Personal Goods (CBSA Shipment Type)

This article is part of the Shipment Release Types Guide

This article is about the Canadian Shipment Type. For the U.S. Shipment Type, see Personal Shipment (CBP Shipment Type)

How to create a Personal Shipment in ACE in BorderConnect.

Loading Personal Goods onto truck

Personal Goods, aka Casual Goods, is a Canadian Shipment Type for goods to clear through CBSA and ACI eManifest. It allows for the release of shipments consisting of non-commercial goods being transported by a highway carrier.

To qualify as Personal Goods the goods must not be imported into Canada for sale, or for any commercial, industrial, occupational, institutional or other like use.

Declaring a Personal Goods Shipment in ACI eManifest

Personal Goods being transported by a highway carrier are required to be reported on an ACI eManifest. To report a Personal Goods shipment the carrier will need to create an ACI Shipment designated as non-CSA (or "Personal Goods" if using BorderConnect's ACI eManifest software), and ensure that the shipment is transmitted as part of their ACI eManifest.

Although a Personal Goods Shipment is different from a PARS shipment, the carrier will still need to provide a unique Cargo Control Number, as well as all other information normally required for an ACI Shipment including Shipper, Consignee and Commodity information.

At the border, the driver must also present a completed A8A for the shipment, as well as other documentation related to the clearance, including the completed customs form that pertains to the personal shipment. (i.e. Form B15, B15-1, E24, BSF186 (formerly B4), or BSF186A (formerly B4A)

For more information on which form needs to be completed for a Personal Goods Shipment, see Customs Memorandum D17-1-3, which also includes detailed instructions on the requirements for carriers should Form BSF186 (formerly B4) be used. See also Customs Memorandum D2-2-1 for instructions related to the release of the goods of persons moving to Canada, aka Settlers' Effects.

In order to comply with ACI eManifest requirements you are required to ensure that both your manifest and the broker clearance on any PARS shipments are on file with CBSA for at least one hour before the driver arrives at the border.