When traveling to Canada, is a copy of your birth certificate OK?

Do you need your actual birth certificate or is a copy of it OK?
If you live in the US, sorry not to specify. And you're just going up for a few hours.

NO PASSPORT IS NEEDED

I assume you are traveling by land, and before the end of 2007.

Currently you cannot enter Canada via air or ship without a passport. That became true on January 23rd or so 2007. You can still enter Canada with a birth certificate and a government issued photo ID (your drivers' license is fine) until January 1, 2008. However you do have to have an original certified copy of your birth certificate. If the municipality that issued the certificate put a raised seal on it, it is good. If you copied it, it is not.

only original documents are accepted no copy's you will not be allowed to enter Canada with a copy

If your going by air you need a passport, if your driving , you just need to show your drivers licence, but you could bring the copy just in case... my parents make the drive often and never have to bring theirs

Based on the information below, an unofficial copy of a birth certificate will not work, but you should check the website to be sure.

All persons entering Canada by air are required to present a valid U.S. Passport when entering or re-entering the United States. Land and sea travelers are also encouraged to have a valid U.S. passport. If they do not have a passport, they should be prepared to provide a government-issued photo ID (e.g. Driver's License) and proof of U.S. citizenship such as a U.S. birth or naturalization certificate.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1082.html

If you are driving across the boarder, then a photo id would be required (drivers license etc). As of January 2008, you will need a passport to drive across the boarder. Right now, to fly, you need a passport.

a certified photocopy will be fine, as long as you also have a piece of picture id such as a drivers license.

No, a copy is not okay. And original birth certificate is required. (assuming you are coming by land and have the appropriate photo ID)

The reason is that original birth certificates have built in security features. Depending on your state, there are watermarks, "shadow identifier" etc. Under a special light these will show and will be determine as not being counterfeit. A photocopy has none of these things...someone could be pretending to be you. It is all on the side of being cautious.

I cross the border all the time.
If you are just driving up then make sure you have as much ID as possible.They likely will not just accept a copy of your BC.....you need a state ID, drivers license,or passport....until 2008 and then you need a passport! If you have a BC on top of the other photo ID,it may help.
And if you have ANY criminal record-including DUI-they wont let you cross!
have fun.