If your NEXUS card was revoked or your NEXUS application was denied, first find out which country made the decision. NEXUS is run jointly by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and each agency decides for itself. A CBSA decision can be reviewed by the CBSA Recourse Directorate and, after that, by the Federal Court. A CBP decision goes to the CBP Trusted Traveler Ombudsman through the Trusted Traveler Programs website. If you are not a Canadian citizen, the border incident behind the revocation can also affect your permanent residence, a visa or a citizenship application.
This article draws on customs law commentary from the CILA 2025 conference materials, checked against current CBSA and CBP pages and Justice Laws. Where they differ, we follow the official pages.
Key Takeaways
- CBSA and CBP each run their own risk assessment. Either one can refuse an application or cancel a membership.
- For a CBSA decision, the Regulations (s.23) say 30 days, while CBSA’s current pages accept a review request within 90 days. Filing within 30 days avoids any argument.
- For a CBP decision, you ask the CBP Ombudsman to reconsider through the Trusted Traveler Programs website. The Federal Court of Canada cannot review a US decision.
- For permanent residents and foreign nationals, a conviction arising from a border infraction can lead to inadmissibility under IRPA s.36, and failing to disclose the incident can lead to misrepresentation findings under IRPA s.40.
Why is a NEXUS card revoked or a NEXUS application denied?
A NEXUS card is revoked, or an application denied, when CBSA or CBP decides you no longer meet the program’s conditions. CBSA’s eligibility page requires that you be admissible to Canada and the U.S., give true and complete information, and not have violated customs, immigration or agriculture laws. An unpardoned criminal conviction, such as impaired driving, may also make you ineligible.
The legal basis on the Canadian side is the Presentation of Persons (2003) Regulations. Section 6.1 ties NEXUS to the requirements in s.5(1), which include being “of good character”, not being inadmissible under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), giving true and complete information, and, for permanent residents, a three-year residence requirement. Section 22(1) lets the Minister suspend or cancel an authorization if you no longer meet those requirements, contravene the Customs Act or related legislation, or gave information that was not true, accurate or complete.
The violations that come up most often
CBSA’s terms and conditions page and the source commentary point to these problems:
- failing to declare goods that exceed your personal exemption;
- bringing in restricted or prohibited food, plants or animals;
- carrying commercial goods, including promotional samples, even if you declare them;
- carrying CAN$10,000 or more in currency or monetary instruments while using NEXUS;
- having a passenger in the NEXUS lane who is not a member, including a spouse or child;
- not updating your address, passport or immigration status;
- a criminal charge or conviction, in Canada or elsewhere.
CBSA states that negligence, carelessness or lack of knowledge are not acceptable reasons. One commentary describes the US approach as “zero tolerance”: even one undeclared piece of fruit can cost you the card.
How long do you have to request a CBSA review of a NEXUS decision?
Section 23 of the Presentation of Persons (2003) Regulations allows a written review request to the Minister within 30 days after the rejection, or after the cancellation or suspension becomes effective. CBSA’s current NEXUS appeal page and its Recourse Directorate page both say requests are accepted within 90 days. A cancellation is effective immediately if you are told in person, or 15 days after the notice is mailed (s.22(5)).
Because the two differ, file within 30 days if you can. Between 30 and 90 days, CBSA’s published position still allows the request.
What goes into a CBSA review request
You can file an E-Appeal online or write to the Recourse Directorate, Canada Border Services Agency, 333 North River Road, Tower A, 11th Floor, Ottawa, ON K1A 0L8. CBSA asks for:
- your name, current address and daytime telephone number;
- the program (NEXUS) and your Client ID;
- a detailed explanation of what happened;
- a certified criminal record check, if relevant;
- an authorization for your representative, if you have one; and
- any supporting documents.
The explanation is where these requests are won or lost. One commentary noted that this is the last administrative step before the Federal Court, so get the account complete and consistent the first time.
The underlying infraction has its own review
A revocation usually follows a separate enforcement action, such as a customs seizure or a currency seizure. Those have their own deadlines. Under Customs Act s.129(1), you may request the Minister’s decision within 90 days after the seizure or notice. Under the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (PCMLTFA) s.25, the same 90-day period applies to a currency seizure for failing to report under s.12(1). The source commentary recommends contesting both: the NEXUS cancellation and the underlying infraction.
Can you take a NEXUS revocation to the Federal Court?
Yes, for a CBSA decision. CBSA’s recourse page states there is no automatic appeal from the Recourse Directorate’s decision, but you may apply for judicial review under s.18.1 of the Federal Courts Act. Section 18.1(2) requires the application within 30 days after the decision is first communicated to you, unless a judge extends the time.
The source material discusses Nassar v. Canada, a Federal Court decision. As the commentary describes it, the traveller failed to report funds over CAN$10,000 under PCMLTFA s.12(1) because he had forgotten about extra euros in his bag from an earlier trip. The Court held that the “good character” requirement could not be used to revoke his card where the concern came from an innocent mistake, and that CBSA must give a transparent and intelligible justification for its decision.
The commentary also notes that the Federal Court has no jurisdiction over decisions made by US authorities.
How do you challenge a CBP NEXUS denial or revocation?
If CBP denied or revoked your membership, you request reconsideration by the CBP Trusted Traveler Ombudsman through the Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) website. CBP says you will get the reasons in writing. Your request and attachments must be in English and should include the date of denial and the reasons given, an explanation of the record or incident, court disposition documents in PDF for every arrest or conviction (even if expunged), and any other supporting documents.
CBP’s page does not publish a filing deadline, so act promptly. The source commentary describes the US process as less transparent than Canada’s.
When can you reapply for NEXUS after a cancellation?
It depends on the reason. CBSA publishes a table of waiting periods. A few examples from the current page:
| Reason for cancellation | Wait before reapplying |
|---|---|
| Failing to declare goods over your exemption | 1 year |
| Commercial goods, including samples | 1 year |
| Not updating immigration status or other eligibility information | 1 year |
| Letting a non-member through, or transferring your card | 2 years |
| Customs Act seizure, currency of CAN$10,000 or more (unless exempt), or restricted food, plants or animals | 1 to 7 years |
| IRPA contravention recorded in GCMS | 10 years |
| Summary conviction under the Criminal Code (or a foreign equivalent) | 10 years after the sentence ends |
| Conviction involving narcotics, controlled substances or weapons, or a Criminal Code currency offence | Not eligible |
Multiple violations bring the longest period, 10 years. A 2022 commentary in the source material gives a general six-year figure, which does not match CBSA’s current table. Rely on the table and confirm it before reapplying.
Can a border infraction affect your PR, visa or citizenship?
Yes. A seizure or penalty is not a criminal conviction, but CBSA can also review a matter for prosecution under the Customs Act or PCMLTFA, and both statutes contain offences that may be prosecuted summarily or by indictment. A conviction is what changes the immigration picture. Our article on what counts as a conviction for Canadian immigration explains the line.
- Serious criminality (IRPA s.36(1)(a)): a permanent resident or foreign national convicted in Canada of an offence for which more than six months’ imprisonment was imposed is inadmissible.
- Criminality (IRPA s.36(2)(a)): a foreign national convicted in Canada of an indictable offence, or of two offences not arising from a single occurrence, is inadmissible. Under s.36(3)(a), a hybrid offence is deemed indictable even if prosecuted summarily.
- Citizenship (Citizenship Act s.22): you cannot be granted citizenship while charged with an indictable offence under an Act of Parliament (s.22(1)(b)), or if convicted of one during the four years before your application (s.22(2)(a)).
Disclose it honestly
Immigration and citizenship forms ask about arrests, charges and refusals. Leaving out a border incident can be worse than the incident. IRPA s.40(1)(a) makes a person inadmissible for misrepresenting or withholding material facts that could induce an error. Citizenship Act s.22(1)(e.1) bars a grant for the same conduct, and s.10(1) allows revocation of citizenship obtained by false representation or by knowingly concealing material circumstances. Our guide on declaring a criminal record on an eTA and at the border covers how to disclose.
For permanent residents, keep your status documents current as well. Failing to update your immigration status with NEXUS is itself a violation. If your PR card has expired or is about to, see our page on the Canadian PR card.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I appeal a NEXUS card revocation?
Yes. For a CBSA decision, request a review by the CBSA Recourse Directorate, then judicial review in the Federal Court within 30 days of that decision. For a CBP decision, ask the CBP Trusted Traveler Ombudsman to reconsider through the TTP website.
Can I lose NEXUS for forgetting to declare an apple?
Yes. Undeclared or restricted food is a listed violation. An honest mistake can still be argued in a review.
Will a NEXUS revocation affect my permanent residence?
Not by itself. A conviction from the same incident can, and failing to disclose the incident can lead to a misrepresentation finding.
Ask us about your matter
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Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. Immigration law and IRCC/ESDC policy change frequently, and every case turns on its own facts. Reading this article does not create a lawyer–client relationship. Obtain advice tailored to your situation before you act.
Talk to a Canadian immigration lawyer. BridgePoint Law advises individuals and businesses across Canada — and on Canada–US–China cross-border matters — on border, NEXUS and inadmissibility issues. Book a consultation with our team in Toronto and Kingston. We work in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese.