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NEXUS members

Consult United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Appeals if your membership has been revoked by U.S. CBP.

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Entering Canada by air

NEXUS members using the air mode of transportation can enter Canada using the NEXUS self-serve kiosks regardless of where they are coming from. For example, a NEXUS member returning to Canada from overseas and arriving in Montréal can use the self-serve kiosk in Montréal.

NEXUS members do not need to complete a paper CBSA Declaration Card (Form E311) when using a NEXUS self-serve kiosk at any Canadian airport where NEXUS is available.

NEXUS members should go to the NEXUS self-serve kiosk located in the Canadian inspection services area. Remember, non-NEXUS members cannot go with you through a NEXUS self-serve kiosk, regardless of age.

How do the NEXUS kiosks work?

Follow these instructions:

Completing your passage:

Declaring goods

As a member of NEXUS, it is your responsibility to report all goods being imported. NEXUS members are subject to the same reporting requirements for goods as non-NEXUS travellers.

Canadian residents

If you are a NEXUS member and a Canadian resident, and you are using a Traveller Declaration Card (TDC) to import goods for your own personal use, complete a TDC prior to your arrival and deposit it in the designated box near the NEXUS self-serve kiosk. At locations where there is no drop box available, you should hand the TDC to a border services officer immediately when you arrive.

The duty and taxes owing on goods that exceed your personal exemption and declared on your TDC are automatically charged to your credit card at a later date.

If you do not have TDC privileges, you will receive a receipt from the self-serve kiosk referring you to a cashier for the payment of duty and taxes owing.

Canadian residents returning to Canada by air who purchase, receive or acquire goods while outside Canada MUST declare all goods, including those within their personal exemption.

United States (U.S.) and Mexican residents

If you are a NEXUS member and a U.S. or Mexican resident, you may use the self-serve kiosk to declare goods that are part of your personal entitlement. If you have goods that exceed your personal entitlement, you will receive a receipt from the self-serve kiosk referring you to a cashier for the payment of duty and taxes owing on the excess amount.

Lawful permanent residents of the U.S. and Mexican nationals need an eTA

NEXUS members who are also lawful permanent residents of the U.S. (Green Card holders) or Mexican nationals need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) when flying to or transiting through Canada.
U.S. and Canadian citizens are exempted.

Be prepared: Apply for an eTA before you book your flight to Canada. Most applicants get approved within minutes. However, some applications can take several days to process so don't wait until the last minute. Get help if you have questions before, during or after you apply.

You do not need an eTA when you enter by land or sea.

If you have any commercial goods in your possession, baggage or on board the vehicle/recreational boat upon arrival in Canada, you may not use NEXUS in the air, land or marine modes of transportation. Commercial goods are defined as goods brought into Canada for sale or for any commercial, industrial, occupational, institutional or other similar use and include samples, tools and warranty repair parts. Please note that personal computers and similar items carried by NEXUS members for their own personal use while on business trips are not defined commercial goods.

If you have any goods that are considered to be restricted, controlled or prohibited, or if the goods you are importing require a permit, such as firearms, you may not use the NEXUS line.

To avoid bringing pests, viruses and diseases into Canada or the U.S., all food, plants and related products from other countries must be declared at the border. If you are unsure whether the product is allowed, declare the item and discuss it with a border services officer. No penalties are assessed if goods are declared. Goods that are not declared are subject to seizure, penalties and could lead to prosecution. For more information, contact the CBSA Border Information Service phone line at 1-800-461-9999.

If the self-serve kiosk is closed, NEXUS members must use the special services counter or the crew counter, or follow the regular traveller procedure and declare their goods to a border officer.

Entering the U.S.

Everyone entering the U.S. must complete a Customs Declaration Form (U.S. Customs and Border Protection Form 6059B).

If you are travelling to the U.S. as a NEXUS member from a Canadian airport with a U.S. preclearance area, you may use your NEXUS card or your passport at the Global Entry (GE) kiosks

Only the Global Entry kiosks located in U.S. preclearance areas at Canadian airports will accept a NEXUS card. When entering the U.S. from other airports, you must use your passport to receive NEXUS privileges.

Declaring goods

If you are entering the U.S. and you are importing goods for your own personal use, you may use the self-serve kiosk to declare these goods. If the self-serve kiosk is closed, you may either use the crew counter or follow the regular traveller procedure and declare your goods to a U.S. CBP officer.

NEXUS members who present themselves for NEXUS passage when arriving in the U.S. must not have any commercial goods in their possession or in their baggage. Please note that personal computers and similar items carried by NEXUS members for their own personal use while on business trips are not considered commercial goods.

Travelling with Can$10,000 or more

If you are crossing the border with currency or monetary instruments valued at Can$10,000 or more, you cannot use NEXUS in the land, air or marine modes of transportation. For more information: NEXUS Terms and Conditions and Travelling with Can$10,000 or more.

Technology: Biometrics

Iris recognition biometric technology works with the unique patterns of the iris (the coloured ring around the pupil of the eye). There are 266 unique characteristics in the human iris, which the technology reads.

The iris recognition process involves taking a photograph of your irises. Your iris patterns are processed and encoded into a record that is stored and used for comparison any time a live iris is presented for verification. When using the NEXUS kiosk, the system will compare your irises with the record stored in the database.

To get the clearest iris photo during enrolment, you must remove your eyewear (prescription glasses and contacts, as well as sunglasses and coloured or patterned contacts). At passage, you do not need to remove your prescription glasses or contacts, but you do need to remove sunglasses and patterned contacts.

There are no known health or safety issues associated with using an iris recognition device. Iris recognition technology involves a monochrome camera that uses visible and safe low-range infrared light.

During the application process, if a person indicates they have a disability that affects their vision and may make it difficult to take a clear photo of the iris, the information is added to their profile. When the person arrives at the airport, instead of using a NEXUS kiosk, as a NEXUS member they can use the Special Services counter where they would answer standard customs and immigration questions. In these situations, a "non-iris capture" sticker is placed on their membership card at time of enrollment, which allows them to enjoy expedited passage using the Special Services counter.

Where is it offered?

NEXUS is offered at the following airports:

In addition, please note that a NEXUS kiosk is also available at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, for incoming flights only.

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