Everything You Need to Know About the NEXUS Pass

Minnesota’s, Lake of the Woods, also known as the Walleye Capital of the World is home to the stunning international waters of Lake of the Woods, the Rainy River and the Northwest Angle. Sharing the lake with Canada, many of our guests who stay on the U.S. side choose to utilize both sides.

A U.S. passport, passport card or NEXUS card all serve as proof of both citizenship and identification. If you don’t have one of these three documents, you can cross the border using your government-issued photo ID and one of the following documents to prove your citizenship: A U.S. birth certificate, certificate of citizenship or naturalization, permanent resident card or certificate of Indian status. The NEXUS program allows pre-screened travelers expedited processing when entering the United States and Canada.

Canada and the United States share 5,525 miles of the border: the longest international border in the world. With a common language, it’s easy to cross over—no matter what the direction.

Since 2008, moving between Canada and the United States has required showing proof of citizenship or permanent residency, usually in the form of a passport or residency card. Similar to the U.S.’s Global Entry Trusted Traveler Network, NEXUS pre-screens travelers to allow them to move more speedily through border crossings. NEXUS members can use dedicated lanes at land crossings, and dedicated kiosks when arriving at the U.S. or Canadian airport.

Membership is open to citizens and permanent residents of both countries who have not been convicted of a crime, who have no outstanding warrants, who are not subject to an ongoing law enforcement agency, and who have not violated customs, immigration, or agriculture-related laws. Both Canada, as well as the United States, must approve a member’s application. Applications can be sent in by mail or online, through the Global Online Enrollment System. (The latter requires creating an account.) The fee to apply online is $50 USD, by mail, $50 CAD.

After your application has been processed, and you’ve been approved to move to the next stage, you will be notified (whether online or by mail) to set up an interview at a NEXUS Enrollment Center. Enrollment offices are located in Canada at Fort Erie, Calgary, Edmonton, Enfield, Belleville, Landsdowne, Montreal, Ottawa, Mississauga, Vancouver, and Winnipeg. In the United States, NEXUS Enrollment Centers can be found in Calais, Maine; Derby Line, Vermont; Champlain, New York; Niagara Falls, New York; Pembina, North Dakota; Detroit, Michigan; Port Huron, Michigan; Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan; International Falls, Minnesota; Warroad, Minnesota; Sweetgrass, Montana; Blaine, Washington; and Seattle, Washington.

NEXUS members are issued a photo identification card that can be used at future border crossings and in airports. When entering the United States from Canada, NEXUS members can also use reserved Global Entry kiosks.

Travelers frequently driving back and forth between Canada may also want to consider a SENTRI pass. Though this option is only valid for land border ports, it also allows for speedy travel back and forth between Mexican land crossings, too.

Click here for a Lake of the Woods virtual visitor guide.

Click here for Lake of the Woods fishing reports.