It's an age-old question…or at least it has been haunting me for a long time. I guess it was just one of those things where it seemed like a gray line so I always avoided it. NEXUS is after all a program between Canada and the USA to allow the easy crossing of borders (or so I thought). Thing is, I've tried to search this online and could never find a clear answer.
The question has always been this: “If I'm flying back from somewhere that isn't the United States, can I bypass the Canadian customs officers and use my NEXUS card?” The benefit of being able to do this is that I then don't need to fill out one of those Canadian customs forms nor do I need to stand in the often long lines.
So on a recent flight back from Shanghai, I summed up the courage to ask one of the helpers at the custom hall at Pearson International Airport in Toronto. It was music to my ears when they said “Yes you can.”
No alarms blared, nor did I get sent to secondary for violating the program as I thought this could've been.
That's all I wanted to do. I'm setting the record straight. You can pretty much use your NEXUS card every time you come back to Canada no matter from where.
If I look back at the official verbiage from the CBSA (Canadian Border Services Agency) it does kind of make sense because “NEXUS is designed to speed up border crossings for low-risk, pre-approved travellers into Canada and the United States (U.S.)”. So I suppose it doesn't matter where you're coming from, it's about where you're entering. As a NEXUS card holder, since we've already been pre-approved and pre-screened, we can totally use it.
And if you're Canadian and don't have a NEXUS card, shame on you and read my post on why you need to sign up for one.
CMSW says
I appreciate your reporting on this. Going to Mexico later this month, with family of 5 (3 kids under 16) this will really help to speed up the process. Music to my ears, the less whining the better
Will Tang says
Glad to help! All about the small wins right?
PR says
Hi Will, but can you use Nexus to leave a Canadian airport to travel overseas? Thanks
Will Tang says
You don’t cross customs flying international from Canadian airports but you can certainly use your Nexus card to take the expedited line when going through security.
JP says
Dude this is awesome info. I was looking all over the internet to get this question answered because I go to HK a lot and love to travel the asia countries, as Canadian Citizen, you’ve put my mind at ease. Thanks a lot!
Will Tang says
You’re welcome! Happy travels :)
Ken says
Some have said that you can use the Nexus Card to fast track the line even if you are not flying to the U.S. ie. Flight to Asia departing from Canada.
Can someone confirm this?
Will Tang says
Hey Ken, yes I do this all the time! You’re definitely free to do it. Just present your Nexus card to the guy that checks at the beginning of the line and you’re good to go.
Eric says
Here is a link to the specific part of the NEXUS website that says you can use the NEXUS lane regardless of which country you are returning from.
https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/nexus/air-aerien-eng.html
Will Tang says
Amazing! Thanks for finding the specific link on their page that describes it – they sure don’t make it easy to find…or maybe I was just too lazy to read haha!
Crazydre says
There is a but: NEXUS cards can also be used for passport-free travel by air between Canada and the US, BUT entering the US or Canada from elsewhere requires a passport.
Will Tang says
That’s a good point! Another reader also mentioned on Twitter that they were able to travel between Canada and the US with the NEXUS card exclusively even though their passport was expired. Sweet!