Release Office
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🔖 This article is part of the Customs Glossary Guide |
Release Office Explained (CBSA)
The specific Customs office responsible for processing the release of a shipment into Canada.
What is a Release Office?
A Release Office is the specific Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) location where the customs release decision for a shipment is made. Every CBSA office is assigned a unique 3 or 4-digit Office Code (e.g., 0453 for the Ambassador Bridge).
For carriers, selecting the correct Release Office is critical because the customs broker files their paperwork (PARS) pointing to a specific office code. If the truck arrives at a different location than where the paperwork was filed, the shipment will not clear automatically.
Release Office vs. First Port of Arrival
One of the most common mistakes in ACI eManifests is confusing the First Port of Arrival (FPOA) with the Release Office. They are not always the same.
| Scenario | First Port of Arrival | Release Office |
|---|---|---|
| Standard PARS (Release at Border) | The physical border crossing (e.g., Windsor 0453). | The same as the Port of Arrival (e.g., Windsor 0453). |
| In-Bond Shipment (Inland Release) | The physical border crossing (e.g., Windsor 0453). | The Inland Office where the Sufferance Warehouse is located (e.g., Toronto 0495). |
The Golden Rule:
The Release Office on your eManifest must match exactly the Port Code the broker used on their release entry. Always verify this code with the broker or the PARS paperwork before crossing.
Finding the Correct Code
CBSA maintains an official directory of all offices, their codes, and their authorized services (e.g., not all ports can process commercial freight).
- Directory of CBSA Offices: Use the Official CBSA Directory to look up codes by city or region.
- Sufferance Warehouses: If moving goods in-bond, you need the code for the specific warehouse. See the List of Sufferance Warehouses.
Using Release Offices in BorderConnect
In BorderConnect, the "Release Office" is a mandatory field when creating an ACI eManifest shipment.
1. Auto-Fill Features
When you type a city name (e.g., "Fort Erie") into the Release Office field, BorderConnect will suggest the corresponding code (0410). It also filters out non-commercial offices to prevent errors.
2. Setting Up In-Bond Moves
If you select "In-Bond" as your Shipment Type:
- The Release Office field must be set to the destination inland port (e.g., Mississauga 0495).
- You will also be required to enter the Sub-Location Code of the specific warehouse where the goods will await clearance.
3. "Port Mismatch" Alerts
If a driver arrives at the border and the broker has filed for a different port (e.g., driver is at Blue Water Bridge 0452 but broker filed for Ambassador Bridge 0453), the status will remain "Reported" rather than "Released." The driver may need to ask the broker to amend their entry to match the actual port of arrival.