You may now qualify for NEXUS membership: Amendment to the Three-Year Residency Requirement

The Beyond the Border Action Plan announced by Prime Minister Harper and President Obama on December 7, 2011 committed to increased benefits to the NEXUS program.

As part of this commitment, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has lifted the three-year residency requirement for the NEXUS Program as outlined in Customs Notice 12-020.

This new Customs Notice 12-020 addresses the following commitment stated in the Action Plan, to "Extend by June 30, 2012, NEXUS membership eligibility to Canadian and U.S. citizens who currently do not reside in Canada or the United States".

Effective June 30, 2012, Canadian and American citizens living outside of Canada or the United States or who have recently returned to either country and have not previously been able to meet the three-year residency requirement are now eligible to apply.

In addition, certain permanent residents are also exempted from the three-year residency requirement. However, permanent residents who do not fall within an exempted group are reminded that the three-year residency requirement still applies.

For further information on any of the above, please consult Customs Notices 12-020 and 10-025.