OTTAWA — Border officials want to make a big increase in the cost of a NEXUS card, proposing a jump from US$50 to US$120 to apply for the identification that allows Canadians to cross the American border more easily.
“The current fee, set over 20 years ago, no longer covers the cost of the program,” said a recent press release from the Canadian Border Services Agency. “The new fee would reflect more accurately the cost of administrating the program and the investment required for future program improvements, including technology and infrastructure enhancements. This would work out to US$24 per year for the five-year membership.”
The press release said there’s ongoing high interest in the NEXUS program, with 1.8 million people currently enrolled and officials receiving more than 510,000 applications since April 2023.
NEXUS travellers can use self-serve customs kiosks when entering Canada at nine major international airports, use dedicated vehicle lanes at 20 designated land border crossings, use U.S. Global Entry kiosks stateside, get faster clearance at many Canadian airports in Canada, get faster clearance through the U.S. Transportation Security Administration Pre-Check lines at over 200 American airports, clear the border by boat using the Telephone Reporting Centre, and pre-register arrival at 426 sites.
If legislators on both sides of the border approve the fee increase, it will take effect on Oct. 1.