1. Overview of NEXUS Card
The NEXUS card provides U.S. and Canadian citizens with expedited processing when entering Canada or the United States at participating air, land, and marine ports of entry.
2. What is the NEXUS Card?
The card meets Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) requirements, serving as proof of identity and citizenship. It acts as a substitute for a passport for U.S. citizens entering Canada and vice versa. This program is a collaboration between U.S. and Canadian border services, with NEXUS cards issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The cost of the card is $50.00 (in both U.S. and Canadian funds) and it remains valid for five years.
3. Benefits of the NEXUS Card
NEXUS cardholders enjoy several privileges:
- Quick identification at land border crossings by presenting their cards for scanning.
- Efficient processing at airport kiosks using a retinal recognition scan, which takes approximately 10 seconds.
- Faster, less complicated border crossings via automated NEXUS self-serve kiosks at international airports.
- Bypassing lengthy wait times at land border crossings through exclusive NEXUS lanes, which often have shorter lines.
- For marine entries, cardholders can notify border officials in advance of their arrival by phone.
- Approval for a NEXUS card also grants access to the TSA Pre program, further enhancing travel convenience.
4. Application Process for the NEXUS Card
Citizens of Canada or the U.S. who reside in either country and meet background checks can apply for a NEXUS card. Interested applicants can fill out the form online or download the application from the CBP-NEXUS website and submit it at a designated location, including Canadian Processing Centers (CPC). While applications were once available at Post Offices, they are no longer provided there.
After a few weeks of submitting the application, applicants will be contacted for an interview at one of the numerous enrollment centers. The interview typically lasts about half an hour and involves both Canadian and U.S. border representatives. They will ask questions related to citizenship, criminal history, and prior border crossing experiences, in addition to discussing laws regarding items transported across borders. Successful applicants will undergo fingerprinting and a retinal scan.
5. Important Additional Information
- NEXUS cards benefit frequent travelers, whether for work or leisure, making them a valuable asset even for infrequent visitors to Canada or the U.S.
- Children under 18 can receive NEXUS cards for free. If you’re acquiring one for yourself, consider obtaining cards for your children as well.
- For families traveling together, every member must possess a NEXUS card to utilize the designated NEXUS lane.
- Even though NEXUS users are not required to present their passports at border crossings, having a passport with you is still advisable.
- NEXUS cardholders may still be subject to inspections and searches at the border.
- During border crossings, cardholders can pay owed duties automatically by providing their credit information at the NEXUS interview and submitting a form at the border each time they cross.
