Key Differences and Uses
Both a NEXUS card and a passport are used for travelling but they are not perfect substitutes. It’s vital that you understand the differences between the two travel documents, so you know when to use them and when not to. The last thing you want is to realize that you should have brought your passport or your NEXUS card when you are standing in line at customs at a border crossing or airport.
So, let us help guide you through those differences and help you avoid the nightmare of realizing you don’t have the documentation you need just before you try to cross a border.
Understanding a Nexus Card and a Passport
While NEXUS is used to more quickly cross the border by expedited processes between Canada and the U.S. While NEXUS is a travel document of sorts, it should never be thought of as a replacement for a passport. What NEXUS is meant to do is facilitate the process of crossing the border between the two countries through expedited lanes, kiosks, and marine telephone reporting centers. It does this by first pre-screening applicants and only approving low-risk travelers.
A passport, on the other hand, can be used to travel anywhere around the world where it is accepted – which is most of the world when it comes to Canadian or American passports. It is also used as proof of citizenship and as an ID document. In fact, any passport can be used to travel in much of the world, as long as you’re able to get the required visas.
