Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
GUIDE
How to use NEXUS for Canada-US border travel
NEXUS is a trusted traveller programme that gives pre-screened travellers expedited processing when entering the United States and Canada, using dedicated lanes at designated northern border ports of entry, kiosks at airports and expedited processing at marine reporting locations. [1] [3]
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- NEXUS gives pre-screened travellers expedited processing when entering the United States and Canada. [1] [3]
- Members use dedicated processing lanes at designated northern border ports of entry, NEXUS kiosks when entering Canada by air, and Global Entry kiosks when entering the United States through Canadian Preclearance airports. [1]
- Arriving by sea, members can report arrival into the United States and Canada by calling a marine telephone reporting centre. [1]
- NEXUS is listed alongside TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, SENTRI and FAST as a separate programme in the DHS trusted traveller family, each with its own purpose. [2] [3]
What is NEXUS and who is it for?
NEXUS is one of the Trusted Traveler Programs described by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). [2] [3] DHS says these programmes provide modified screening for preapproved members, aim to improve security by making screening more efficient, and facilitate legitimate trade and travel at ports of entry. [3] CBP describes NEXUS in the same terms: it allows pre-screened travellers expedited processing when entering the United States and Canada. [1] [2]
The benefits set out on this page belong to approved members of the programme, and they are described in relation to two countries — entry into the United States and entry into Canada. [1] [3] DHS adds that trusted traveller programmes generally let members use expedited lanes at U.S. airports and when crossing international borders. [3]
Where does NEXUS speed up a crossing?
What a member uses at the border depends on the mode of travel and, for flights, on the direction of travel. [1]
| Crossing | What members use |
|---|---|
| Land | Dedicated processing lanes at designated northern border ports of entry [1] |
| Air, entering Canada | NEXUS kiosks [1] |
| Air, entering the United States | Global Entry kiosks at Canadian Preclearance airports [1] |
| Sea | Reporting arrival into the United States and Canada by calling a marine telephone reporting centre [1] |
By road. NEXUS members use dedicated processing lanes at designated northern border ports of entry. [1] Because the lanes are at designated ports, the benefit is tied to those crossings rather than to every point on the border. [1]
By air. The kiosk a member uses depends on which way they are flying. NEXUS kiosks are used when entering Canada by air, while entry into the United States by air uses Global Entry kiosks at Canadian Preclearance airports. [1]
By sea. NEXUS members receive expedited processing at marine reporting locations and can report arrival into the United States and Canada by calling a marine telephone reporting centre. [1]
How does NEXUS differ from Global Entry, SENTRI and TSA PreCheck?
DHS and CBP present NEXUS as one of several separate trusted traveller programmes rather than as a variant of another one. [2] [3] On the DHS list, Global Entry allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travellers upon arrival in the United States, and SENTRI — the Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection — is described the same way for arrival in the United States. [3] FAST, the Free and Secure Trade programme, is a commercial clearance programme for known low-risk shipments entering the United States from Canada and Mexico. [3]
TSA PreCheck is described differently again: it expedites traveller screening through participating TSA security checkpoints. [3] The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) says PreCheck gives travellers a speedier security experience in dedicated lanes across the United States, and that TSA uses unpredictable security measures with every traveller screened, so no individual is guaranteed expedited screening. [4]
For NEXUS members the distinction matters in one concrete place: a Global Entry kiosk is the channel used at Canadian Preclearance airports when entering the United States, even though Global Entry and NEXUS are listed as separate programmes. [1] [3]
Exceptions and limits
- Only approved members. The expedited processing described by CBP applies to programme members and pre-approved travellers, not to applicants or to the public generally. [1] [2]
- Designated crossings only. Land benefits apply at designated northern border ports of entry that have NEXUS-dedicated lanes. [1]
- Direction matters in the air. NEXUS kiosks apply when entering Canada by air; entering the United States by air relies on Global Entry kiosks at Canadian Preclearance airports. [1]
- Sea travel has its own channel. The maritime benefit is expedited processing at marine reporting locations, with arrival reported to a marine telephone reporting centre by phone. [1]
- Different programmes, different jobs. Border entry and airport security screening sit with different programmes on the DHS list: NEXUS is described in terms of entry into the United States and Canada, while TSA PreCheck is described in terms of screening at TSA checkpoints. [1] [3] [4]
- Screening is never switched off. TSA states that all travellers are screened and no individual is guaranteed expedited screening at its checkpoints. [4]
Frequently asked questions
What does NEXUS actually do for me?
It gives pre-screened travellers expedited processing when entering the United States and Canada, through dedicated land lanes, airport kiosks and marine reporting by telephone. [1]
Can I use NEXUS at the airport?
Yes, but the kiosk depends on direction: NEXUS kiosks are used when entering Canada by air, and Global Entry kiosks are used when entering the United States at Canadian Preclearance airports. [1]
Does NEXUS cover arriving by boat?
Members receive expedited processing at marine reporting locations and can report arrival into the United States and Canada by calling a marine telephone reporting centre. [1]
Is NEXUS the same programme as Global Entry?
They are listed as separate trusted traveller programmes, although NEXUS members use Global Entry kiosks at Canadian Preclearance airports when entering the United States. [1] [3]
Where can I use a NEXUS lane on land?
At designated northern border ports of entry that have NEXUS-dedicated processing lanes. [1]
Sources
Sources accessed on 18 October 2026. Global Entry, SENTRI, FAST and TSA PreCheck appear here only to place NEXUS among the DHS trusted traveller programmes; their own eligibility rules, enrolment steps, fees and interview arrangements are not covered.
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — NEXUS, checked 18 October 2026
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Trusted Traveler Programs, checked 18 October 2026
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security — Trusted Traveler Programs, checked 18 October 2026
- Transportation Security Administration — TSA PreCheck, checked 18 October 2026