Canadians traveling to the Dominican Republic booking direct flights can continue to do so using an original birth certificate and accepted photo ID card. But Canadians, like US citizens, may have problems boarding a flight from Canada to the DR if they will be making transit in the United States and do not have a passport. The US Western Travel Initiative requires all travelers entering the United States from the Dominican Republic to have a valid passport, including US citizens. The passport requirement comes into effect as of 23 January 2007, but airlines may require the passport earlier than the cut-off date.