Updated March 30, 2022

Think of a NEXUS card as a traveller’s speed pass. Answer a few questions at a kiosk when crossing the border. Whizz through airport screening using the fast lane. Join the NEXUS lane at land crossings and cross the border faster. It’s a traveller’s dream. How to apply for a NEXUS card describes my experience acquiring this valuable little travel aid.

What’s NEXUS?

NEXUS is a Canada-United States trusted traveller program. It has recently been expanded to include members of Mexico’s Viajero Confiable program.

It facilitates expedited entry using automated self-serve kiosks at airports. At land crossings, there are designated NEXUS lanes. There’s a call-ahead system for travellers using marine services.

There are dedicated lanes for airport screening. At busier airports, there may be dedicated lanes leaving the baggage claim area.

Why use NEXUS?

Having a NEXUS card saves time. At NEXUS-enabled airports, cardholders don’t need to line up in the standard queues to be processed by border services officers. Instead, they simply head to the NEXUS self-serve kiosks (or Global Entry kiosks in the USA). 

An added benefit is that at larger airports, there are NEXUS-dedicated lanes for Canadian Airport Transport Security Authority (CATSA) security screening. In the USA, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) provides access to TSA Pre✓™ lanes. Screening moves quickly because travellers usually don’t need to remove shoes, light outerwear and belts. Laptops and 3-1-1 compliant liquids can usually remain in carry-on bags.

How to apply for a NEXUS card

After determining I met the eligibility criteria, I chose the online option to submit an application. The program is now called the Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) System.

There’s a non-refundable application fee of $50. When I applied, I had the option of paying in Canadian Dollars. When I renewed my application in early 2018, it was 50 USD.

After submitting my application, I monitored my account from time to time. I was keen to get a date for my interview at a NEXUS Enrolment Centre. By logging in to my account, I retrieved a copy of the Conditional Approval Notification, and made an online booking for the 20-minute interview for the following week.

The interview

The Conditional Approval Notification listed the documentation I needed to take to the interview. It also described what to expect.

The interview lasted more like 30 minutes, split between a CBSA officer and a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer.

The CBP Officer reviewed my documentation, and asked a couple of questions relating to my status. She took a digital photograph of my face, and my fingerprints were entered into the system. I was asked several questions relating to criminal history and violations of customs regulations, and I signed a declaration confirming my responses.

The CBSA officer administered a digital iris scan, and walked through the terms and conditions of the program. He then conducted a hands-on training session at a NEXUS kiosk.

Both officers were very pleasant and professional.

Activation

The NEXUS card arrived two weeks later. It needed to be activated online within 30 days of receipt.

The verdict

From beginning to end, the application and enrolment process took six weeks. I was fortunate to find an interview slot so quickly. My guess is that it was likely the result of a cancellation. When renewing my NEXUS card, the schedule was more heavily booked. The word has obviously spread about the benefits of having a NEXUS card.

My NEXUS card is valid for five years from the birthday following my application (or renewal) date. I just need to remember to update any information that changes within the five-year period (e.g., permanent address or passport).

Tips when applying for a NEXUS card

• If you’re interested in a rebate of the NEXUS application or renewal fee, apply for one of the CIBC Aventura credit cards offering this benefit. Pay the 50 USD fee with your card, and the CAD equivalent will appear as a credit within a few days. Eligible cards include the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite, CIBC Aventura Gold Visa Card, and the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege.
• Or, apply for one of the TD Aeroplan credit cards with the NEXUS benefit. There are three: TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege, TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite, and the TD Aeroplan Visa Business.
• American Express offers a NEXUS benefit on its Gold Rewards Card, Aeroplan Reserve Card, and the Platinum Card. 
• With respect to U.S. credit cards, Chase offers a NEXUS application fee credit on some of its cards.
• Monitor your Trusted Traveller Program account for the Conditional Approval Notification. You may or may not receive an email notifying you of the update to your account. 
• Don’t limit yourself to the nearest NEXUS Enrolment Centre. Check the interview schedule of the centre(s) at the destination or layover of your next flight. If you live within driving distance of other centres, their hours of operation might offer more convenient interview times. For example, prior to the pandemic, Ottawa was open from Monday to Friday but Montreal operated seven days a week.
• Check the interview schedule on a regular basis. Cancellations happen, and it’s not unheard of to snag a same-day interview.
• Apply as far in advance as possible. The growing popularity of NEXUS, access to credit card rebates, and busier travel periods all contribute to understandable delays in processing applications.
• Stay abreast of how the Covid-19 pandemic impacts service delivery. For example, interviews will resume in the U.S. in April 2022; CBSA hasn’t yet announced when Canadian enrolment centres will reopen.  

Is a NEXUS card worth it?

I figured my NEXUS card would save me a lot of time and frustration, with less time waiting and more time enjoying travel. Did this turn out to be the case? See my assessment, after seven years as a NEXUS member: Is a NEXUS card worth it?

Care to pin it?

SaveSave