CSA (CBSA Shipment Type)

🔖 This article is part of the Shipment Release Types Guide

🔖 This article is about the Canadian Shipment Type. For information on the CSA Program visit CSA Program Information

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How to create a CSA shipment in BorderConnect.

CSA (Customs Self Assessment) is a Canadian Shipment Type associated with the CBSA Customs Self-Assessment (CSA) Program.

The CSA program is designed for low-risk, pre-approved importers and carriers using registered commercial drivers. It allows eligible goods to move across the Canadian border with streamlined processing and authority to deliver without routine border release processing.

Who Can Use CSA?

CSA clearance is only available when all parties involved are CSA-authorized.

Role	Requirement
Importer	Must be CSA-authorized
Carrier	Must be CSA-authorized
Driver (Highway Mode)	Must be registered under FAST or CDRP

In highway mode, the driver transporting CSA shipments must be registered under either:

• Commercial Driver Registration Program (CDRP)
• Free and Secure Trade (FAST) program

CSA-Eligible Goods

To qualify for CSA clearance, goods must generally meet the following criteria:

Eligibility Requirement	Description
Origin	Commercial goods shipped directly from the United States or Mexico
Regulatory Status	Goods must not require a permit, licence, certificate, or similar document to be presented to CBSA prior to release
Responsibility	CSA importers are responsible for determining CSA eligibility and advising their carriers

💡 Goods that require permits, licences, or certificates under other government department legislation are generally not eligible for CSA clearance.

Declaring a CSA Shipment in ACI

Option 1: Traditional (Non-ACI) CSA Process

CSA shipments are not required to be reported on an ACI eManifest.

Carriers may continue to use the pre-ACI paper CSA process:

• No eManifest filing is required for trucks carrying only CSA shipments
• For mixed loads, the carrier files an ACI manifest **only for non-CSA shipments**

Option 2: Reporting CSA Shipments Electronically in ACI

Carriers may elect to report CSA shipments electronically through ACI, but must complete the following steps first:

1. Notify CBSA’s Technical Support Unit at TSU.UST@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca
2. Notify their CSA Senior Project Officer
3. Be registered as a Release Notification System (RNS) participant (e.g. PARS Checking software)
4. Transmit both CSA shipment data and TCP data through ACI

⚠️ If you are unsure about registration or setup, contact your service provider for guidance. BorderConnect contact information is available here.

Creating a CSA Shipment in ACI

To report a CSA shipment electronically:

1. Create an ACI Shipment designated as CSA
2. Include the shipment in your ACI eManifest transmission

When transmitting a CSA shipment via ACI, the carrier must provide:

• A unique Cargo Control Number (CCN)
• Shipper and consignee information
• Description of goods
• Other standard ACI highway cargo data elements

CSA Clearance at the Border

At the border, CSA clearance is based on CBSA’s minimum CSA reporting requirements.

The driver must present:

• CSA importer BN/RM (bar-coded)
• CSA carrier code (bar-coded)
• FAST or CDRP card (highway mode)

If the shipment was transmitted via ACI, the driver must also present:

• An eManifest lead sheet or other acceptable bar-coded document

This allows CBSA to retrieve advance shipment data already on file.

⚠️ CSA clearance requires: A CSA-authorized importer A CSA-authorized carrier A registered driver (FAST or CDRP) CSA-eligible goods