Air Canada Aeroplan - Do I need to carry a passport if I have Nexus

If I am flying without my passport but have nexus to get into Canada, will I have trouble with Air Canada getting on the plane?

Maybe.

1. Conditions of use for Nexus require you to have your passport with you.
2. Airlline will want to see a valid photo ID. A D.L. might suffice for AC, but I don't think a Nexus card will cut it.
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13F

Call me old-fashioned, but even as a Nexus-holder, I wouldn't leave the country without my passport.

Yes. Nexus is not an alternative to or replacement for your passport. You must have your ppt with you if you're using Nexus.

Definitely must have your documents with you in case the CBP agent requests it. I have encountered this previously at land crossing. If you don't have them, the agent can revoke your nexus and deny entry.

Maybe.

1. Conditions of use for Nexus require you to have your passport with you.
2. Airlline will want to see a valid photo ID. A D.L. might suffice for AC, but I don't think a Nexus card will cut it.
--
13F

The intent of the Nexus card would seem to serve as media for the RFID chip that isn't currently in your passport. The card is held up to your vehicle window for ground crossings (beats getting out for a retinal scan in a downpour!). As mentioned your passport needs to be with you.

I used my Nexus card for an AC domestic flight today instead of a DL - twice and had no questions by the agent.

AC accepts NEXUS card as valid ID for boarding purposes, as well as ID for readmission into Canada from the US, but not from any other country. However, based on my experience last month, US airlines will not accept it as ID proof you can get into Canada. (Stupid, but...) Terms of card do require you to carry your passport or other acceptable (to US authorities) ID. The new NEXUS cards, formally released on Monday in the US have a chip and other security features and thus may mitigate the need to carry your passport as this is now the US standard form of ID for Americans who only want to travel to Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico. However, this needs to be confirmed when we start receiving these new cards.

When I had my Nexus interview, I was told that I still needed the proper documents to cross the border. The Nexus card just facilitates the crossing.

In general, I will not leave the country without my passport. You never know what could happen. Maybe you have to go overseas on an emergency basis, there is another international incident (9/11 or similar), you need the Embassy's "help" for whatever reason, etc.

As of June 1, 2009 you may use a Nexus card in place of a passport.

This is confirmed at the administering website:
http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/nexus/about-sujet-eng.html


Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)

For Canadian and U.S. citizens, NEXUS membership cards also fulfill the travel document requirements of the U.S. WHTI. A NEXUS membership card may be used as an alternative to a passport when entering the United States:

by air when used at kiosks at designated airports; and
at all land and marine ports of entry.
For detailed information on the U.S. WHTI, visit the CBSA and Homeland Security Web Site.

As of June 1, 2009 you may use a Nexus card in place of a passport.

This is confirmed at the administering website:
http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/nexus/about-sujet-eng.html


Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)

For Canadian and U.S. citizens, NEXUS membership cards also fulfill the travel document requirements of the U.S. WHTI. A NEXUS membership card may be used as an alternative to a passport when entering the United States:

by air when used at kiosks at designated airports; and
at all land and marine ports of entry.
For detailed information on the U.S. WHTI, visit the CBSA and Homeland Security Web Site.


You have missed the point here. You may present the Nexus card in place of a passport, but terms of the Nexus program are that one has to have the passport available on your person if the agent requests it. End of story.

I am unsure why this "why do I have to carry my passport and Nexus card?" seems to continue to be such a problem for so many people. The rules are clear. Follow them.

The rules are indeed clear. The card may be presented instead of the passport but the passport must be with you.

You have missed the point here.

Agree. Also I can't help wonder why reopen a 3+ year old thread with a 2+ year old revision and call it a 2012 update when there is the master Nexus thread.

My understanding is that in one of the directions (I can't recall which), a passport is compulsory when travelling by air. Therefore, if you fly you must take your passport even if you have NEXUS.

By land, any WHTI-certified identification is acceptable to cross the border including a passport card (US has one), compliant driver's license (some provinces and states have them), or NEXUS/SENTRI/FAST cards. No passport is necessary if you have a WHTI-compliant identity card with you, and you're crossing by land.

I'm not sure how it works for sea or lake crossings as I've never done one.

The rules are indeed clear. The card may be presented instead of the passport but the passport must be with you.

I had a colleague who needed to attend a meeting in New York (he is Canadian) while his passport was getting a visa renewed and thus was not available.

After checking with the Nexus office etc he was allowed to do it.

The ONLY place he had problems were using the Nexus card as ID with the TSA flying return from JFK to Canada. Eventually, with the help of airline staff, they accepted it, however he almost missed his flight and the airline staff told him he was very lucky.

I wouldn't gamble on this one unless it is absolutely the only answer- and have a backup plan ready.

Call me old-fashioned, but even as a Nexus-holder, I wouldn't leave the country without my passport.

EXACTLY!!

Another good reason to carry it is if the NEXUS machine is down on the way to the US. With your passport you can use the GE machine instead.

Definitely must have your documents with you in case the CBP agent requests it. I have encountered this previously at land crossing. If you don't have them, the agent can revoke your nexus and deny entry.

I crossed back to Canada at Ogdensburg last week and since there was nobody waiting behind me I specifically asked the CBP agent this question after he cleared me to leave. He said I didn't need my passport and the nexus card was sufficient.

That said, I always bring it and probably will continue to do so until this is more clearly stated. I've not been asked for it on the 10 or so land crossing (back & forth) I've done since I received my nexus.

The ONLY place he had problems were using the Nexus card as ID with the TSA flying return from JFK to Canada. Eventually, with the help of airline staff, they accepted it, however he almost missed his flight and the airline staff told him he was very lucky.



With TSA you only need a drivers licence, When I used mine (Alberta DL) the last time in LGA, TSA agent pulled a book to see if it was listed and he found the information at the end of the books for all Canadian provincial DL with pictures and details. then I was cleared to go.

I crossed back to Canada at Ogdensburg last week and since there was nobody waiting behind me I specifically asked the CBP agent this question after he cleared me to leave. He said I didn't need my passport and the nexus card was sufficient.

That said, I always bring it and probably will continue to do so until this is more clearly stated. I've not been asked for it on the 10 or so land crossing (back & forth) I've done since I received my nexus.

The rules are different for land crossings and airports. The info you received is correct for a land crossing but at an airport, you must have your passport with you.

I remember making a phone call about this issue while my passport was being held by the Indian High Commission for a Visa application. It was explained to me that Nexus will suffice. However, the Canadian Border guard I was talking to added that many people in the chain of gaining access to airports/airplanes do not always understand. I ended up driving across the border and then flying to California, then flying back to NY state and drove home.

He commented that Nexus requires far more information, plus one on one interviews and therefore should be recognized. He was right though about US security and airline employees not being as well versed in the security of Nexus over a general passport.

I would read over the NEXUS entry and egress requirements carefully. There are different requirements for land sea and air. Also depending on what you'll be declaring and whether you'll use the NEXUS lanes you have different procedures. For example, paying duty on goods.

I had left my passport at home once and (un)luckily got sent for a secondary at the US immigration on my outbound. The immigration officer was wondering how I got my boarding pass without showing my passport to the airline. Web check in or kiosk check in didnt seem to work as explanation. After a 20 minute discussion he let me through but told me to carry my passport with me at all times.

For my return flight I had a US domestic segment on UA connecting to an AC flight to Canada. The UA agent wouldn't check me in as he didn't know what Nexus was (this was in Vegas). After pleading with him he checked me in for the domestic segment and left me to try my luck with AC for my next flight. Same thing at AC but atleast after 10 minutes they were able to pull up the documentation that listed acceptable travel documents and Nexus was there. So they let me on.

I am sure you can travel with Nexus without carrying your passport but its just too much of a hassle so I just carry it with me when I fly.

Land crossings are different as nexus is recognized as an acceptable travel document without your passport.

Drivers Licenses are always interesting. I have no experience with the enhanced drivers license so take this with a grain of salt. The drivers license does not require you to be a Canadian Citizen. So you can be a permanent resident and get a drivers license. However the entrance to the US is based on the entry requirements for the country of your citizenship and the drivers license (as it stands and maybe it is different for the enhanced drivers license) does not tell what Citizenship you carry and if you have a valid visa to enter the US. The nexus card on the other hand means you have travel documents to travel to the US.

At my nexus interview last month, I was told that while I could easily drive into the US with only my nexus card, I should bring my passport if I was heading "far" from the US/Canadian border (say I drove to Florida and then had to fly back on an emergency basis to Canada). They said "bring your passport if you are far enough from Canada if there is a chance, any chance, of having to fly home on an emergency basis".

The drivers license does not require you to be a Canadian Citizen. So you can be a permanent resident and get a drivers license.

This is the problem that Enhanced Drivers Licenses were looking to solve. They are not automatically issued, there is a fee for it, and it is only issued to citizens. In my view it is useless as it costs the same as a NEXUS card, and you cannot use it to fly.

I researched this last year when I had to submit my Canada passport for 10 weeks while applying for my UK passport.

For travel to the US, a nexus card is all you need under WHTI regs.

For travel to Canada, you can present the nexus card but must be in possession of a valid citizenship doc as well. I used a birth certificate. A drivers license is not acceptable.

Thanks everyone, I applying to renew my passport and read the part about a passport card for Canada USA border crossings.

Is there any point to getting a US Passport Card, if I already carry a Nexus Card?

Thanks everyone, I applying to renew my passport and read the part about a passport card for Canada USA border crossings.

Is there any point to getting a US Passport Card, if I already carry a Nexus Card?

Nexus alone is OK at Canada/US *LAND* crossings. You wouldn't need the US passport card for that. However, the passport card can be used for Caribbean and Mexico which Nexus cannot.

Thanks everyone, I applying to renew my passport and read the part about a passport card for Canada USA border crossings.

Is there any point to getting a US Passport Card, if I already carry a Nexus Card?

Sorry that I don't have any US Passport-holding experience, but you might find information in the NEXUS Information Thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/air-canada-aeroplan/760859-nexus-information-thread.html) rather than this sort-of-inactive thread.

back in 2011, when the Nexus machines broken (yeah, i know, doesn't happen often), had to talk to a US customs officer. The officer did not accept the Nexus card and demanded passports from all of us. I would never travel without the passport.

I forgot my passport once and was able to travel on just Nexus alone. If you are in the situation and forgot your passport, the airlines can accept Nexus instead of a passport, but in the US, UA had trouble figuring out how to do it, UA at YVR figured it out pretty easily and I had no problem with AC at all. With web check in, you can avoid most of the issues. Your biggest problem would likely be customs, if they asked for it. YMMV. It was a hassle in the end, and now I always triple check that I have my passport!

I would think the airline would be your biggest problem - ie. at US airport trying to come home. Customs here should be pretty simple, not so sure US Customs would be as accommodating.

dunno why, but every time i cross the border by car via NEXUS - they still ask to see my passport.....

also when i did YYZ-YVR-SEA, the NEXUS kiosks were not present on the US Customs @ YVR......

So passport does come handy

They are certainly there but not from the transfer side. They also of course have global entry which I used last week and liked that system as you need not fill out the declaration form in advance but do it on the screen.

I always bring my passport because I rarely cross by land and I always use the GE kiosks when available.

They are certainly there but not from the transfer side. They also of course have global entry which I used last week and liked that system as you need not fill out the declaration form in advance but do it on the screen.

prob the day i was there it was down, they even ran out of ink on my stamp