- This must match the name on the company ownership documents
- The name the company does business as (if different from the legal name). Leave it blank if the company does not have one.
- A contact is an employee who is authorized to contact the CBSA on behalf of the company for this application or issues regarding the assigned carrier code in the future. It must be an employee of the company, NOT an agent.
- The BN is a 9 digit business identifier used in Canada.
Foreign entities are not required to obtain a BN. Leave this field blank if it does not apply to you.
- A Shared Secret is a temporary access code that a business requires to register for the internet-based eManifest Portal the first time. Highway carrier code applicants who wish to use the eManifest Portal should indicate "YES" in field 14. This will automatically request a Shared Secret (temporary access code) to be sent to you. More info on eManifest Portal.
- List the vehicles the company currently operates that may come to Canada
- Bonded carriers are permitted to transport in-bond goods between points in Canada (e.g. to an inland destination for examination and/or release, or to move goods "in transit" through Canada). They must submit a Security Deposit with the CBSA in the form of a Customs Bond - Form D120 - or other method as listed in Customs Memorandum D1-7-1.
Pages 4-6 include additional instructions on this process.
For Bonded Applications Only - The original bond, plus the application form and supporting documents must be mailed to the CBSA - Photocopies of the bond are not accepted.
- Signature must be from CEO, CFO, President, Vice President, Owner, Partner, Secretary Treasurer, Executive Director or Director or anyone within the corporation who has the authority and power to represent and legally bind a party to a written agreement. In the case of a sole proprietor, only the owner may sign.
If the signatory possesses signing authority as defined above, but does not hold one of the acceptable titles, proof must be submitted.
- A representative who acts on behalf of the applicant regarding application matters, NOT an agent for cargo/conveyance reporting.
- Corporation
- Articles of incorporation, business registration documents
- Certificate of formation, master business license
- A photocopy of government issued photo ID
- The supporting document must be translated into either English or French and certified as to the authenticity of translation by the certified translator.
A copy of the original documents (requiring translation) is to be notarized by a locally recognized lawyer or commissioner of oaths.
Both documents must be submitted.
Processing and Approval Information
Upon receipt of a properly completed application (including proof of ownership documents), an applicant should expect to receive a carrier code within 3 business days. Errors in submission will cause delays as additional information and steps will be required. The CBSA will issue the carrier code to the email address indicated on the application. If no email address is provided, the information will be sent via fax or regular mail.
Important: The CBSA processes applications on a first come first serve basis. Rush service is NOT available.
Customs Bond Instructions (For Bonded Applications Only)
The original bond, plus the application form and supporting documents must be mailed to the CBSA. Photocopies are not accepted. White-out and handwritten corrections are NOT acceptable. Erroneous bonds will be returned to the client unless they instruct us to send it to their third-party representative.
For a Customs Bond, Form D120 must be completed by the surety company securing the bond. The surety company must fall under one of the following categories:
- A company that is approved by the Treasury Board Secretariat (as found in Appendix L of the Contracting Policy)
- A member of Payments Canada.
The following step-by-step instructions should be used to review your Customs Bond prior to submission to the CBSA.
- Section 1:
- Activity to be secured:
- Bonded Carrier Operations (Highway)
- Transportation of goods regulations
- $5,000 per vehicle up to a maximum of $25,000
- To perform bonded carrier operations, the Customs Bond must be a continuous bond or a bond for a specified period.
- If a bond for a specified period is submitted, the bonded carrier code will expire upon the date of termination of the Customs Bond.
- Activity to be secured:
- Principal name – must match the name on the company ownership documents and the application (Form BSF 329-7)
- Address – must match the address on the application
- Business number – Canadian companies must provide a CRA-assigned 9 digit identifier
- Foreign companies can leave this blank
- If none of the above, then the Corporate Bylaws are required to demonstrate that this individual may sign on behalf of the company AND a witness' signature is required. The witness can be anyone.
- Please note that the CBSAno longer requires corporate seals or notarization for the bond principal. Form D120 and Customs Memorandum D1-7-1 are being updated to reflect this change.
- Surety company signatures – D120 must be signed by the surety company.
- Embossed seal of surety company
- Rubber stamps are NOT acceptable.
- Characters on the seal have to be in English or French. Other languages are not acceptable.
- If the surety company does not include an acceptable corporate seal, a commissioner of oath, notary public or lawyer must witness the signature(s) of the surety's authorized representative(s).
- If a witness for the surety is required, the witness must sign in an area other than in Section 8, which is reserved for the principal's witness. The witness must include his or her seal, stamp, or license number.
- This section is for witnessing the principal's signatures (if no corporate seal is available).
- A witness for the surety, if required, must sign elsewhere on the document (See Section 7 - surety).
- State the date the bond was signed and sealed.
- The CBSA will accept a Power of Attorney which allows the Principal to appoint an attorney to act on their behalf while applying for a carrier code and associated bond with the CBSA.
Reference Materials
- BSF 329-7 Application to Transact Highway Operations with the Canada Border Services Agency
- CBSA Commercial Carriers
- D120 Customs Bond
- Memorandum D1-7-1 Posting Security for Transacting Bonded Operations
- Acceptable Bonding Companies (Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat)
- Acceptable Financial Institutions (Payments Canada)
- List of CBSA D-Memoranda: D3 – Transportation
- Commercial reporting requirements
- eManifest Portal
Release Options
- Commercial Hand Carried Goods (HCG) Release Process
- Release of your shipment
- Activity to be secured: