Global Entry vs NEXUS
Half the price, more lanes, harder interview. Why most US-Canada flyers should pick NEXUS.
Both programs are run by US Customs and Border Protection, both clear you through the international-arrivals customs queue, and both come bundled with TSA PreCheck. On paper they look like cousins. In practice, NEXUS is the better deal for almost anyone who can clear the eligibility bar — half the application fee and full Global Entry kiosk access included.
Side by side
- US customs (international arrivals)
- TSA airport security
- US customs (international arrivals)
- TSA airport security
- US-Canada vehicle lane
Best for
— pick onePick Global Entry if you fly internationally to the US a few times a year and never cross the Canadian border by car. Available to a much wider range of nationalities than NEXUS.
Pick NEXUS if you are a US or Canadian citizen or permanent resident. It is half the price, gives you everything Global Entry does, and adds dedicated US-Canada land-border lanes and CANPASS-style marine and air clearance into Canada.
Key differences
NEXUS costs $50 for 5 years; Global Entry costs $100 for 5 years.
NEXUS members get full Global Entry kiosk access at every US airport — but the reverse is not true. A Global Entry card does not work in NEXUS land or marine lanes.
NEXUS eligibility is restricted to US and Canadian citizens or lawful permanent residents. Global Entry is open to citizens of 17+ partner countries.
NEXUS interviews are conducted jointly by US CBP and Canada Border Services Agency officers, usually at a northern-border enrollment centre. Global Entry interviews can be done at any US enrollment centre, on arrival at participating airports, or remotely via Enrollment on Arrival.
Both programs include TSA PreCheck for domestic US departures.
The full breakdown
The fee gap alone usually settles the decision. At $50 for five years, NEXUS is the cheapest trusted-traveler program CBP runs — cheaper than Global Entry, SENTRI, and even TSA PreCheck on a per-year basis. And every NEXUS member gets a Known Traveler Number that works at Global Entry kiosks, so you are not giving anything up by going with the cheaper card.
The catch is eligibility. Where Global Entry now accepts applicants from 17+ partner countries — including the UK, Germany, India, Mexico, and Singapore — NEXUS only accepts citizens or lawful permanent residents of the US or Canada. If you do not hold one of those passports, the comparison is moot.
The interview is the other place these programs differ. NEXUS interviews must happen at a designated NEXUS enrollment centre, and most of those sit on the northern US border or inside Canadian airports like YVR, YYZ, and YYC. Two officers — one CBP, one CBSA — interview you back to back. Global Entry interviews are easier to schedule: there are 80+ centres across the US, plus the Enrollment on Arrival program lets you finish the interview when you next land in the US from abroad. If you live nowhere near the Canadian border, Global Entry will be faster to complete.
Then there is what each card actually unlocks. Both clear US customs through Global Entry kiosks and both include TSA PreCheck. NEXUS adds three things: dedicated land-border lanes at major US-Canada crossings, expedited marine reporting under CANPASS Marine, and the ability to clear into Canada at NEXUS-equipped airport kiosks. None of those benefits help a traveller who never goes to Canada — but for anyone who drives the Peace Bridge, the Pacific Highway, or Detroit-Windsor a couple times a year, NEXUS pays for itself in a single trip.
Frequently asked
Does NEXUS include Global Entry?+
Yes. Every approved NEXUS member receives a Known Traveler Number that works at Global Entry kiosks at all participating US airports. You do not need to apply for Global Entry separately.
Does Global Entry include NEXUS?+
No. A Global Entry card does not give you NEXUS lane access at land borders, NEXUS marine reporting, or NEXUS kiosk access at Canadian airports. If you want those benefits you have to apply for NEXUS specifically.
Is NEXUS harder to get than Global Entry?+
The eligibility criteria are similar — clean criminal and immigration history, no customs violations — but NEXUS adds Canadian vetting on top of the US side. Some applicants are approved for one program and denied for the other. The interview is also dual-authority, which makes it stricter than a typical Global Entry interview.
Can a US citizen get NEXUS?+
Yes. Any US citizen or lawful permanent resident is eligible for NEXUS. You do not need to live near the Canadian border.
Do I need to interview in Canada for NEXUS?+
Not necessarily. NEXUS enrollment centres exist on both sides of the border — at northern US airports and CBP land ports, and at major Canadian airports like Toronto Pearson, Vancouver, Calgary, and Montreal. You can choose whichever side is more convenient.
Is NEXUS valid for international flights into the US that do not involve Canada?+
Yes. Your NEXUS Known Traveler Number works at any Global Entry kiosk on US arrival from anywhere in the world.
If you qualify for NEXUS, get NEXUS. It is materially cheaper, includes everything Global Entry does, and adds land and marine benefits at no extra cost. The only reason to choose Global Entry over NEXUS is if you do not hold US or Canadian status — or if you genuinely cannot get to a NEXUS interview centre.