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Do you travel frequently between Canada and the United States? The NEXUS program allows you to cross the border faster and avoid long lines. With this membership, pre-approved travelers benefit from expedited processing at land, sea, and air ports of entry. In this guide, we explain how to get the card, the fees, the enrollment process, and the exclusive benefits for cardholders. You’ll know everything you need to know to optimize your travel experience.
Programs: NEXUS and Global Entry make it easier for Canadian and American travellers to cross the borders of both countries. These self-service programs speed up customs formalities by sea, land or air.
NEXUS is a joint program of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This allows travelers pre-approved by both countries to benefit from an expedited entry process when traveling.
After a thorough background check, both governments classify you as a trusted, “low-risk” traveller. This means priority access, dedicated express lanes, and quick crossings… no more border queues!
At airports, you no longer need to remove your laptop, electronic devices, or liquids from your carry-on bag, and you don’t have to take off your shoes, belt, or certain outerwear when going through security.
At borders, ensure that all members of your group have a NEXUS card, including children and infants. If you attempt to include someone who does not have a NEXUS card in a NEXUS lane, it may result in the cancellation of your NEXUS card.
The NEXUS card is valid for five years, until your birthday.
For example, if you are approved on January 2, 2026, and your birthday is May 15, your NEXUS card expiration date is May 15, 2031. Renewals can be made up to one year in advance. Therefore, you can renew your Nexus card starting from May 15, 2030.
Before going through security, look for the sign with the yellow NEXUS logo to join the express lane. With NEXUS, you can make this often tedious step much easier by keeping everything in your carry-on bag.
Next, when you proceed to cross-border customs (pre-clearance), scan your NEXUS card at the automated NEXUS declaration kiosks installed in these nine Canadian international airports:
And Global Entry kiosks with the NEXUS card, for entry into the United States.
You’ll then answer a few questions at the kiosks and with the border services officer. You can also take advantage of TSA PreCheck lanes in the United States when available (Transport Security Administration).
When you check in 24 hours in advance for your flight to or from the United States, enter your NEXUS card number in the designated field. This will give you access to the TSA PreCheck express lanes, as shown on the boarding pass below.
By land, there are dedicated lanes for travellers who are members of the NEXUS and Global Entry programs at several Canadian border crossings:
Finally, the NEXUS program can also be used for marine travel. A simple phone call to one of the marine reporting centres, located at over 450 Canadian ports, is all it takes.
When you meet all the requirements, the process is fairly straightforward, although wait times can sometimes be a bit long:
You can find all the eligibility criteria on the Government of Canada website.
However, note that you must have been a citizen or permanent resident of Canada or the United States for at least three years. Mexican nationals participating in the Viajero Confiable program are also eligible.
In addition, you will need to have a clean criminal history.
You will need to provide proof of citizenship or permanent residency:
Then other documents proving your place of residence such as:
They will also be requested during the interview with U.S. and Canadian customs.
Applications to join the NEXUS program are made online on the Trusted Traveler Programs System (TTP) website. It contains several sections and ends with the payment of US$120.
To pay this fee in a foreign currency, use a no foreign transaction fee credit card such as the Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card.
Or, a credit card that provides a statement credit when paying for the application with that card, such as the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card which gives a credit of up to CAD 100 or the CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite* Card which gives a credit of CAD 160.
Thus, an application costing USD 120 translates to a cost of approximately CAD 165. Then, 2 days later, a credit for NEXUS automatically appears. There is no need to do anything else to receive the refund.
Here is an example of a refund when the membership fee was USD 50.
Before completing the application form, please have your documents and certain information ready, such as:
After submitting the form, the authorities will respond to you. Processing times vary greatly (from a few weeks to several months). If your application is accepted, you will then be invited to the final stage: the interviews.
After conditional approval, go to your profile and click on “Schedule an interview” to view available dates, locations and time slots.
Interviews with Canadian and American customs officers are conducted separately and may take place at several airports or land border crossings.
At the land border, make an appointment with U.S. Customs. After the American interview, return immediately to Canada for the interview with Canadian customs officers, which does not require an appointment.
At the airport, time your interview with a future trip to the United States to ensure you go through security. Start with the Canadian interview, then complete the interview with U.S. customs officers during pre-clearance. Allow an extra one to two hours, as wait times can be long and agents may be unavailable during peak hours.
The two interviews must be of the same type: either two interviews at land posts, or two at the airport. A mix of the two is not accepted.
There were several land enrollment centers in the United States where you could have a joint interview with both Canadian and U.S. customs officers at the same time. However, this option is no longer available, as negotiations are still ongoing between the two countries for legal reasons.
During the interview, you will need to present proof of citizenship or permanent residency. A digital photograph of your face will be taken for your NEXUS card, and your fingerprints will be recorded, except for children.
Some credit cards offer a refund of the NEXUS membership fee every 48 months.
Take these credit cards, for example:
In addition, they often have generous welcome bonuses.
Simply charge your Nexus membership payment to one of the credit cards above. You will see the credit appear automatically after 3-4 days.
If you do not have these credit cards, please note that this expense is in U.S. dollars. It will then be useful to use a credit card with no foreign transaction fees; here are 2 available in Canada:
With these, you will save the additional 2.5% on foreign transaction fees.
Global Entry is an American initiative aimed at their citizens. Like NEXUS, it allows pre-screened travellers to quickly clear customs upon arrival in the United States. And it includes TSA Precheck for departures from US airports.
Canadian travellers benefit from enrolling in the NEXUS program, which encompasses the other two and costs the same.
Getting a NEXUS card is an excellent investment for frequent travelers. Furthermore, some credit cards reimburse the membership fee, making the experience even more advantageous. By planning your registration properly and understanding the eligibility criteria, you’ll fully benefit from the advantages of fast-track border crossings. This will make your travels smoother and less stressful, whether for business or leisure.
It is a program that speeds up border crossings between Canada and the United States for pre-approved travelers.
Registration for the Nexus program costs US$120, payable online and non-refundable. Your application may be refused if you do not meet the eligibility criteria.
To obtain a Nexus card: apply and pay the fee, wait for conditional approval (a few weeks to several months), make an appointment at the airport or land border, go through the interview with US and Canadian customs officers, then receive and activate your card (4 to 6 weeks).
The process usually takes 3 to 4 months, from application to receipt of the card. Depending on the situation, it can take up to 9 months.
You can renew your Nexus card up to one year before it expires. For example, if it expires on July 1, 2027, you can renew it as early as July 1, 2026. Log in to the Trusted Traveler Program (TTP) website, select “Renew,” and follow the instructions.
Savings are here (if you don’t see the sign-up form, please click here):
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