Benefits of the NEXUS Card and How to Get One for Free

The NEXUS card can be used to cross the border between US and Canada by Canadian citizens who have been pre-screened and considered low-risk individuals. You can benefit from expedited processing through dedicated lanes at the airport, land borders, or marine reporting locations when you have a NEXUS membership card. If you go back and forth between Canada and the U.S. frequently, you will love NEXUS.

Where to use NEXUS?

You can use a NEXUS Card at the airport, land, or marine borders between Canada and the United States. To use the NEXUS card at the airport or land borders, you need to proceed to a designated NEXUS lane or kiosk and show your membership card in front of a card reader or a border officer.

If you have a NEXUS card, you will still need to comply with the necessary screening processes, such as walking through a metal detector and carrying out an x-ray check of your hand luggage at the airport. You may be required to go through additional search procedures when necessary.

Air travel

When you travel by air with a NEXUS card, you can use the automated self-serve kiosks at the airport for an expedited check and clearance. Self-serve NEXUS kiosks are available at 9 major international airports in U.S. soil.

NEXUS members are allowed access to Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) airport security screening lanes at 16 locations and to Transportation Security Administration Pre-Check lines at over 200 participating U.S. airports. You will need to show a valid NEXUS card to pass through the Trusted Traveller CATSA Security Line. 

With your NEXUS card, you will also be able to use Global Entry kiosks in the United States as well as in 8 Canadian airports.

Land travel

Since 2022, you can use the NEXUS card to travel to the US through 16 land border crossings and come back to Canada at 21 designated land border crossings. You can pass through a designated NEXUS lane when you arrive at a land border. Sometimes, the NEXUS lanes at some land borders may be closed; it is essential to confirm if you can use your NEXUS card before you begin your travels. 

Marine travel

To cross the Canada-US border by water, you will need to call the respective Telephone Reporting Centres (TRCs) between thirty minutes and four hours before you arrive at the marine border. The NEXUS card gives you faster processing at all marine crossings when entering the U.S.

How much does it cost?

To get a NEXUS card, you need to pay an application fee of $50 USD. This fee is non-refundable and applies to all adults eighteen years and older. Online applications are usually processed in US currency only. 

When you pay the application fee and are accepted into the NEXUS program, you have a five-year membership status. If you lose your NEXUS card, you can apply for a new one; this would cost a fee of $25 USD.

Benefits of a NEXUS card

The NEXUS card provides many benefits for frequent travellers. Sometimes, traveling can be chaotic; with a NEXUS card, you can bypass big crowds and long lines. Like I said, it is a fast pass for a lot of the tiring aspects of travel. If you travel with kids, it can save your sanity, but more on that later.

The most beneficial perk people with NEXUS cards get to enjoy is expedited entry into the US or Canada by air, land, or boat. Having to save time at busy airports or avoid long line-ups at land borders can be a huge plus, especially if you’re running late, which happens often. Your travel insurance provider may not cover missed flights, so getting a NEXUS card can save you time and a lot of money.

One great advantage of the NEXUS membership is that it is afforfable compared to its counterparts. You effectively pay half-price compared to similar US programs like the Transport Security Administration (TSA) PreCheck and the Global Entry programs. These can cost up to 100 dollars. That means that your NEXUS card costs $10 per year, as your membership is valid for five years.

Security clearance and checks can be overwhelming if you are a frequent traveller or even just an occasional traveller. With the NEXUS card, you receive pre-clearance when passing through security screening lines at designated airports in Canada and the US. It can make a lot of sense if you have the budget.

Eligibility

To get on the Canada-US NEXUS program, you would need to be either a citizen or permanent resident of either country. Mexican nationals who are part of the Viajero Confiable program are also eligible to apply for a NEXUS card. A complete list of eligibility requirements is on the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) site.

If you are a permanent resident of Canada or the US, you must meet the three-year residency rule. The residency rule requires you to have been a legal resident of both countries for at least three years before the day you apply for a NEXUS membership. You can be exempt from the residency requirement if you or your family serves with the armed forces of Canada or the United States, or if you are a family member of someone involved in a diplomatic mission or consular post.

Additionally, you will need to be 18 years-of-age or above to apply for a NEXUS card. Children cannot apply for NEXUS themselves. If you do not meet the age requirement, you will need to apply with parental or legal consent to participate in the program. 

The NEXUS program is designed for low-risk travellers. Your application into the program needs to be approved by Canada and the United States. If one of the countries denies your application, you cannot get a NEXUS membership. 

Getting approved for the NEXUS card is not automatic. You can get denied or disqualified for reasons such as falsifying any information on your application, providing incomplete information, having any criminal records or pending criminal charges, or being inadmissible to the United States under immigration regulations. In general, if you are considered a high-risk individual, your NEXUS application may not get approved.

How to apply for a NEXUS Card

The NEXUS card application is straightforward. You can either apply by yourself or use a representative. Using a representative can cost you extra charges for the fee you will need to pay the representative. When you use a representative to apply for a NEXUS membership, this does not guarantee that your application will be approved; you will still need to provide accurate and complete information.

Use the following steps to apply for a NEXUS membership:

• Confirm your eligibility. Check the NEXUS membership requirements to assess if you can get a NEXUS card.
• Provide supporting documents. Documents to provide for a NEXUS card application include:
  • Proof of residency such as valid driver’s license, a federal or provincial identification card, or any eligible document with a current address.
  • Proof of citizenship such as a valid passport, a birth certificate, photo ID, citizenship certificate or card, certificate of Indian Status, a valid permanent resident card, or a record of landing.
  • Consent letter for children below 18 years where applicable.
• Complete the online applications through the Trusted Traveller Programs (TTP) system and pay the NEXUS fee.
• The US CBP and the CBSA will review your application. This step is done to carry out background checks and determine your eligibility for the NEXUS program.
• You can check your application status through your Trusted Traveller profile. You may need to book an interview appointment with the CBP.
• Your membership application process will be completed at a NEXUS enrolment centre. You will be required to attend an interview conducted jointly by CBP and CBSA officers to finalize enrolment.
• You will be fingerprinted.

New enrolment options

US and Canadian governments took action to accelerate the aproval of NEXUS applicants. There is a new enrolment option for air travellers available since spring 2023. 

How can you benefit from this new enrolment option? First, you need to book an appointment online for the NEXUS interview conducted by Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers at Canadian airport enrolment centres. Later, the U.S. portion of the NEXUS interview will be conducted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in the preclearance area of a Canadian airport. You do not need to book an appointment for this interview but you are encouraged to allow enough time for it to take place before your departure. Arrive early at the airport! 

This new option builds on other measures introduced by CBP and CBSA in 2022 to help you obtain or renew your membership, including a new NEXUS enrolment centre in Ogdensburg (New York) with joint interviews as well as anew split interview process at two land ports of entry in Ontario (Lansdowne and Fort Erie). If these new measures are not interesting to you, you can still schedule joint interviews with CBP and CBSA officers at land border enrolment centres in the United States.

Getting a membership for your child

Travelling with children can be a hassle, especially when flying through a bustling airport. The airport security and clearance process is straightforward and can be a breeze with a NEXUS card. When you are pre-cleared to go through a NEXUS kiosk, this relieves you of a lot of stress. 

If your child is below 18 years-old, they will need parental or legal consent to get a NEXUS membership. A minor can get approved into the NEXUS program even if you are not a NEXUS member as the parent or legal guardian. If you and your spouse or common-law partner have legal custody of the child, you will need a letter of consent from the other parent if they are absent for the application process.

In the case of a separation or divorce, you will not require a letter of consent as the sole custodian of a child. If applicable, you will need to provide a custody agreement that confirms whether the child can legally leave Canada. If both parents or legal guardian(s) are absent during a NEXUS membership interview for a minor, they must provide letters of consent along with other required documents. 

Get your NEXUS card for free

If you want to travel not only faster but also cheaper, your should charge your NEXUS application fee to your credit card. Not all credit cards offer this discount but when they do, it’s usually from $50 to $100. Those are Canadian dollars, while you pay $50 US for the card. You may also have to pay your credit card’s foreign exchange fee. Despite these minor drawbacks, credit cards that offer a discount on NEXUS are worth it if you use them wisely.

TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card

The TD Visa Infinite Aeroplan card lets you enroll for NEXUS and get a juicy application fee rebate!  You could save up to $100 once every 2 years. It’s particularly helpful if you travel with a spouse or children, given that one NEXUS card lasts 5 years. With this card, you can earn 1.5 points for every $1 spent on eligible gas, grocery and Air Canada purchases, as well as 1 point for every $1 on all other purchases made with your card. You can earn even more points at over 150 Aeroplan partners.

Key takeaways

If you consider getting a NEXUS card, here are quick facts you should know about the program.

• You will need to apply online as the CBSA no longer accepts paper applications.
• You will need to do an interview to get a NEXUS membership.
• You may not need a passport when crossing the border between the US and Canada if you are a Canadian citizen and have a NEXUS card.
• You can apply to get a NEXUS card for your child who is below 18 years-of-age for free.
• When you get a NEXUS membership, you may be able to participate in the US Global Entry and TSA PreCheck programs.
• The NEXUS card is a document compliant with the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) US law.
• You can also use your NEXUS card at non-NEXUS lanes to enter the US or Canada.
• You cannot use NEXUS designated lanes if you are crossing the border with $10,000 or more.
• Your NEXUS membership is valid for only five years, after which you will need to get a renewal for a $50 USD fee.
• You may be required to do an interview again if you need to replace your card or renew your membership.

Canadian citizens or residents who travel frequently can benefit from having a NEXUS membership. It is affordable and allows you to enjoy hassle-free airport processes and escape long land border lines. To increase your chances of getting approval, you need to provide complete and accurate information when applying for a NEXUS membership.