NEXUS cuts interview scheduling deadline from five years to two

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has announced that, effective April 1, 2027, applicants will be required to schedule their NEXUS enrolment interview within two years of receiving conditional approval. 

The change brings the current five-year deadline, temporarily extended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, back to the original two-year rule.

What this means for applicants

• If you are conditionally approved on or after April 1, 2027: You have two years from your conditional approval date to schedule your interview.

• If you received conditional approval before April 1, 2027: You must schedule your interview within five years of your approval date, or by April 1, 2029, whichever comes first.

• If you are waiting for an interview: Book an appointment as soon as possible so your application does not expire.

After submitting their application, conditionally approved applicants must schedule an interview with both the CBSA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) before receiving their NEXUS card.

Travel advisors may want to flag the change to clients who have received conditional NEXUS approval but have not yet scheduled their interview, particularly those approaching their applicable deadline.

The interview process

“The CBSA portion of the NEXUS interview is conducted at a NEXUS enrolment center, while the U.S. CBP portion may be completed at a CBP enrolment center or through Enrolment on Arrival,” the CBSA said. “Interviews include identity verification, fingerprinting, and questions from both CBSA and U.S. CBP officers.”

Designed to expedite the border clearance process for approved, low-risk travellers crossing the border into Canada or the United States, NEXUS also provides access to priority lanes at select ports of entry, as well as TSA PreCheck® and Global Entry® benefits.

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