Partial U.S. shutdown suspends NEXUS access at Canadian airports; lane reopens at YYZ

Canadian airports warned travellers on Sunday (Feb. 22) that the NEXUS and Global Entry pre-clearance programs for U.S.-bound flights were suspended, with Vancouver International Airport linking the disruption to the partial U.S. government shutdown.

Airports in Calgary, Montreal, Vancouver, and Toronto advised passengers travelling through U.S. Customs to allow extra time for security and border screening on Sunday (Feb. 22).

Most airports did not provide a specific reason for the suspension.

Calgary International Airport told The Canadian Press that NEXUS is operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and that the airport had no further details.

However, Vancouver airport stated on its website that the programs are suspended until further notice “due to the partial U.S. government shutdown.”

The NEXUS program allows pre-approved travellers to receive expedited processing when entering the U.S. and Canada, including access to dedicated airport kiosks.

The partial U.S. government shutdown began Feb. 14 after Democrats and the White House failed to reach an agreement on legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said its Global Entry program would remain suspended for the duration of the shutdown, according to the Associated Press.

The Department of Homeland Security also warned on its website that, due to the lapse in federal funding, the site would not be actively updated and some information may be outdated.

In an update posted to X Monday morning, Toronto Pearson airport confirmed that its NEXUS/Global Entry lane reopened at U.S. preclearance.

Don't miss a single travel story: subscribe to PAX today!  Click here to follow PAX on Facebook.