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Several Trusted Traveler programs — such as TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, Nexus and Sentri — help people save time spent waiting in line at security checkpoints and border crossings. Nexus is an expedited processing program for travelers that go between Canada and the U.S. frequently. It costs $120 for the application, and membership lasts for five years. Some credit cards also offer statement credits that will reimburse cardholders for the Nexus application fee.
On this page
What is Nexus?
Nexus is a trusted traveler government program that helps you breeze through various airport and immigration queues in Canada and the U.S.
The program, run jointly by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Canada Border Services Agency, allows members to use dedicated lanes to expedite border crossing between the United States and Canada when arriving by air, land and sea.
Nexus membership also includes access to Global Entry kiosks at Canadian airports that offer preclearance, so you can enjoy a quicker entry into the U.S. when coming from Canada. If you add your Nexus-associated Known Traveler Number to a reservation, you can also enjoy the perks of TSA PreCheck.
What does Nexus include?
A Nexus membership gets you the following perks:
- Expedited processing when entering Canada by air.
- Expedited processing when crossing the U.S.-Canada border by land or sea.
- Global Entry for expedited processing when entering the U.S. by air.
- TSA PreCheck at U.S. airports.
» Learn more: Global Entry vs. Nexus: which is better?
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What does a Nexus card cost?
A Nexus application costs $120 and includes five years of membership. That's as much as Global Entry charges for the same time span.
How to get your Nexus application reimbursed through credit cards
Many credit cards reimburse the cost of TSA PreCheck and Global Entry enrollment, and in many cases that benefit extends to Nexus as well. Here are cards that offer a Nexus statement credit every four years:
Chase credit cards:
Use any card above to pay for your Nexus membership and receive a statement credit back in your account. Children under 18 are free and don’t pay an enrollment fee.
Other credit cards
Although the following issuers do not list Nexus as an eligible reimbursement fee in their terms and conditions, some cardholders have mentioned on online forums that their Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit was triggered when they used these cards to pay for a Nexus application. So, it’s not a guarantee that you would get your Nexus application reimbursed if you used either of these two cards, but it could be worth a try.
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
- U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card (for existing cardholders — this card is no longer accepting new applicants).
» Learn more: Best credit cards for TSA PreCheck & Global Entry
How to apply for a Nexus card
To apply for Nexus, you must be a citizen or a resident of the United States or Canada, or a Mexican national who is a member of the Viajero Confiable trusted traveler program.
Required documents, broken down by citizenship
Applicants must provide the following documents:
U.S. citizens and permanent residents
- A valid passport.
- Proof of residency, such as a mortgage or utility bill and driver’s license (if the address is current).
- Permanent resident card (if applicable).
- For those working or studying in Canada, a work or study permit is required.
Canadian citizens
- A valid passport.
- A birth certificate and a photo ID.
- A Canadian citizenship certificate.
- A certificate of Indian Status if applicable.
- For those working or studying in the U.S., a work or study permit is required.
Canadian permanent residents
- A valid permanent resident card.
- A Record of Landing.
U.S. permanent residents
- A valid permanent resident card.
Mexican nationals who are members of Viajero Confiable
- A valid passport.
- Ability to meet entry requirements.
Then, you have to fill out an online application and pay a nonrefundable application processing fee of $120.
The Nexus interview
The last step is both complicated and important. You must schedule an in-person interview with an officer at a Nexus enrollment center located along the U.S.-Canada border.
You can find Nexus enrollment centers in the following U.S. and Canadian cities:
Nexus enrollment center locations
- Alexandria Bay, New York.
- Blaine, Washington.
- Calais, Maine.
- Champlain, New York.
- Derby Line, Vermont.
- Detroit.
- Houlton, Maine.
- International Falls, Minnesota
- Niagara Falls, New York.
- Ogdensburg, New York.
- Pembina, North Dakota.
- Port Huron, Michigan.
- Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.
- Sweetgrass, Montana.
- Warroad, Minnesota.
Canada Nexus enrollment centers
Canada Nexus enrollment center locations
- Calgary, Alberta.
- Edmonton, Alberta.
- For Erie, Ontario.
- Halifax, Nova Scotia.
- Lansdowne, Ontario.
- Montreal.
- Ottawa, Ontario.
- Toronto.
- Vancouver, British Columbia.
- Winnipeg, Manitoba.
If you’re considering a Nexus membership
If you cross the border between Canada and the U.S. often, whether for business or for personal reasons, you might consider enrolling in the Nexus program to shorten your wait time when entering either country. Now that several credit credit cards cover the cost of processing fee, there’s one less hurdle in your way. TSA PreCheck and Global Entry benefits are a bonus — all for a fee of $120 every five years, which you can get reimbursed for if you plan ahead.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2026:
- Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
- Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Luxury perks: American Express Platinum Card®
- Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
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