Michigan is one of four states that issues enhanced driver's licenses to residents, as of 2010. An EDL is a regular driver's license with a chip placed inside of it that reports all of the information you find on a regular passport to border crossing agents at land and sea border crossings. EDLs are convenient to travelers that frequently cross the U.S. and Canadian border by car or boat.
Passport cards are similar to EDLs, with the exception of being available to residents of any state in the U.S., rather than to just the four states currently issuing EDLs. Passport cards are the size of a driver's license, which makes carrying them around much easier than carrying a passport book. Passport cards are permitted at land and sea crossings in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda. You may not use your passport card if you are flying between Michigan and Canada.
You can apply for a NEXUS card with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency. These cards are given only to travelers who cross the U.S./Canadian border or a regular basis. Special traffic lanes are given to NEXUS card holders at land border crossings. Michigan residents that frequently cross the Canadian border can see if they qualify for a NEXUS card at cbp.gov. NEXUS cards can be used at Canadian airports but are not accepted at U.S. airports.
Traditional passports are the only form of documentation that is accepted at all three border crossings for Michigan residents: land, sea and air. Traditional passports are more expensive than their land and sea crossing counterparts, but if you travel by air as much as you travel by land and/or sea, you might find it less expensive to simply apply for a passport rather than a passport and one of the other documents.
