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.

CSA, standing for Customs Self Assessment, is a Canadian Shipment Type for goods clearing through CBSA and in an ACI eManifest.

CSA allows for the clearance of goods imported by a CSA-approved importer and transported by a CSA-approved carrier. For a shipment to clear under CSA, both the importer and carrier must be CSA-approved, and the driver must be registered with either the Commercial Driver Registration Program (CDRP) or the Free and Secure Trade (FAST) driver registration program.

To be eligible as a CSA shipment, the goods must have been shipped directly from the United States or Mexico and must not require any kind of permit, licence, or similar document to be presented to CBSA at the time of report. Goods that are regulated by another government department, such as CFIA, may not be eligible for CSA clearance.

The importer is responsible for indicating to the carrier which shipments are eligible for CSA clearance.

Video Tutorial

Video walkthrough

Overview

CSA is different from a standard PARS shipment because it is tied to the Customs Self Assessment program. The shipment can only move under CSA when the importer, carrier, driver, and goods all meet CSA requirements.

CSA shipments may be handled outside of ACI using the traditional CSA paper process, or they may be reported electronically in ACI if the carrier has elected to transmit CSA data through ACI and has completed the required setup with CBSA.

In BorderConnect, CSA can be selected as the shipment type when creating an ACI shipment. The carrier must still enter the required shipment details, including a unique Cargo Control Number, importer information, shipper, consignee, and commodity information.

Eligibility

To qualify for CSA clearance:

• The importer must be CSA-approved.
• The carrier must be CSA-approved.
• The driver must be registered with CDRP or FAST.
• The goods must have been shipped directly from the United States or Mexico.
• The goods must not require a permit, licence, certificate, or similar document to be presented to CBSA at the time of report.
• The importer must identify the shipment as eligible for CSA clearance.

If any of these conditions are not met, the shipment should not be declared as CSA. Use another appropriate ACI shipment type or release process instead.

CSA and ACI

Shipments that qualify for CSA clearance are exempt from the requirement for advance commercial information. The carrier may continue to use the same process that was in place before ACI, such as the paper process with three bar codes.

If the truck is carrying only CSA shipments and the carrier is using the traditional CSA process, the carrier would not file an ACI eManifest for that truck. If the truck is carrying a mixed load, the carrier would file an ACI eManifest only for the non-CSA shipments.

If a carrier elects to report CSA shipments in ACI, they must first notify CBSA's Technical Support Unit at TSU.UST@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca, as well as their CSA senior project officer. The carrier must also be a Release Notification System participant, such as a user of BorderConnect's PARS Checking software, in order to transmit CSA data through ACI.

Carriers electing to transmit CSA data through ACI are also responsible for transmitting their TCP data through ACI. For instructions on this and on the registration process, contact your service provider.

Declaring CSA in BorderConnect

To report a CSA shipment in ACI, create an ACI Shipment designated as CSA and ensure that the shipment is transmitted as part of the ACI eManifest.

Selecting CSA as the shipment type.

Although a CSA shipment is different from a PARS shipment, the carrier still needs to provide a unique Cargo Control Number, the CSA Importer Business Number, and all other information normally required for an ACI shipment, including shipper, consignee, and commodity information.

After the CSA shipment is created, return to the ACI eManifest and transmit the manifest using Sync with CBSA.

At the Border

At the border, the CSA shipment is processed automatically as part of the ACI eManifest when the driver presents the ACI Lead Sheet.

If the CSA shipment is being processed using the traditional CSA paper process, the required CSA bar-code information must be available at the port of arrival. CBSA guidance for CSA carriers states that border services officers scan the mandatory bar codes at the first point of arrival to Canada.

BorderPrint CSA Carrier Lead Sheet Card.

CSA carriers can order BorderPrint CSA Lead Sheet Cards for use with CSA shipments at the port of arrival. BorderPrint's CSA Carrier Lead Sheet Cards include the carrier name and a barcode of the carrier code, and are designed for approved CSA highway carriers.

It is not necessary for the driver to present the three bar code CSA card when the CSA shipment has been declared on the ACI eManifest. However, the driver must still be prepared to show a FAST or CDRP card to demonstrate eligibility to transport a CSA shipment.

If the load contains both CSA and non-CSA shipments, confirm that the ACI eManifest and all required non-CSA shipment clearances are on file before the driver arrives.

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.

Best Practices

Confirm CSA eligibility with the importer before creating the shipment. The carrier should not assume that goods qualify for CSA simply because the importer or carrier participates in the CSA program.

Use CSA only when the importer, carrier, driver, and goods all meet the requirements. If the goods require a permit, licence, certificate, or other document at the time of report, they may not be eligible for CSA clearance.

If your company uses the traditional CSA paper process, keep valid CSA lead sheet cards available for drivers before they arrive at the port. For electronic ACI reporting, confirm that the ACI eManifest has been accepted and that the driver has the correct lead sheet or required identification.

If your company plans to transmit CSA data through ACI, confirm that the required CBSA setup has been completed before filing CSA shipments electronically. This includes notifying CBSA and ensuring your company is able to transmit the required TCP data.

See also

• Shipment Release Types Guide
• CSA Program Information
• BorderConnect ACI eManifest Guide
• Start New ACI Shipment Page
• ACI Shipment Details Page
• PARS Shipment Type
• FAST Information
• PARS Checking Software User Guide