Is a birth certificate and an ID card good enough for Americans to?
Birth certificates can only be used by children under age 16 (so 15 and younger), who are US citizens. This applies only to land/sea travel, and not via air. Minors under 16 can cross with an original, certified Birth Certificate, CRBA, or Certificate of Naturalization if they are with both parents, or have a signed statement by the absent parent(s) approving international travel. While passports are the most common option, they are not the only item that can be used to cross the US border. Any of these are valid for cross-border travel by Americans: US Passport Books (adults $110/10 years, or for children age 15 and younger, $80/5 years). US Passport Cards valid [only] for land and sea travel to Canada, Mexico, and a couple places in the Caribbean ($30/10 years for adults, $15/5 years for children). No international air travel whatsoever. Enhanced Driver Licenses (EDLs) and Identification Cards offered in WA, MN, MI, NY, and VT (and in Canada; BC, MB, and ON as Enhanced Provincial Licenses) for land travel between US and Canada only. Trusted Traveler Cards, which include: Global Entry (for US, Canadian, Mexican citizens, and some other countries) $100/5 years, requires a background check and in-person interview. NEXUS (for US or Canadian citizens) $50/5 years, also requires a background check and interview at cities along the Canadian border includes all benefits of Global Entry, plus skips Canadian TSA and customs at Canadian airports. SENTRI (for US or Mexican citizens) $122.25/5 years, similar as NEXUS, but only provides express lanes at Canadian and Mexican border also must interview at cities along the Mexican border (Also of note) All three cards include TSA PreCheck (shorter airport security lines); expedited customs when flying into the US; and dedicated express lanes when driving into the US from Canada or Mexico Enhanced Tribal ID, or I-872 American Indian Card, or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) Card US Military ID, with orders US Merchant Mariner Document For foreign residents, Permanent Resident Cards / Green Cards, along with foreign passport.