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Verified Traveller Program (Beginning June 2023)

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Old Jul 14, 2023, 12:27 pm
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Last edit by: Adam Smith
What is the Verified Traveller ("VT") program?
Verified Traveller gives priority security at certain Canadian airport checkpoints. Unlike the old NEXUS lanes (which only got you to the front of the line faster, with the same screening process once there), VT actually offers expedited screening

Verified Traveller is separate from the NEXUS program. Please visit the Trusted Traveler forum for information and discussion on NEXUS.

What is the VT expedited screening experience?
For domestic/international flights:
  • Leave permitted liquids, aerosols and gels in your carry-on
  • Leave laptops and electronics in your carry-on
  • Keep shoes, belts, light jackets and headwear on
  • Keep small items in your pockets

For transborder flights (to the US):
  • Leave permitted liquids, aerosols and gels in your carry-on
  • Keep shoes, belts, light jackets and headwear on
  • Keep small items in your pockets

Who is eligible?
  • NEXUS: holders of NEXUS cards
  • Global Entry: holders of Global Entry cards
  • Canadian / US military: Serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces and US military, including reservists, all with valid ID (no uniform required)
  • Air crew / RAIC holders: Canadian aircrew (in uniform), airport workers with Restricted Area Identification Cards and international aircrew (in uniform) with valid airline ID
  • RCMP / police: Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers, Canadian police officers and constables with a badge and proper photo identification issued by their respective organizations

Do you have to register for this program?
No, everyone who qualifies, per the list above, is automatically eligible.

Do you have to be flying certain airlines to take advantage of this program?
No. As long as your airline is flying from an area that has the VT service, and you're eligible, that's all that matters.

How do you take advantage of VT lanes? Like TSA PreCheck in the US, do you have to provide an ID number in advance?
Eligibility for VT requires you to present the relevant identification at the checkpoint. There's no need to register any information in advance. Conversely, if you don't have your ID on you, you can't use the lanes

Can I bring other people with me who aren't eligible themselves?
  • Domestic / international: only co-travellers aged (a) 17 or under, or (b) aged 75 or over
  • Transborder: yes

Where are the VT checkpoints?
There are dedicated VT lanes at the following checkpoints (last updated June 2, 2025):
Domestic/international checkpoints:
  • YYC C gates
  • YVR (dedicated checkpoint upstairs, same level as Canada Line train)
  • YEG
  • YUL
  • YYZ T1 D gates (international flights depart from E, but it's usually possible to clear security at D and then walk airside to E, subject to CATSA whims)
  • YYZ T3 (need clarification on which checkpoints)
  • YWG
  • YOW (very limited hours)
  • YHZ (limited hours)

Where there are limited hours to the full VT experience, front of line service is generally available the rest of the time.

Transborder checkpoints (note that this applies only to checkpoints for originating passengers; the dedicated connections security areas at most have front of line service, and often no priority at all):
  • YUL
  • YYZ T1
  • YYZ T3
  • YVR

What if the airport/checkpoint I'm flying from isn't listed above?
Many checkpoints offer "front of the line service" - just like the old NEXUS lanes, there's a dedicated lane to get you to the screening faster, but the screening process is the same as in the regular lanes. These are listed below. If your airport isn't listed, there's no Verified Traveller benefit.
  • YYC A and D gates (domestic/international)
  • YYC E gates (transborder)
  • YVR A/B and D gates (domestic/international)
  • YEG (transborder)
  • YHZ (transborder)
  • YWG (transborder)
  • YXE (all)
  • YTZ (all)
  • YQM (all)
  • YLW (all)
  • YQB (all)
  • YQR (all)
  • YYT (all)
  • YYJ (all)
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Verified Traveller Program (Beginning June 2023)

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Old Aug 4, 2023 | 6:05 pm
  #61  
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Not sure why the verified traveler program allows verified travelers to bring companions who themselves are not eligible if traveling solo. It sort of defeats the purpose of being 'verified', and ends up adding too many passengers to the expedited line.
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Old Aug 4, 2023 | 6:19 pm
  #62  
 
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Originally Posted by bocastephen
Not sure why the verified traveler program allows verified travelers to bring companions who themselves are not eligible if traveling solo. It sort of defeats the purpose of being 'verified', and ends up adding too many passengers to the expedited line.
Im assuming it is to align with both TSA PreCheck and old CATSA rules. Old CATSA rules allow any traveller on the same flight to join the TT. TSA Pre allows those under 12 to accompany their parents through the TSA PreCheck line. CATSA VT rules seem to be a balance of both.

It is noteworthy that non TSA PreCheck members who travel on the same reservation as a TSA Precheck member to generally get TSA Precheck as well, but this is random and not granted to all travellers

If the line is too long, or an officer chooses to, CATSA always can refuse co traveller access, or even a VTs access to the VT lane, if the screening officer decideds so, like random swabbing of electronics and personal items, or maiming you go through a full body scan or pat down which is deemed as additional screening, and VTs are not exempt from this, nor should they be

What I find annoying about the VT program as compared to TSA Pre is that too many decisions lie with the screening officer, where in TSAs case, it is mainly done through TSA Secure Flight. Too many CATSA employees are not aware of all policies

Last edited by yoonland; Aug 4, 2023 at 6:29 pm
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Old Aug 4, 2023 | 9:43 pm
  #63  
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Originally Posted by bocastephen
Not sure why the verified traveler program allows verified travelers to bring companions who themselves are not eligible if traveling solo. It sort of defeats the purpose of being 'verified', and ends up adding too many passengers to the expedited line.
In aggregate, it saves CATSA's (and travellers', on average) time to send as many as possible through lower-touch VT lanes. If the expedited line is getting too long, it means they've made the operational decision to under-resource/under-size the expedited lanes and over-resource the regular lanes, at high volume stations anyway.

If fewer go through the VT lines that screen more lightly, CATSA has more work to do overall. Will be interesting to see how they work that out. Somehow I doubt there'll be more funding. Maybe it will all be evened out with their other automatic inclusion of GEs and police/military.
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Old Aug 16, 2023 | 5:56 pm
  #64  
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good experience at 3 airports

My experience to date with the Verified Traveler Program in 3 airports (YOW, YYC, YEG) has been quite positive. Shorter wait times, better trained agents, and less time spent at secuirity. The only exception is YOW TB. It does not exist! Why?
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Old Aug 16, 2023 | 6:00 pm
  #65  
 
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Originally Posted by Antonio8069
My experience to date with the Verified Traveler Program in 3 airports (YOW, YYC, YEG) has been quite positive. Shorter wait times, better trained agents, and less time spent at secuirity. The only exception is YOW TB. It does not exist! Why?
YOW TB notably does not have VT lanes or VT Front of the Line, according to CATSAs website https://www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca/en/verified-travellers
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Old Aug 20, 2023 | 12:21 pm
  #66  
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I'm letting my Nexus lapse next year.
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Old Aug 24, 2023 | 9:43 am
  #67  
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My wife and I have had NEXUS for several years. Our 11-month old infant's application has been pending for several months now.

I was under the impression that as NEXUS holders, we (me, my wife + baby) should have been able to use the NEXUS lane at YYZ (when flying via the US to another country). However, the agent who was managing the lines specifically asked us if our baby had NEXUS, to which we said 'not yet' - and then she told us we had to go back out and get into the other non-NEXUS lane. I didn't want to create a scene, so we quickly went into the back of the other line.

Was she wrong? I'm confused when I see this link: https://www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca/en/ver...llers#Benefits - doesn't this say that all co-travelers under the age of 17 years who are traveling with 'Verified Travelers' *can* use the Nexus lane?
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Old Aug 24, 2023 | 9:47 am
  #68  
 
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Originally Posted by forgotmyUA
My wife and I have had NEXUS for several years. Our 11-month old infant's application has been pending for several months now.

I was under the impression that as NEXUS holders, we (me, my wife + baby) should have been able to use the NEXUS lane at YYZ (when flying via the US to another country). However, the agent who was managing the lines specifically asked us if our baby had NEXUS, to which we said 'not yet' - and then she told us we had to go back out and get into the other non-NEXUS lane. I didn't want to create a scene, so we quickly went into the back of the other line.

Was she wrong? I'm confused when I see this link: https://www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca/en/ver...llers#Benefits - doesn't this say that all co-travelers under the age of 17 years who are traveling with 'Verified Travelers' *can* use the Nexus lane?
All of you should, but it is either the agent just randomly selected all of you to go through general screening, or unaware of policy, or just is currently denying co travellers.
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Old Aug 24, 2023 | 9:49 am
  #69  
 
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Originally Posted by forgotmyUA
My wife and I have had NEXUS for several years. Our 11-month old infant's application has been pending for several months now.

I was under the impression that as NEXUS holders, we (me, my wife + baby) should have been able to use the NEXUS lane at YYZ (when flying via the US to another country). However, the agent who was managing the lines specifically asked us if our baby had NEXUS, to which we said 'not yet' - and then she told us we had to go back out and get into the other non-NEXUS lane. I didn't want to create a scene, so we quickly went into the back of the other line.

Was she wrong? I'm confused when I see this link: https://www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca/en/ver...llers#Benefits - doesn't this say that all co-travelers under the age of 17 years who are traveling with 'Verified Travelers' *can* use the Nexus lane?
Were you trying to go through security or go through US customs preclearance? My understanding is that the Verified Travellers lane where <17 year old non-Nexus holders can accompany Nexus holders is for the purpose of going through security (e.g having your bags x-rayed). This is what the CATSA site is referring to.

For clearing US customs, only Nexus holders can use the Nexus lane. So if you were about to clear customs, the agent was right that your baby must be a Nexus holder too in order to use the Nexus lane.
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Old Aug 24, 2023 | 10:10 am
  #70  
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Originally Posted by forgotmyUA
My wife and I have had NEXUS for several years. Our 11-month old infant's application has been pending for several months now.

I was under the impression that as NEXUS holders, we (me, my wife + baby) should have been able to use the NEXUS lane at YYZ (when flying via the US to another country). However, the agent who was managing the lines specifically asked us if our baby had NEXUS, to which we said 'not yet' - and then she told us we had to go back out and get into the other non-NEXUS lane. I didn't want to create a scene, so we quickly went into the back of the other line.

Was she wrong? I'm confused when I see this link: https://www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca/en/ver...llers#Benefits - doesn't this say that all co-travelers under the age of 17 years who are traveling with 'Verified Travelers' *can* use the Nexus lane?
Did this happen at the security line or immigration? If it was the security line, the screener was wrong and you should have escalated to a supervisor.

At US immigration, only holders of Global Entry (Nexus includes this if requested with your application) may use the GE kiosks and line - not family members or travel companions
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Old Aug 24, 2023 | 10:35 am
  #71  
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an interesting decision

Originally Posted by KDS777
I'm letting my Nexus lapse next year.
An interesting decision. IMO, the best use of the Nexus is on arrival - not on departure. Yesterday for example, at IAD, the wait time arrivals was easily 40 minutes. I was through in less than 5 - thanks to Global Traveller (seems to be synonymous with Nexus).

Are you dropping NEXUS to save money?
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Old Aug 24, 2023 | 11:14 am
  #72  
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Security. Oh well, now I know better.
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Old Aug 24, 2023 | 2:25 pm
  #73  
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Earlier post removed, once proven wrong. ;-)

Last edited by blue2002; Aug 24, 2023 at 3:26 pm
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Old Aug 24, 2023 | 2:37 pm
  #74  
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Originally Posted by blue2002
One more data point for you: According to CATSA currently the Verified Traveller program at YYZ is available only at T1 Domestic Level 3 and T3 Domestic. So, if you were trying to go through the Nexus security line at US or International departures, they may have been correct to redirect you to the regular line. https://www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca/en/verified-travellers

FWIW, the rollout of this new program has been confusing, to put it mildly.
The page you quoted has a section for US; the section in red above is wrong. If you click on the US tab, you will see that:

Verified Traveller Transborder (U.S. flights)
Co-travellers can accompany you. [of any age]

Available at the following airports:
Montral-Trudeau International Airport T1 transborder
Toronto Pearson International Airport - T1 transborder
Toronto Pearson International Airport T3 transborder
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Old Aug 24, 2023 | 3:25 pm
  #75  
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Originally Posted by Hotel 83 Tango
The page you quoted has a section for US; the section in red above is wrong. If you click on the US tab, you will see that:
Ah, you are 100% correct. I will remove my earlier post, so as not to mislead others. Cheers.
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