CBSA to reopen all NEXUS airport enrolment centres in Canada

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection have jointly announced a reopening of all NEXUS enrolment centres in Canadian airports by Spring 2023. 

This update is expected to expand the program's capacity and help thousands of travellers get their NEXUS cards faster.

The reopening of NEXUS, which expedites the border clearance process for pre-approved members travelling between Canada and U.S., was delayed when offices on both sides closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

READ MORE: Do Nexus interviews over Zoom, says U.S. lawmaker

A political squabble between Canada and the U.S. related to legal protections for U.S. border officers delayed the reopening of Canada's offices.

During the pandemic, new and existing Canadian NEXUS-pass holders requiring in-person interviews had to travel to the U.S., where offices opened last April, to finalize their application.

Book interviews now

That is set to change, however. Beginning Monday (March 20), travellers can book interviews at the following airports, with interview start dates listed below:

• March 27
  • Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ)
  • Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport (YWG)
• April 3
  • Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
• April 12
  • Calgary International Airport (YYC)
  • Edmonton International Airport (YEG)
• April 17
  • Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL)
• April 24
  • Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
  • Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW)

3 options  

This new enrolment option for air travellers has two steps. 

Canadian airport enrolment centres will be staffed with CBSA officers who will complete the Canadian portion of the NEXUS interview, and the U.S. interviews are completed by CBP at Canadian airport preclearance locations when applicants depart Canada to fly to the U.S. 

Conditionally-approved NEXUS applicants and renewing members who require an interview will be able to book the Canadian portion of their interview at one of these airports through the Trusted Traveller Programs scheduler as interview times become available.

Applicants can now choose from among three options for their NEXUS interviews:

1. A joint U.S. - Canada interview at a land enrolment centre (14 locations) in the U.S.
2. A split interview at a Canadian land enrolment centre (two locations) followed by an interview at a U.S. land enrolment centre (Canadian interview is conducted at the Canadian enrolment centre and the U.S. interview completed at the corresponding U.S. enrolment centre located just across the border at the port of entry).
3. A two-step interview at a Canadian airport enrolment centre (eight locations), followed by an interview at a U.S. preclearance location in a Canadian airport.

Existing members who renew their membership prior to the expiry date will have their benefits extended for up to five years to allow for the scheduling and completion of interviews, as required (if they have not been auto-renewed).

"NEXUS is a win-win for Canada and the United States. That's why we're finding new, flexible solutions to cut wait times and enlarge the program. The reopening of NEXUS airport enrolment centres in Canada is making a major difference – reducing the backlog, expanding capacity and helping more people get NEXUS cards. We'll keep supporting NEXUS so it can keep generating billions in economic activity on both sides of the border," stated Marco Mendicino, Minister of Public Safety. 

Since Oct. 1, 2022, CBSA and CBP say they have completed more than 300,000 NEXUS enrolments and reduced the net inventory of applicants by approximately 130,000 from its peak in summer 2022.

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