Amendment to the Three-Year Residency Requirement for NEXUS and CANPASS Program Membership

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is pleased to announce that the three-year residency requirement for the NEXUS and CANPASS programs has been amended.

The NEXUS and CANPASS residency rule previously required all applicants, except diplomats serving abroad, to have physically resided within Canada and/or the United States for three years prior to applying for membership. As a result, the following groups were excluded from joining the programs: family members accompanying diplomats and those serving in the Canadian or U.S. Armed Forces including their family members.

Effective immediately, the residency policy for NEXUS and CANPASS has been changed to allow for the participation of these formerly excluded groups.

The CBSA will be making the necessary amendments to the Presentation of Persons (2003) Regulations in late fall 2010.

For further information on any of the above, please consult Customs Notice CN10-003.