Lorie Shaull · CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped
NEXUS applicants will soon have less time to finish enrolment. From April 1, 2027, travelers who receive conditional approval for the Canada and United States trusted traveler program will have two years, not five, to schedule their enrolment interview, the Canada Border Services Agency said on October 1, 2026. Applicants already approved face a new outer deadline of April 1, 2029.
If you have a conditionally approved NEXUS application sitting in your account, book your interview now rather than waiting for a convenient slot next year. Interviews have two parts, one with each country, and the Canadian portion must be done at a NEXUS enrolment centre, according to the CBSA announcement.
NEXUS is run jointly by the CBSA and US Customs and Border Protection, so every member needs clearance from both countries before the card is issued.
- Change: interview window falls from five years to two.
- Applies from: conditional approvals on or after April 1, 2027.
- Earlier approvals: five years or April 1, 2029, whichever comes first.
- Canadian interview: at a NEXUS enrolment centre.
- US interview: enrolment centre or Enrollment on Arrival.
NEXUS Interview Deadlines Before and After April 2027
During the pandemic, the CBSA temporarily gave conditionally approved applicants five years to complete their interview while enrolment centres were closed or short on appointments. The agency said that more interview capacity is now available, so the program is returning to its original two year timeframe.
The rules depend on when you were conditionally approved. If that approval comes on or after April 1, 2027, you will have two years from the approval date to schedule your interview. If you were approved before April 1, 2027, you must schedule within five years of your approval date or by April 1, 2029, whichever comes first. For many people already waiting, that means the effective deadline is now April 1, 2029.
Applications expire once the applicable timeline passes, and the CBSA is urging anyone waiting to book an appointment as soon as possible, Global News reported.
How the Two Part NEXUS Interview Works
A NEXUS enrolment interview includes identity verification, fingerprinting and questions from both CBSA and US Customs and Border Protection officers. The CBSA portion is conducted at a NEXUS enrolment centre. The US portion can be completed at a CBP enrolment centre or through Enrollment on Arrival, which lets approved applicants finish the US interview when they land at a participating airport after an international trip.
Because the two parts can happen at different places and times, plan for both. If you live in the United States, check which enrolment centres offer the Canadian portion and how far ahead appointments are booked, and consider timing the visit around a trip you already plan to make.
| If you… | What to do |
|---|---|
| Are already conditionally approved | Book both interview parts now. |
| Were approved several years ago | Check your five year date first. |
| Plan to apply in 2027 | Expect two years to interview. |
| Fly abroad often from the US | Use Enrollment on Arrival for CBP. |
Planning Your NEXUS Application Timeline
Start by logging in to your trusted traveler account to find your conditional approval date. Add five years to it and compare the result with April 1, 2029; the earlier date is your deadline. If you are approved after the change takes effect, mark the date two years after approval in your calendar and book well before it, since popular enrolment centres can have long waits.
Travelers who cross the border several times a year get the most from NEXUS, since members use dedicated lanes at land crossings and expedited processing at airports. If you mainly fly internationally from the United States and rarely visit Canada, compare NEXUS with Global Entry before applying, and consider which interview is easier for you to complete.
Keep your passport details and address current in your account, since mismatched information can delay approval or interviews. Bring the documents your account lists for the interview, and arrive early, since missing a slot means finding another one before your deadline.
More Trusted Traveler News
Trusted traveler programs have seen other changes this year, as we reported in our story on the Global Entry app switch and in our story on CBP trusted traveler interviews in South Florida.
April 1, 2027. Two year window starts for new approvals.
April 1, 2029. Latest date for earlier approvals.
Two interviews. One Canadian, one US, both required.
How long do I have to schedule a NEXUS interview?
Two years from conditional approval, for approvals on or after April 1, 2027.
What if I was approved before April 1, 2027?
Schedule within five years of approval or by April 1, 2029, whichever is first.
Can I do the US NEXUS interview at the airport?
Yes, through Enrollment on Arrival at participating airports.
Why is the NEXUS deadline changing?
The CBSA said more interview capacity is now available.
