On April 2, 2024, the Canadian government announced an increase in NEXUS membership fees from US$50 to US$120, effective October 1, 2024, subject to U.S. and Canadian approval of these regulatory changes. With fees unchanged for 20 years, this increase will be used to invest in improving the program, its infrastructure and its technology to meet the rising demand of recent years.
All applicants who apply and pay before October 1, 2024 will not have to pay the new fees, even if the interview process has not yet been completed.
We’ll have to wait for these new fees to become official before we know whether certain credit cards will change their NEXUS membership fees.
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 and Global Entry have pre-selected their travellers. Thus, the authorities concerned are able to conclude, according to their criteria, that these travellers represented a low risk to the security of both countries. As a result, there’s no need to delay, and these travellers can pass ahead of everyone else.
A third program, CANPASS AIR, has the same function but serves passengers on private or business aircrafts.
The NEXUS program is the result of an agreement between the Canada Border Services Agency and the United States Customs and Border Protection. It therefore only concerns these two countries.
The NEXUS card allows selected travellers to expedite their border crossing on both the Canadian and American sides. And may include TSA Precheck from US airports.
It also works for returns to Canada from any other country.
The NEXUS card is valid for five years, expiring on your birthday.
For example, if you are approved on January 2, 2024, and your birthday is May 15, your NEXUS card expiry date is May 15, 2029. Renewals can be made up to one year in advance. Which means you can renew your Nexus card starting on May 15, 2028.
With your NEXUS card, you can also use Global Entry kiosks in the United States.
How can I save time and avoid airport long lines?
First, by using the NEXUS automated declaration kiosks installed in these nine Canadian international airports:
And Global Entry with the NEXUS card, to enter the United States.
Equipped with an IRIS reader, these terminals recognize you and link your biometric data to the security database. You then answer a few questions via the touch screen, and that’s it.
By land, there are dedicated lanes for NEXUS and Global Entry travellers at 20 Canadian border crossings:
Finally, NEXUS is also available by sea, where one telephone call is all it takes to one of the NEXUS marine reporting centers located in over 450 Canadian ports.
Once all the conditions have been met, the process is fairly straightforward (although it can take some time):
You can find all the eligibility criteria on the Government of Canada website.
However, 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.
Since the announcement of the increase in Nexus card membership fees from October 1, 2024, the deadlines have increased significantly to take advantage of the lowest cost!
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.
The application for NEXUS membership is made online through the Trusted Traveller Programs System (TTP). It contains eight sections and ends with the payment of US$50.
To pay this fee in foreign currency, use your no-conversion-fee credit card such as the Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card.
Or, a credit card that credits the account when the application is paid, such as the American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card, which credits up to $100.
In the example below, a request costing US$50 resulted in a cost of CA$69.58. Then, 2 days later, a credit of $69 CAD automatically appeared. You don’t need to do anything else to get your money back.
Before completing the application form, please have your documents and certain information ready, such as :
Once you’ve submitted the form, the authorities will get back to you within a few weeks or 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 see the calendar with available dates, locations and time slots.
Interviews with Canadian and U.S. customs officials are now conducted separately. Nexus interviews can be conducted at many airports and land borders.
At the land border, make an appointment with U.S. Customs. You’ll have to go through the U.S. customs interview, and then return to Canada for the Canadian customs interview (no appointment necessary).
At the airport, synchronize your interview with a future trip to the U.S., as you’ll need to pass through security. Make an appointment with the Canadian side, then ask to make an appointment with U.S. customs (no appointment necessary) when you go through pre-clearance. Allow an extra hour or two at the airport, as waiting times can be long.
Remember that travellers must complete the same type of interview, for both interviewers. You must have 2 interviews at a land customs center or 2 interviews at eligible airports. A mix of the two is not accepted.
There are also 14 land-based enrollment centers in the U.S. where you can do a joint interview, with Canadian and U.S. customs officials, at the same time. But don’t count on this option too much, as negotiations are still ongoing between the two countries on legal grounds.
If they are available one day, you’ll see these locations in the calendar.
When you are summoned, they will ask to see some of your proof of citizenship or permanent residency.
Then they’ll take a digital photograph of your face, which will be used for the NEXUS card. Fingerprints will also be required (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.
If you don’t have these credit cards, you should know that this expense is made in American dollars. It’s a good idea to use a credit card with no conversion fees, of which there are 2 in Canada:
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.
The Canadian traveller is well advised to enrol in the NEXUS program, which includes the other two programs and is also less expensive.
The NEXUS program is a “fast track” through customs, making it easier for Canadian and U.S. travellers to cross the Canada-U.S. border by sea, land or air.
A special line is set up for them at several airports as well as land and sea borders, to get ahead of everyone else.
To register for the Nexus program, you will need to pay US$50 online. This amount is non-refundable. Your application may be denied if you do not meet the eligibility criteria.
From the time you submit your application to the time they validate your file and receive your Nexus card, the process takes approximately 3 to 4 months as of November 2023.
Here are the steps to obtain a Nexus card:
Citizens and permanent residents of Canada and the United States may apply for a NEXUS card under certain conditions:
Many credit cards in Canada cover the NEXUS membership fee. These include:
Nexus cards can be renewed from one year before the card expires.
For example, if the Nexus card has an expiry date of July 1, 2027, the person can renew it from July 1, 2026.
Savings are here:
