A substantial increase to border crossing fees are coming next week in Canada

Major changes are coming for Canadian travelers as NEXUS fees are set to jump from $50 to $120 next week on Oct. 1. 

The NEXUS application is a pre-approved selection process purpose-built to streamline border crossings between the US and Canada, which operates in conjunction with travel to both sides of the border. 

The program has been in operation for well over two decades and its launch can be traced back to 2002 — when the initial $50 NEXUS fee was set. 

According to the information posted by the Government of Canada, due to substantial changes throughout its 20-year shelf life, the initial $50 price tag no longer covers the costs of the program itself, resulting in a nearly 120 per cent price increase. 

Federal officials have indicated that this new price better reflects the cost of administrating the program and investments required for program improvements down the road. 

Additional information relayed by the Canadian government also indicated that since 2023,  over 510,000 applications have been submitted, resulting in an average of roughly 10,000 interviews conducted every two weeks for potential NEXUS applicants. 

As a byproduct of this new fee, federal officials have indicated that those looking to beat the price hike can still do so, however, they must complete their NEXUS enrolment interviews by Oct. 1, 2024. 

For more information on the NEXUS enrollment process and its corresponding fees, visit the Government of Canada’s official website.