Sufferance Warehouse (CBSA)
Last updated 12 August 2026
On this page
| This article is part of the Customs Glossary Guide |
A Sufferance Warehouse is a temporary storage facility licensed by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). CBSA describes sufferance warehouses as privately owned and operated facilities licensed by CBSA for the short-term storage and examination, when required, of imported goods that have not yet been released by CBSA.[1]
Imported goods may be held in a sufferance warehouse after arriving in Canada and before they are released by customs. CBSA states that only imported goods for which financial security has been posted are eligible to be stored in sufferance warehouses.[1]
Importers, carriers, freight forwarders, and warehouse operators use sufferance warehouses when goods need to be held while customs documentation, release decisions, examinations, or other requirements are completed. Sufferance warehouses can also be used as the destination for an in-bond movement when goods move inland before release or export.
What Is a Sufferance Warehouse?
A sufferance warehouse provides a secure location for imported goods that have not yet been released by CBSA. Goods may be moved to a sufferance warehouse for reasons such as:
- delayed customs clearance;
- incomplete or incorrect paperwork;
- CBSA examination or inspection;
- in-bond movement to an inland release location; or
- deconsolidation or handling before final release.
A sufferance warehouse is different from a customs bonded warehouse. A sufferance warehouse is generally used for arrival, examination, and short-term storage before release, while a customs bonded warehouse is used for longer-term storage and duty/tax deferral after goods have been accounted for under the applicable CBSA process.[2]
Storage Time Limits
CBSA's general storage time limit for goods held in a CBSA office or sufferance warehouse is 40 calendar days from the date the goods are first reported to CBSA.[1] Some goods have shorter limits, including perishables, prescribed substances, firearms, prohibited ammunition, prohibited devices, prohibited or restricted weapons, tobacco products, and spirits.[1]
| Goods | CBSA storage time limit |
|---|---|
| General imported goods | Maximum 40 days |
| Perishables | Maximum 4 days |
| Prescribed substances | Maximum 14 days |
| Firearms, prohibited ammunition, prohibited devices, prohibited or restricted weapons, and tobacco products | Maximum 14 days |
| Spirits | Maximum 21 days |
Extensions may be available in specific circumstances under CBSA policy.[2] Because storage limits depend on the type of goods and the situation, importers and carriers should confirm the applicable requirements with CBSA or the warehouse operator.
Sublocation Codes
Each sufferance warehouse location is identified in customs data using a sublocation code. CBSA states that a sub-location code identifies the location of goods within a sufferance warehouse, and that carriers, freight forwarders, and agents must include sufferance warehouse sub-location codes on cargo control documents.[1]
CBSA also requires sub-location codes so it can provide electronic release notification to sufferance warehouse operators who participate in the Release Notification System.[1] CBSA publishes official sufferance warehouse operator and sublocation code lists that carriers can use to confirm approved codes.[3]
Uses in BorderConnect
In BorderConnect, sufferance warehouses are most commonly used through the sublocation code selected on Canadian ACI shipment records. When a carrier creates an In Bond ACI shipment, BorderConnect uses the selected sublocation to identify the sufferance warehouse or approved location where the unreleased goods will be bonded to.
Carriers using BorderConnect's ACI software can enter a sublocation code when starting or editing an ACI shipment. This is especially important for in-bond shipments and for bonded carriers preparing PARS shipments that may need to move in-bond if release is not available at the border.
BorderConnect also offers Warehouse Arrival Certification Message (WACM) software for Canadian sufferance warehouses. BorderConnect WACM software helps Canadian sufferance warehouses arrive shipments destined to their warehouse, send arrival messages to CBSA, and receive responses quickly.[4]
| BorderConnect area | How sufferance warehouse information is used |
|---|---|
| Start New ACI Shipment Page | The user selects a sublocation code when creating an in-bond shipment or preparing a bonded PARS shipment that may need to move in-bond. |
| Edit ACI Shipment Page | The user can correct or change the sublocation if the bonded destination changes before arrival. |
| ACI Shipment Details Page | The user can review the warehouse/sublocation information before the shipment or manifest is transmitted to CBSA. |
| ACI eManifest Details Page | The manifest can be reviewed to confirm attached shipments have the required in-bond warehouse information. |
| Warehouse Arrival Certification Message | Sufferance warehouse operators can use BorderConnect WACM tools to report arrival of shipments destined to their warehouse. |
| RNS-PARS Tracking | BorderConnect RNS-PARS tracking can help users know when PARS shipments have crossed the border or arrived at a sufferance warehouse.[4] |
Common Examples
A highway carrier may use a sufferance warehouse when a shipment cannot be released at the first Canadian port of entry and must move inland in-bond to a bonded location. In that case, the ACI shipment should include the correct shipment type, release office, and sublocation code before transmission to CBSA.
A sufferance warehouse operator may use warehouse arrival messaging after unreleased goods arrive at the warehouse. This helps CBSA receive the arrival notice and supports the electronic release notification process for participating warehouse operators.
Official Resources
- CBSA Memorandum D4-1-4: Customs Sufferance Warehouses
- CBSA Memorandum D4-1-7: Extension of Time Limits for the Storage of Goods
- CBSA sufferance warehouses
- CBSA sufferance warehouse operators and sublocation codes
Related Pages
- Sub Location
- In Bond
- PARS
- ACI eManifest Software User Guide
- Start New ACI Shipment Page
- Edit ACI Shipment Page
- ACI Shipment Details Page
- Release Notification System (RNS)
- Warehouse Arrival Certification Message
- Customs Glossary Guide