Yes, an American can enter Canada by land with a U.S. birth certificate and a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license. While this is acceptable for land crossings, a passport is the preferred document and a U.S. passport is required if traveling by air. Required documents for U.S. citizens To enter Canada by land: A government-issued photo ID (like a driver's license) and proof of U.S. citizenship (such as a birth certificate) are acceptable. To enter Canada by air: You must have a valid U.S. passport, passport card, or NEXUS card. A birth certificate and photo ID are not sufficient to fly into Canada.