Canada-US Nexus Program No Longer Allows ‘X’ for Gender Marker After Trump Admin Directive

A NEXUS card and a Canadian passport are pictured in Ottawa on Jan. 17, 2023. The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick

The joint Nexus program for expedited passage at the Canada-U.S. border no longer accepts the “X” gender marker on its applications, requiring Canadians to select “male” or “female” only, following new directives from the Trump administration.

The Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) says the change follows an executive order made by U.S. President Donald Trump in January. Under the executive order, male and female are the only two sexes to be recognized on official documents.

“These sexes are not changeable and are grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality,” the executive order reads, which applies to government-issued identification documents, such as passports, visas, and global entry cards.

As a result of the order, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) implemented changes to its online application system, the CBSA told The Epoch Times in an Aug. 6 email.

There is no longer an option to select “X” as a gender identifier on the Nexus card application, and individuals must select either “male” or “female.” CBSA said this change took effect in February.

The Nexus program involves a five-year membership that intends to speed up border crossings into Canada and the United States for trusted travellers who are deemed “low-risk” and pre-approved. Under Nexus, travellers pay a fee to apply for pre-clearance background checks on a promise of expedited passage at airports, land borders or marine crossings.

While the program is jointly managed by the CBSA and the CBP, the application process is “housed on a U.S. system operated by U.S. CBP,” the CBSA said.

The Nexus program had 2,072,925 active members as of July 31, of which 1,619,179 are Canadian, making up approximately 78 percent of the total membership, the federal agency said.

“NEXUS members whose cards identify them as a gender other than “male” or “female” (who had their card issued before the executive order) will not be impacted and their membership card will remain valid,” the CBSA said, noting that these individuals can continue to use their Nexus cards as usual.

While new applicants and existing members who renew their memberships are able to apply using a passport with the “X” gender marker, they are now required to select either “male” or “female” on the Nexus membership application, the CBSA said.

‘Entry Restrictions’

The Canadian government began recognizing gender neutrality on passports in 2019 and provided Canadians who “do not identify exclusively as female or male” the option to use an “X” gender marker on their passports, travel documents, citizenship certificates, or permanent resident cards.

Those who wished to change their existing documents to include an “X” gender marker were able to do so for free until June 2020.

Although individuals can declare themselves as gender-neutral on their Canadian passports, the federal government’s website warns that those with “X” gender markers could face “entry restrictions” into some countries that do not recognize “X” as a gender.

“Please note, while the Government of Canada recognizes the “X” gender identifier, it cannot guarantee entry or transit through other countries,” the CBSA told The Epoch Times. “While travelling outside Canada, Canadian travellers are subject to, and must follow, the local laws of the destination country.”

Isaac Teo contributed to this report.