Personal Shipment (CBP Shipment Type)

This article is part of the Shipment Release Types Guide

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

CBP Form 3299, used for a Personal Shipment

A Personal Shipment, also known as Household Goods or Unaccompanied Articles, is a U.S. Shipment Type for non-commercial personal or household goods being transported into the United States by a highway carrier. It is used with an ACE Manifest when the goods are not for sale and are not commercial merchandise.

In BorderConnect, a Personal Shipment is used for non-commercial, personal, used goods being transported by a highway carrier to clear through U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on an ACE Manifest. To qualify as a Personal Shipment in this context, the goods must not be for sale, must not be owned by a business, and must not be brand new, unused goods.

This shipment type is commonly used when an individual moving to the United States hires a highway carrier to transport used personal belongings or household effects. Some personal or household effects may qualify for free entry, but eligibility depends on the goods, the importer, and the declaration made to CBP.

Video Tutorial

How to create an ACE eManifest with a Personal Shipment

When to use Personal Shipment

Use this shipment type when the shipment consists of personal or household effects being imported by an individual and transported separately from the importer. The goods should not be imported for sale, resale, business use, or as commercial merchandise.

Do not use Personal Shipment for standard commercial freight. Commercial shipments normally require a release process such as PAPS and an entry filed by the customs broker.

Personal versus commercial

The key distinction is whether the shipment is personal property or commercial merchandise. Household goods and personal effects are generally goods owned and used by an individual, while commercial freight is imported for sale, resale, business, inventory, or other commercial use.

Situation	Likely shipment type	Notes
Used household goods for a person moving to the United States	Personal Shipment	Commonly supported by CBP Form 3299 and an inventory or packing list.
Used clothing, furniture, books, or personal belongings shipped separately from the importer	Personal Shipment	May qualify as unaccompanied personal or household effects depending on the importer and goods.
New retail inventory for a store	PAPS or another commercial shipment type	Goods for sale or business use are commercial merchandise.
Equipment owned by a business	PAPS or another commercial shipment type	Business-owned goods should not be treated as a Personal Shipment.

Declaring a Personal Shipment in ACE eManifest

Creating a Personal Shipment in BorderConnect

Personal Shipments transported by a highway carrier must be reported on an ACE eManifest. In BorderConnect:

1. Create an ACE Shipment.
2. Select Personal Shipment as the Shipment Type. Depending on context, this may also be described as household goods or unaccompanied articles.
3. Enter the Shipment Control Number, shipper, consignee, and commodity information.
4. Attach the shipment to the ACE Trip and transmit the trip to CBP.

Although a Personal Shipment is different from a PAPS shipment, the carrier still needs a unique Shipment Control Number and the normal ACE shipment data needed to identify the shipment. BorderConnect describes Personal Shipment as a type of informal entry that allows non-commercial, personal, used goods being moved by a highway carrier to be released at the border.

CBP Form 3299 and inventory

At the border, the driver should be prepared to present the ACE lead sheet and a completed CBP Form 3299 for the shipment. CBP identifies Form 3299 as the Declaration for Free Entry of Unaccompanied Articles.

CBP Form 3299 is used to declare categories such as household effects, tools of trade, and other unaccompanied articles, and the form requires details about the importer, the shipment, and articles for which free entry is claimed. Under 19 CFR 148.6, unaccompanied shipments of effects subject to personal exemptions may be entered on the importer’s declaration on CBP Form 3299 when the shipment arrives, and CBP may require the owner to provide an inventory of the imported articles.

The declaration should be supported by a complete inventory or packing list. Stating only “household effects” is not enough information; the inventory should describe what is being imported so CBP can review the declaration and determine whether the goods qualify for the claimed treatment.

Free entry considerations

CBP states that household items used abroad may be duty free if they were used for at least one year, are not intended for anyone else, and are not intended for sale. CBP also notes that clothing, jewelry, photography equipment, electronics, and vehicles are personal effects rather than household effects, and that duty is usually waived on personal effects more than one year old while duty must be paid on all vehicles.

Not all goods in a personal move are automatically admissible or duty free. Prohibited items may not enter the United States, and restricted or regulated goods may require additional review, permits, or documentation from CBP or another government agency.

Timing

For truck cargo, CBP must receive the required electronic cargo information through an approved electronic system before the carrier reaches the first U.S. port of arrival. The regulation describes a 30-minute or one-hour pre-arrival window depending on the approved system used, so carriers should follow the timing required for their ACE truck manifest process.

Personal Shipments do not use a PAPS broker entry number in BorderConnect, but they still require an ACE eManifest shipment, a unique Shipment Control Number, and the documentation CBP needs to review the personal or household effects at the border.

Common mistakes

• Selecting Personal Shipment for commercial freight, business property, retail inventory, or goods intended for sale.
• Using vague commodity descriptions such as “freight,” “goods,” or “miscellaneous.”
• Listing only “household goods” without a supporting inventory or packing list.
• Assuming that CBP Form 3299 automatically guarantees free entry.
• Forgetting that vehicles, regulated goods, prohibited goods, or agency-controlled items may require additional documentation or may not qualify for the same treatment as used household effects.
• Arriving at the border without the ACE lead sheet, CBP Form 3299, and supporting inventory.

See also

• PAPS
• ACE Manifest Software User Guide
• Shipment Types for ACE and ACI eManifest
• Personal Goods (CBSA Shipment Type)