Skip to content
BorderConnect

Canada Border Services Agency - General Information

Last updated 13 July 2026

On this page
The printable version is no longer supported and may have rendering errors. Please update your browser bookmarks and please use the default browser print function instead.
This article is part of the Customs Compliance Guide
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) seal.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is Canada's federal border agency. It administers and enforces border legislation for people and goods entering Canada, supports legitimate trade and travel, and works with other government departments whose import requirements are enforced at the border.[1]

For highway carriers, CBSA is the agency that receives ACI eManifest data, controls whether commercial goods are released or authorized to move in bond, and may issue penalties or enforcement action when reporting or entry requirements are not met. As a CBSA-registered software service provider, BorderConnect helps highway carriers meet Canadian commercial reporting requirements through ACI eManifest and release-status tools.


Background

CBSA was created in 2003 to bring together border-related functions that had previously been handled by separate federal organizations. Its role includes customs administration, immigration enforcement at ports of entry, food, plant and animal controls at the border, and support for Canada's public safety and trade priorities.[1]

For commercial carriers, CBSA's role has increasingly moved from paper-based reporting to electronic pre-arrival reporting. Advance Commercial Information (ACI) and eManifest allow CBSA to receive commercial data before goods arrive, so the agency can assess risk, support release decisions, and target examinations more efficiently.[2]

Highway Carrier Requirements

Highway carriers crossing into Canada must be properly identified to CBSA, must transmit required pre-arrival information, and must make sure the goods on the truck are either released or authorized to move under customs control.

Requirement What It Means
Carrier Code Carriers and freight forwarders need a CBSA-issued Carrier Code to do business with CBSA. The carrier code is a four-character unique identifier used in CBSA commercial systems.[3]
ACI eManifest Highway carriers must transmit true, accurate, and complete advance commercial information before arrival. For highway mode, CBSA requires electronic commercial data to be transmitted at least one hour before arrival at the first port of arrival.[4]
Customs Release or In Bond Movement Commercial goods entering Canada must be released by CBSA or authorized to move in bond. Most commercial highway shipments use PARS, but other shipment types apply to specific movements.
Release Status Monitoring Release-status tools, including RNS/PARS checking, help carriers confirm whether the broker entry is accepted and whether the shipment is ready before the driver arrives at the border.

Trusted Trader Programs

CBSA trusted trader programs are designed for businesses that meet additional security or compliance requirements. These programs can reduce friction at the border when the carrier, importer, driver, and shipment meet the program rules.

Program Purpose
Partners in Protection (PIP) A voluntary CBSA program for businesses that work with CBSA to strengthen border and trade-chain security.[5]
Customs Self Assessment (CSA) A program for low-risk, pre-approved importers, carriers, and registered drivers that allows streamlined clearance for CSA-eligible goods.[6]
Free and Secure Trade (FAST) A joint Canada-United States commercial clearance program intended to improve security while expediting legitimate low-risk trade across the border.[7]

FAST lanes, where available, can only be used when all applicable FAST requirements are met. A shipment that has a FAST-approved driver but does not meet the importer, carrier, or goods requirements should not be treated as FAST-eligible.

ACI eManifest Terms

ACI
Advance Commercial Information. CBSA's commercial reporting program for receiving electronic pre-arrival information about commercial goods before they arrive in Canada.
Cargo, also called Shipment
The portion of an eManifest that identifies the shipper, consignee, commodity information, and shipment type. One trip can contain multiple cargos or shipments.
Cargo Control Number
A number that uniquely identifies a shipment to CBSA. It consists of the carrier's CBSA-assigned carrier code followed by a unique reference number assigned by the carrier. For PARS shipments, the Cargo Control Number is the PARS number.
City of Acceptance
The city where the goods are first taken over by the carrier.
City of Loading
The city where the goods are loaded onto the conveyance being used to transport them to Canada.
Commodity Description
A plain-language description of the cargo that is specific enough for customs purposes. Descriptions such as "computer parts" are more useful than general descriptions such as "electronics" or "various". Freight of all kinds (FAK), shipper load and count (SLC), and similar descriptions are not acceptable unless used in the proper consolidated-shipment context.
Commodity Quantity
The total number of packages for the shipment.
Commodity Weight
The total gross weight of the goods for the shipment.
Consignee
The party to whom the goods are shipped, as shown on the bill of lading or other shipping document.
Consolidated Freight Indicator
A field used to indicate whether a shipment is consolidated. In CBSA usage, this generally means multiple separate shipments have been grouped together by a consolidator or freight forwarder under one cargo control document, with further house-bill or deconsolidation details expected when required.
Conveyance, also called Trip
The portion of an eManifest that identifies the truck, trailer, crew, port of arrival, and the shipments on board. Carriers should submit one trip for each time a truck crosses the border, and the trip should account for all freight on the conveyance.
Conveyance Reference Number, also called Trip Number
A unique reference number assigned by the carrier to the trip. It consists of the carrier's CBSA-assigned carrier code followed by a unique number assigned by the carrier. It must not be identical to a PARS number or other cargo control number.
CSA Importer Business Number
The CRA Business Number of the CSA importer.
Delivery Address
The physical delivery address for the goods, if different from the consignee address.
eManifest
An electronic commercial report used by CBSA to risk-assess goods and conveyances before they arrive in Canada.
First Canadian Port of Entry
Also known as the First Port of Arrival (FPOA). This is the CBSA port where the conveyance, goods, and persons are expected to arrive in Canada. Goods not moving in bond usually need release at the first Canadian port of entry.
Notify Party
The party to be notified about the shipment.
Release Office
The CBSA office where the goods are expected to obtain customs release. For shipments moving in bond, this may be different from the first Canadian port of entry.
Shipper
The party shipping the goods, as shown on the bill of lading or other shipping document.
Sub Location or Warehouse
A code identifying the specific sufferance warehouse, sub-location, or other CBSA-recognized location where goods will move when they are not released at the border.

General Customs Terms

A8A, also called Cargo Control Document or CCD
A CBSA cargo control document used for in bond movements and certain other commercial movements where a paper cargo control document is required. The form or document requirement depends on the shipment type and movement.
Carrier
The owner or person in charge of a conveyance engaged in international commercial transportation of specified goods.
Customs Broker
An agent authorized to transact business with CBSA on behalf of the importer of goods. The customs broker prepares release and accounting documents so goods can enter Canada and duties and taxes can be accounted for.
Importer of Record
The party importing commercial goods into Canada. The importer is ultimately responsible for securing release of the goods and paying applicable duties and taxes, often through a customs broker.
In Bond
Goods that CBSA has authorized to move inland but has not released are moving in bond. For goods being imported permanently, this may involve movement to a bonded or sufferance warehouse to await release.
OGD or PGA
Other government department, also commonly referred to as a participating government agency. Some goods require import approval or admissibility decisions from departments or agencies other than CBSA, such as food, plant, animal, health, or safety regulators.
PARS
Pre-Arrival Review System. A release option in which the customs broker submits release information before the goods arrive in Canada and links that release request to the carrier's cargo control number. PARS is the standard process for most commercial highway shipments unless another shipment type or exemption applies.
Release
Commercial goods are released when CBSA has authorized them to move beyond CBSA control after applicable import requirements have been met, waived, or otherwise satisfied.
RMD
Release on Minimum Documentation. A release service option used in specific circumstances, including goods that are already in Canada or movements that qualify for an exception to the usual pre-arrival release process.

BorderConnect and CBSA

BorderConnect supports North American highway carriers by helping users create, transmit, and monitor ACI eManifests. Users can create reusable profiles, build trips and shipments, transmit ACI data to CBSA, generate lead sheets, and monitor PARS or release status when release data is available.

BorderConnect does not replace the carrier's compliance responsibility. Carriers should still confirm that shipment paperwork, cargo control numbers, broker release status, port of arrival, and driver information are accurate before the truck reaches the border.

See also

Official Resources

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Canada Border Services Agency, What we do.
  2. ↑ Canada Border Services Agency, Cargo and warehouse business requirements.
  3. ↑ Canada Border Services Agency, Get a CBSA-issued carrier code.
  4. ↑ Canada Border Services Agency, Highway mode - transmit electronic commercial data.
  5. ↑ Canada Border Services Agency, Partners in Protection.
  6. ↑ Canada Border Services Agency, Customs Self Assessment Program.
  7. ↑ Canada Border Services Agency, Free and Secure Trade.
Retrieved from "https://wiki.borderconnect.com/index.php?title=Canada_Border_Services_Agency_-_General_Information&oldid=2531"