NEXUS is a joint Canada–United States program designed to cut back wait instances and probably eradicate among the problem at border crossings and airport safety strains in each international locations.
With some upfront leg work and a little bit of endurance, a five-year membership with NEXUS is effectively well worth the effort for frequent travellers.
Let’s look into the numerous advantages of enrolling in NEXUS, together with how to enroll, which bank cards supply NEXUS rebates, and why each eligible traveller ought to have a NEXUS card of their pockets.
What Is NEXUS?
NEXUS is a program for Canadians and People that pre-approves low-risk travellers for cross-border entry.
Those that enroll in this system will profit by getting into the international locations with larger ease through the use of automated self-serve kiosks and passing via separate border strains.
This system affords advantages to NEXUS cardholders who’re getting into Canada or the US by air, land, and sea.
Coming into Canada by Air
NEXUS cardholders can bypass probably lengthy safety strains by going on to NEXUS self-serve kiosks or NEXUS eGates after touchdown in Canada from exterior the nation.
Skipping probably lengthy strains applies to travellers getting into into Canada from wherever on this planet, not solely from the USA.
There are 9 Canadian airports geared up with NEXUS kiosks or eGates in Canada, situated on the following airports:
Whereas functioning nearly precisely the identical as a daily non-NEXUS arrival kiosk, NEXUS kiosks and eGates don’t require you to fill out the tedious E311 Declaration Card, required of all different passengers.
NEXUS cardholders travelling with non-NEXUS cardholders must use the NEXUS kiosk or eGate individually, as they’re not allowed to deliver a non-NEXUS companion via with them.
Whereas anybody with one thing to declare continues to be ready to make use of the NEXUS kiosks or eGates, they must communicate with an officer after utilizing a kiosk or eGate. In the meantime, these with over $10,000 price of forex and financial devices to declare can’t use NEXUS kiosks or eGates and should use the common gates.
CATSA/ACSTA Verified Traveller Line
The Verified Traveller line is a really sturdy NEXUS profit for these flying domestically inside Canada.
To not be confused with the “Trusted Vacationers Program,” a US program of which NEXUS is part, the CATSA/ACSTA Verified Traveller line permits NEXUS cardholders, army members, and flight crew an easier and sooner safety screening in Canadian airports.
NEXUS members are in a position to bypass the common screening line, and as an alternative be part of the Verified Traveller line.
Eligible travellers have a streamlined expertise, and will maintain their footwear, belts, and lightweight jackets on, maintain small objects of their pockets, and go away compliant liquids, aerosols, and gels of their carry-on luggage.
NEXUS cardholders aren’t required to take away any laptops from their carry-on (besides on transborder flights to the US), and should nonetheless move via X-ray screening.
The place Verified Traveller screening strains will not be out there, those that would have in any other case benefited will nonetheless obtain front-of-the-line service, however should comply with common screening procedures.
For home and worldwide flights, co-travellers 17 years or youthful, in addition to 75 years and older, might accompany anybody who’s eligible for Verified Traveller entry. For transborder flights, any co-traveller might accompany you, no matter age.
Coming into the US by Air
Just like NEXUS cardholders getting into Canada, these getting into the US may additionally bypass probably lengthy strains.
That’s as a result of your NEXUS card additionally gives entry to World Entry, which permits expedited entry upon getting into the US by air.
Whether or not you’re getting into the US by way of Canadian pre-clearance places or from one other worldwide vacation spot, you’ll use World Entry kiosks, that are similar to NEXUS kiosks.
We’ll talk about extra in regards to the varied similarities and variations between NEXUS and World Entry under.
TSA PreCheck
As an extra profit, as a result of NEXUS confers World Entry advantages, because of this all NEXUS members routinely get entry to TSA PreCheck.
Presently out there at greater than 200 airports throughout the US with greater than 90 airways taking part in this system, TSA PreCheck permits for additional advantages for travellers flying out of the taking part US airports to any home or worldwide location.
TSA PreCheck advantages embrace using TSA PreCheck “quick lanes” the place relevant. Moreover, and positively of nice profit to frequent flyers, members don’t have to take away footwear, belts, allowable liquids, laptops, or gentle jackets whereas going via screening at safety.
Notice that TSA PreCheck is strictly restricted to departures out of US airports. It isn’t relevant to travellers leaving from or arriving at a Canadian airport.
Not like the NEXUS program, kids aged 12 and youthful might use the TSA PreCheck profit whereas travelling with an eligible dad or mum or guardian.
Youngsters aged 13 to 17, who do not need TSA PreCheck, might discover it indicated on their boarding move if they’re on the identical reservation as a dad or mum or guardian who’s a member of this system. In any other case, they might not be eligible for TSA PreCheck advantages.
To get pleasure from TSA PreCheck advantages, all it’s a must to do is enter your NEXUS card quantity, referred to as your “PASS ID quantity,” as your “Recognized Traveller Quantity” while you make your subsequent flight reservation. This nine-digit quantity is situated on the again of your NEXUS card.
Once you obtain your boarding move, written on it can some type of a TSA PreCheck indicator. It is available in varied varieties, comparable to TSAPRECHK, TSA PRE, or TSA PreCheck®. Any of those grants you the complete TSA PreCheck advantages.
Coming into Canada and the US by Land
NEXUS members crossing the Canada–US border by land might use devoted NEXUS lanes with the intention to skip the longer strains within the common lanes.
There are 18 Canada–U.S. border crossings with designated NEXUS lanes. Not all have NEXUS lanes on either side of the borders.
Extra data, together with the hours of operation and short-term closures, might be discovered on the CBSA web site.
There are a number of necessary exceptions to be conscious of when attempting to make use of a NEXUS lane along with your NEXUS card:
- Just like getting into Canada by air, these travelling with $10,000 or extra can’t use the NEXUS lane whereas getting into Canada.
- Travellers getting into the US who’re over their private exemption or entitlement can’t use the designated NEXUS lane.
- These travelling with non-NEXUS cardholders can’t use the NEXUS lane, regardless of the age of or relation to the opposite passenger(s).
- Travellers getting into Canada with business items can’t use the NEXUS lane.
- These travelling into Canada with restricted, managed, prohibited, or allow required items (comparable to firearms) can’t use the NEXUS lane.
Those that regularly cross the Whirlpool Rapids Bridge between Niagara Falls, Ontario and Niagara Falls, New York, with their NEXUS card might must take further steps with the intention to mix their required toll account with their NEXUS account.
Coming into Canada and the US by Sea
Whereas not as regularly used as air and land border crossings, NEXUS cardmembers have particular advantages associated to reporting procedures if getting into Canada or the US by sea at over 400 marine websites.
Once more, this profit is simply relevant if all individuals on board are NEXUS members, and isn’t relevant to these carrying over $10,000 in forex.
For extra particular steps round utilizing these reporting advantages, confer with the Canada Border Companies Company web site.
What’s the Distinction Between NEXUS and World Entry?
NEXUS and World Entry are each part of the Trusted Traveler Program by the US Division of Homeland Safety. NEXUS is a joint Canada–US program, whereas World Entry is a US program solely.
NEXUS will get you World Entry advantages, however not the opposite method round. NEXUS members can use World Entry kiosks when getting into the US, however World Entry members can’t use NEXUS kiosks when getting into Canada.
Youngsters underneath the age of 18 can apply for a NEXUS membership without cost, whereas there is no such thing as a related low cost provided to World Entry candidates.
World Entry kiosks can be found at 77 airports each within the US and internationally. Which means that NEXUS and World Entry members even have expedited entry advantages in different international locations exterior of Canada and the US, together with at:
- Abu Dhabi Worldwide Airport (AUH)
- Aruba – Queen Beatrix Worldwide Airport (AUA)
- Bermuda Worldwide Airport (BDA)
- Dublin Airport (DUB)
- Grand Bahamas Worldwide Airport (FPO)
- Nassau – Sir Lynden Pindling Worldwide Airport, Bahamas (NAS)
Each packages have related software processes that require you to fulfill with somebody at an enrollment centre.
Moreover, each packages grant the aforementioned advantages of TSA PreCheck and the CATSA/ACSTA Trusted Traveller packages.
How you can Signal Up for NEXUS
Eligibility
NEXUS membership is simply out there to residents or everlasting residents of Canada or the USA, in addition to Mexican nationals a part of the Viajero Confiable program.
Everlasting residents of both nation should have lived as authorized residents for at the least three years earlier than making use of for a NEXUS card. Just a few exceptions are given for these concerned with the armed forces or on diplomatic missions in international international locations.
Candidates should have the ability to enter Canada or the US underneath common circumstances, and candidates convicted of a severe prison offense will not be eligible to affix NEXUS.
Whereas there is no such thing as a age requirement, kids underneath 18 will want both all dad and mom or guardians current or a letter of consent from the dad or mum(s) or guardian(s) not current.
Curiously, whereas kids want further permission for membership, the dad and mom or authorized guardians don’t should be NEXUS members for the kid to change into a member.
Software
All functions for NEXUS playing cards are processed on-line via the Trusted Traveler Program web site. The NEXUS program used to just accept paper functions by mail, however that’s now not the case.
After creating an account and choosing NEXUS, it’s a must to fill out an software, which incorporates quite a lot of private data requiring documentation, comparable to proof of citizenship and proof of residency.
It’s essential to additionally fill in employment historical past, journey historical past, and reply background questions associated to potential earlier prison exercise.
After certifying that all the things is confirmed and true, you’re despatched to a web page to pay the $120 (USD) software payment. All candidates underneath the age of 18 are free.
After making the cost, your software will likely be pending evaluation for conditional approval.
Whereas there’s a banner informing candidates that getting conditionally accepted might take 5 enterprise days, nobody appears to be getting it that shortly.
Some are being accepted after three weeks, whereas others are being informed that processing time will take 12–14 months.
In my expertise, my spouse submitted her software in September 2024 and was conditionally accepted in July 2025. Plus, we submitted an software for our son in March 2025, and he was conditionally accepted in June 2025.
Based mostly on these instances, an grownup can anticipate to attend round 10 months for conditional approval, whereas a toddler could also be accepted sooner.
Interview
Upon being conditionally accepted, you could have 730 days to schedule and full an interview. In case you don’t full the interview throughout this time interval, your software will likely be cancelled with out a refund.
Presently, you could have three choices for finishing your interview:
- A joint interview at a land enrolment centre within the US
- A cut up interview at Canadian and US land enrolment centres
- A two-step interview at taking part Canadian and US airports
Joint Interviews at Land Enrolment Centres
In case you select a land enrolment centre, you’ll have a joint interview with a Canadian CBSA officer and a US CBP officer.
There are at the moment 15 open enrollment centres in the USA to select from:
- Jonesport (Calais) Enrollment Centre, Maine
- Houlton (Woodstock) Enrollment Centre, Maine
- Derby Line Enrollment Centre, Vermont
- Detroit Enrollment Centre, Michigan
- Port Huron Enrollment Centre, Michigan
- Sault Ste. Marie Enrollment Centre, Michigan
- Worldwide Falls Enrollment Centre, Minnesota
- Warroad Enrollment Centre, Minnesota
- Pembina Enrollment Centre, North Dakota
- Sweetgrass NEXUS and FAST Enrollment Centre, Montana
- Alexandria Bay Enrollment Middle, New York
- Champlain Enrollment Centre, New York
- Niagara Falls Enrollment Centre, New York
- Ogdensburg Enrollment Middle, New York
- Blaine NEXUS and FAST Enrollment Centre, Washington
In Canada, you’ll find the next enrolment centres (along with those situated in airports, that are listed under):
- Buffalo-Fort Erie, Ontario Enrollment Middle
- Lansdowne, Ontario Enrollment Middle
You’ll be able to join an appointment on the Division of Homeland Safety web site.
Your finest likelihood at getting a NEXUS appointment at one in all these places is to continuously refresh the web page and hope for a cancellation, though it’s possible you’ll be refreshing for hours. You too can search X (previously Twitter) for bots that comb for out there appointments, though these appointments are likely to disappear shortly.
Enrolment centres which can be farther away from main cities, such because the places in Minnesota, are likely to have extra availability, so you possibly can think about making a visit to hurry up the method.
Break up Interviews at Land Enrolment Centres
In case you select the cut up interview possibility, you’ll do one interview on one aspect of the border, after which the opposite throughout the border.
The second portion of the interview will likely be routinely scheduled for a similar date.
You’ll be able to select to do the cut up interviews on the following land enrolment centre pairings:
- Lansdowne, Ontario / Alexandria Bay, New York
- Fort Erie, Ontario (Peace Bridge) / Buffalo, New York (Peace Bridge)
- Derby Line, Vermont / Stanstead, Quebec
Two-Step Interviews at Collaborating Canadian and US Airports
In case you don’t stay close to any of the land enrolment centres, or for those who plan on visiting the USA, your finest wager is probably going to decide on the two-step interview possibility.
With two-step interviews, you could have one interview at a Canadian airport enrolment centre, after which the second interview both earlier than your subsequent flight at a US pre-clearance location inside a Canadian airport, or enrolment upon arrival within the US.
You’ll have to first schedule an interview at any of the next Canadian airport enrolment centres:
- Halifax Stanfield Worldwide Airport (YHZ)
- Winnipeg Richardson Worldwide Airport (YWG)
- Vancouver Worldwide Airport (YVR)
- Calgary Worldwide Airport (YYC)
- Edmonton Worldwide Airport (YEG)
- Montreal-Trudeau Worldwide Airport (YUL)
- Toronto Pearson Worldwide Airport (YYZ)
- Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier Worldwide Airport (YOW)
Then, as soon as that interview has been accomplished, for those who select to finish the second interview at a US pre-clearance location, you are able to do so on the following ports:
- Halifax Stanfield Worldwide Airport (YHZ)
- Winnipeg Richardson Worldwide Airport (YWG)
- Vancouver Worldwide Airport (YVR)
- Calgary Worldwide Airport (YYC)
- Edmonton Worldwide Airport (YEG)
- Montreal-Trudeau Worldwide Airport (YUL)
- Toronto Pearson Worldwide Airport (YYZ)
- Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier Worldwide Airport (YOW)
- Alaska Marine Freeway System Ferry Terminal (Prince Rupert, British Columbia)
Alternatively, you possibly can full the second interview upon arrival within the US. Extra data might be discovered on the CBP web site.
When you get an appointment, the interview itself is pretty easy. In most conditions, it’s fairly fast.
Through the interview, you’ll be requested about your earlier journey historical past and why you need the NEXUS card. They’ll additionally clarify this system, take your fingerprints, and take your photograph for the cardboard.
After the interview, functions can theoretically be accepted in roughly one or two enterprise days; nevertheless, I’ve heard it may possibly take so long as two weeks for travellers to obtain their NEXUS card within the mail.
Which Credit score Playing cards Provide NEXUS Rebates?
Whereas the $120 (USD) software payment is definitely worthwhile for frequent travellers, there are a number of Canadian- and US-issued bank cards that provide a full or partial reimbursement on NEXUS functions.
Canadian Credit score Playing cards with NEXUS Rebates
It’s price noting that CIBC is the primary Canadian financial institution to supply NEXUS software payment rebates that cowl the complete $120 (USD) software payment, which elevated from $50 (USD) in October 2024. Hopefully, different issuers will take be aware and make will increase, too.
The CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card affords two assertion credit of as much as $200 each 4 years, to fully cowl the NEXUS software charges charged to the cardboard.
In the meantime, the CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite* Card and the CIBC Aventura® Gold Visa* Card every have one $200 assertion credit score each 4 years to offset the NEXUS software payment charged to the playing cards.
CIBC Credit score Playing cards with NEXUS Rebates
The American Specific Aeroplan Reserve Card and American Specific Aeroplan Enterprise Reserve Card supply assertion credit of $100 (CAD) each 4 years to cowl NEXUS software charges charged to the cardboard.
The American Specific Platinum Card and the Enterprise Platinum Card from American Specific supply an announcement credit score of as much as $100 each 4 years for NEXUS software or renewal charges charged to the playing cards.
The American Specific Gold Rewards Card provides one $50 assertion credit score each 4 years to partially cowl the NEXUS software payment charged to the cardboard.
American Specific Credit score Playing cards with NEXUS Rebates
| Credit score Card | Greatest Provide | Worth | |
|---|---|---|---|
200,000 MR factors! $799 annual payment |
200,000 MR factors! | $5,616 |
Apply Now |
180,000 MR factors! $799 annual payment |
180,000 MR factors! | $4,001 |
Apply Now |
As much as 140,000 Aeroplan factors $599 annual payment |
As much as 140,000 Aeroplan factors | $3,680 |
Apply Now |
130,000 Aeroplan factors $599 annual payment |
130,000 Aeroplan factors | $2,682 |
Apply Now |
110,000 MR factors! $250 annual payment |
110,000 MR factors! | $2,270 |
Apply Now |
The TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card and TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card have one assertion credit score as much as a $100 each 4 years to offset the NEXUS software payment charged to the cardboard. As much as three further cardholders additionally obtain a $100 NEXUS credit score each 4 years.
TD Credit score Playing cards with NEXUS Rebates
Conclusion
Except you’re keen on ready in lengthy strains, getting a NEXUS card is a no brainer. That is very true for individuals who have one of many many bank cards that can reimburse you for some or all the software payment.
Whether or not you’ve been a NEXUS cardholder for a few years, or have lately braved the journey south of the border to your interview, you possibly can look ahead to having fun with many time-saving advantages when you lastly obtain your NEXUS card within the mail.
