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In Bond (CBSA Shipment Type)

Last updated 22 July 2026

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This article is part of the Shipment Release Types Guide and the BorderConnect ACI eManifest Guide
This article is about the Canadian In-Bond Shipment Type. For information on the U.S. Shipment Type visit In-Bond Shipment (CBP Shipment Type)
An A8A In-Bond Cargo Control Document as seen from BorderPrint.com

An In Bond is a Canadian Shipment Type used when goods need to move inland under Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) control before final customs release. It allows unreleased commercial goods to move from the first Canadian port of arrival to a specified sufferance warehouse, CBSA office, or other authorized location where the customs release or entry process can be completed.

An In Bond shipment is used when the carrier, importer, or broker elects to move the goods inland instead of having them released at the first Canadian port of arrival, such as with PARS. The goods cannot be delivered to the consignee until the required release or entry process has been completed.

Video Tutorial

How to create an In-Bond shipment in ACI using BorderConnect

Training video: How to create an In-Bond shipment in ACI using BorderConnect.[1]

Carrier Authority

Only a bonded highway carrier, a carrier with in-bond authority, or a carrier that has obtained a temporary or single trip authorization from CBSA should move goods in bond. CBSA highway carrier guidance explains that a bonded carrier is permitted to transport in-bond goods beyond the first point of arrival and between points in Canada.[2]

CBSA's highway carrier guidance also states that non-bonded carriers requiring a single trip authorization must file the application at the first point of arrival in Canada and post security as required by CBSA.[2] Carriers with non-bonded authority should not assume they can move unreleased freight inland without CBSA authorization.

When to Use

In Bond is appropriate when the goods will not be released at the first Canadian port of arrival and must move inland under CBSA control. This may occur because the broker or importer requested inland release, the shipment is moving to a sufferance warehouse, or the shipment cannot be released at the border and the carrier has authority to move it in bond.

Scenario Is In Bond appropriate? Notes
Inland release Yes Goods are moving to a sufferance warehouse or inland CBSA office before final customs release.
Failed or delayed PARS release Sometimes The carrier, broker, and importer may decide to move the shipment in bond if the shipment cannot be released at the border and the carrier has authority to move in bond.
Regular border release Usually no If the goods are expected to clear at the first port of arrival, PARS or another appropriate release process is usually used instead.
Non-bonded carrier Usually no A non-bonded carrier generally needs a single trip authorization or other CBSA approval before moving freight inland in bond.[2]

Declaring in ACI

In Bond shipments are reported on an ACI eManifest. In BorderConnect, create an ACI shipment and select In-Bond as the shipment type. In some systems this may be entered as a non-CSA shipment with in-bond details.

Release Office and Sub Location fields for an In Bond shipment

When reporting an In Bond shipment in ACI, the Sub Location field is important because the goods are moving to a sufferance warehouse or other authorized location. The release office should normally be the customs office where the goods are expected to obtain release, not simply the first Canadian port of entry.

The ACI/eManifest highway pre-arrival timeframe applies to in-bond shipments. CBSA highway carrier guidance states that highway carriers transporting goods into Canada are required to transmit cargo and conveyance data electronically to CBSA before arrival.[2] Industry guidance on CBSA's A8A change also states that In Bond shipments must be reported on an ACI eManifest at least one hour before arrival at the CBSA port of entry.[3]

BorderConnect Workflow

BorderConnect's ACI In-Bond workflow includes entering trip information, shipment information, consignee details, sub location, release office, and commodity information before transmitting the ACI eManifest to CBSA.[1] BorderConnect can also generate the A8A In-Bond document from the shipment information entered in the ACI eManifest.[1]

  1. Start or open the ACI eManifest.
  2. Enter the trip number, first Canadian port of entry, estimated arrival date, and estimated arrival time.
  3. If needed, click Show All Fields so the Sub Location field appears.
  4. Enter the sufferance warehouse or sub location code for the in-bond destination.
  5. Create a new ACI shipment.
  6. Select In-Bond as the shipment type, or follow the carrier's configured non-CSA/in-bond workflow.
  7. Enter the Cargo Control Number and shipment details.
  8. Enter the Release Office where the goods are expected to obtain release.
  9. Enter the Sub Location or sufferance warehouse code where the goods will move under bond.
  10. Complete shipper, consignee, and commodity details.
  11. Save the shipment and sync or transmit the manifest to CBSA.
  12. Make sure the driver has the required lead sheet, A8A or other documents, and broker or warehouse instructions before arriving at the border.

Paper A8A

The A8A(B), In Bond – Cargo Control Document, is the CBSA form used for in-bond cargo control documentation.[4] CBSA's A8A(B) form includes fields such as carrier code, cargo control number, consignee, shipper, number of packages, description and marks, weight, location of goods, carrier name, and conveyance identification.[4]

Historically, the driver was required to present a completed paper A8A with the Cargo Control Number for in-bond shipments at the border. CBSA and industry guidance indicate that, effective July 1, 2019, highway carriers are no longer generally required to present a paper A8A/B for in-bond shipments when the shipment is transmitted electronically through ACI eManifest.[3]

However, carriers may still print or carry the A8A for reference, warehouse instructions, fallback processes, or when directed by CBSA, a broker, or a warehouse. A8A documents can be printed directly from the ACI shipment page in BorderConnect after the shipment details and commodity information have been saved.

Carriers that need physical A8A forms can order A8A Cargo Control Documents from BorderPrint in different formats. BorderPrint lists A8A cargo control documents as available blank, pre-printed with the carrier code, or paired with PARS barcode labels.[5]

Carriers should follow CBSA cargo control and bar-coded label requirements for documents and labels presented with the shipment.[6] If an A8A is printed from BorderConnect, the Cargo Control Number and shipment information should match the ACI eManifest exactly.

After Arrival

Because In Bond goods are not released at the first port of arrival, the carrier will not receive final release or transaction information at the border in the same way as a pre-cleared PARS shipment. The goods must move to the authorized sufferance warehouse or CBSA office, where the customs broker or responsible party completes the release process before the goods are delivered to the consignee.

The carrier should follow the warehouse, broker, and CBSA instructions for arrival, documentation, and proof of delivery. Goods should not be delivered to the final consignee until the required customs release or entry process has been completed.

Common Mistakes

  • Selecting PARS when the shipment is intended to move inland in bond.
  • Using In Bond when the carrier is not bonded and has no single trip authorization.
  • Entering the wrong release office or sub location.
  • Sending the driver to the first port of arrival without warehouse or broker instructions.
  • Forgetting that the goods are not released just because the ACI eManifest was accepted.
  • Printing an A8A with a Cargo Control Number that does not match the transmitted ACI shipment.
  • Delivering the goods directly to the consignee before customs release.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 BorderConnect: How to Create an ACI eManifest with an In-Bond Shipment in BorderConnect
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 CBSA: Highway carriers
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 PCB: CBSA Paper Cargo Control Document Requirements
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 CBSA Form A8A(B): In Bond - Cargo Control Document
  5. ↑ BorderPrint: Order A8A Cargo Control Documents
  6. ↑ CBSA: Cargo control and bar-coded labels
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