Shipment Types For ACE and ACI eManifest

This article is part of the Shipment Release Types Guide

A Shipment Type, also called a clearance type or release option, is the method used to tell customs how goods transported by a highway carrier are expected to enter the country. This guide lists the common shipment types and cargo exemptions used in BorderConnect eManifest Software for ACI eManifest and ACE Manifest.

In most cases, the importer or customs broker is responsible for selecting the correct shipment type. The carrier should transmit the shipment according to those instructions and should not guess the shipment type from the invoice, bill of lading, or cargo description.

The most common shipment type for commercial goods entering Canada is PARS. The most common shipment type for commercial goods entering the United States is PAPS.

Before Choosing a Shipment Type

• Confirm whether the shipment is entering Canada through CBSA or entering the United States through CBP.
• Confirm whether the shipment is expected to clear at the border or move inland in-bond.
• Confirm whether the goods are commercial, personal, mail, cargo exempt, or covered by a special program.
• Follow the shipment type supplied by the importer, customs broker, or other party responsible for customs clearance.

Common Starting Points

Scenario	Common shipment type
Canada standard commercial release	PARS
Canada inland movement	In-Bond
United States standard commercial release	PAPS
United States inland movement	QP In-Bond or ACE In-Bond

CBSA Shipment Types for ACI eManifest

The following shipment types are used for goods entering Canada by highway carrier:

Shipment type	Description
PARS	Default shipment type for commercial goods entering Canada; allows pre-arrival customs release.
In-Bond	Allows inland movement of goods that are not released by CBSA at the border.
CSA	Special shipment type for parties enrolled in the CSA trusted trader program when all required conditions are met.
A49 Automotive Release	Special shipment type used for shipping production automotive parts to Chrysler, Ford, and GM.
ATA Carnet	Typically used for commercial samples, professional equipment, and goods for use at exhibitions and fairs.
E29B	Used for qualifying temporary imports.
Goods Astray	Allows release of goods that were previously exported from Canada.
Paper RMD	Allows importers to obtain release of goods prior to payment of duties and taxes by presenting interim documentation, otherwise known as an RMD package.
Paper B3	Used to account for imported goods, regardless of value, destined for commercial use in Canada.
Personal Goods	Used when non-commercial goods are transported by highway carriers.
Orders In Council	Used when goods are covered under an Order in Council granting exemption from normal release methods.
Master Provisional	Used when the importer, owner, or broker cannot establish a final value for duty at the time of importation.
Automotive Line Release	Special shipment type used for shipping new Ford, GM, or Chrysler production vehicles to dealerships in Canada.
Value Included	Used when additional goods are shipped to address a shortage in a previous shipment.
Military Goods	Used when goods belonging or destined to the Canadian Department of National Defence are transported by an authorized commercial carrier.

CBSA Cargo Exemptions for ACI eManifest

The following shipments are treated as cargo exemptions for goods entering Canada by highway carrier:

Cargo exemption	Description
Instruments of International Trade (IIT)	Used for empty racks and containers that cross the border in international transportation.
In-Transit	Used when goods are moving from point to point through the United States.
Flying Truck	Used when freight that was originally supposed to arrive in Canada by air instead arrives by truck.
Courier Low Value Shipment	Special shipment type only available to couriers transporting low value shipments.
Postal Shipment	Used to report shipments of mail moving from a foreign postal service to Canada Post.
Emergency Repairs	Used by Canadian carriers to report emergency repairs to commercial vehicles that occur outside Canada.
Empty ACI eManifest	Although not required at all ports, an empty conveyance can still be provided and is recommended.

CBP Shipment Types for ACE Manifest

The following shipment types are used for goods entering the United States by highway carrier:

Shipment type	Description
PAPS	Default shipment type for commercial goods entering the United States; allows pre-arrival customs release.
QP In-Bond	Allows customs broker clearance for inland movement of goods that are not released by CBP at the border.
ACE In-Bond	Allows inland movement of goods that are not released by CBP in ACE Manifest.
Section 321	Historically used for qualifying low-value de minimis shipments; current processing rules have changed, so review the Section 321 article before using this shipment type.
Instruments of International Traffic (IIT)	Used for empty racks and containers that cross the border in international transportation.
ATA Carnet	Allows temporary importation of goods into a country.
BRASS	Type of pre-clearance that can only be used by FAST-approved drivers.
Personal Shipment	Used when non-commercial goods are transported by highway carriers.
Free of Duty	Used for eligible duty-free merchandise not exceeding 2500 USD in value.
Returned American Products	Allows release at the border of shipments consisting of products of the United States being returned.
Goods Astray	Used for the return to the United States of refused or undeliverable shipments, or goods brought into Canada accidentally.
U.S. Department of Defense Shipment	Cargo belonging to the Department of Defense being transported by commercial carrier.
International Mail	Used to report shipments of mail moving from a foreign postal service to the U.S. Postal Service.
Intangibles	Used for the release of certain specific commodities including business records and articles returned from space.
Flying Truck	Used when freight originally intended to arrive in the United States by air arrives at the border by truck. The freight must be reported using the applicable ACE Truck Manifest shipment type and CBP entry, release, or in-bond instructions.
CBP Form 3461	Entry/Immediate Delivery, also known as Type 11. This is a regular PAPS entry submitted by a customs broker in paper format rather than electronically; manifested by the carrier as PAPS.
Empty ACE Manifest	Although not required for every crossing, CBP recommends processing an ACE Manifest without a shipment. Creating an empty ACE Manifest is also required for ATA Carnet and U.S. Department of Defense shipments.

Related Pages

• ACE Manifest Software User Guide
• ACI eManifest Software User Guide
• Shipment Control Number
• PARS
• PAPS
• ACE In-Bond Sequences