Beware: New US entry requirements

Instead, you'll have to present a WHTI-compliant document when you cross the border. So what are your options?

Passport

Best for: People who plan to travel internationally. According to Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT) it's "the only reliable and universally accepted travel and identification document available to Canadians for the purpose of international travel."

In other words, if you've got a passport, you're set to travel just about anywhere -- including the U.S.

Process: It starts by filling out paperwork, gathering your I.D., getting a photo and finding a friend or family member to serve as your guarantor. You can send in your application via courier, registered mail, or submit it through a receiving agent (i.e. designated Canada Post outlet or Service Canada location). You can take your application to your local MP's office and have staff check it over and mail it for you.

If you're worried about mailing your birth certificate -- or want to cut the waiting time in half -- you can go to the nearest Passport Canada office instead. Some provinces only have one or two, so expect some travel time.

Cost: The fee depends on size: 24 page passports cost $87 for adults, $37 for children ages 3 to 15, and $22 for children under 3. The cost for 48 page ones are slightly higher at $92, $39 and $24 respectively. Photos are extra, and there are additional fees for optional services like the $20 fee for Canada Post Receiving Agents, or "Express" or "Urgent" processing service ($30 and $70 respectively).