross the Canadian Border.

The Department of Motor Vehicles will begin to issue the Enhanced Drivers License or EDL.

Two years ago the United States Department of Homeland Security set a deadline for increasing the identification requirements for cross border traffic. As of June 2009, a passport, passport card or other approved document will required to travel by land and sea between Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda.

The Enhanced Drivers License is New York States contribution to this need. The EDL is a New York State Drivers license that will incorporate a number of additional security features required by the Department of Homeland Security.

For an additional fee of $30 and additional document requirements, NY residents may apply for the EDL. If a license or ID holder would like the EDL prior to the renewal date of their license they can obtain an EDL for the balance of their current drivers license. The EDL will be good for the same period as the drivers license; eight years.

The additional options for border crossing after June of 2009 are the Passport and Passport card. Those documents have similar document requirements and a fee of $100 and $45 respectively. The traditional passport book and passport card are both valid for 10 years.

For additional information, visit www.co.wayne.ny.us, the U.S. Department of State at www.travel.state.gov/passport or the Dept. of Motor vehicles at www.nysdmv.state.ny.us

If you have questions, call Mike Jankowski at 946.7490 or email mjankowski@co.wayne.ny.us

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