CSA Certification in Canada and USA.

Customs Self Assessment (CSA) is a CBSA program for low-risk carriers and importers. Approved members clear eligible goods shipped from the U.S. and Mexico with minimal paperwork at the border, and CSA importers account for and pay duties once a month.

Carriers and importers with a head office or branch office in Canada or the U.S. Commercial drivers who haul CSA shipments register separately through FAST or the Commercial Driver Registration Program (CDRP).

A carrier needs a CBSA carrier code and bonded-carrier authorization, at least $25,000 in security posted before applying, recent commercial transport to or from Canada, solvency, no relevant criminal record or customs violations, and internal controls and records CBSA can verify.

An importer needs a Business Number with an import/export (RM) account, a head office or branch in Canada or the U.S., separate books and records, a clean compliance history, and business systems with audit trails from source documents to accounting.

A CSA carrier must own and control a dispatch and business system that identifies CSA shipments, CSA importers and registered drivers, tracks shipments not delivered within 40 days, and keeps audit trail records for three years plus the current year.

Carriers enrol through the CBSA CARM Client Portal, upload the Part 1 risk assessment form within 30 days, then submit Part 2 books, records and systems information and complete bar code testing. Importers complete Part I and Part II forms, a premises visit and EDI testing. MAZE prepares all of this for you.

CBSA does not list a fee to join CSA, but carriers must post at least $25,000 in security and keep it in place. Other costs are your system set-up and any consulting support. Call +1-888-315-6293 for a quote.

It depends on how ready your systems are. Carriers must upload Part 1 within 30 days of enrolling and provide Part 2 information within two months of Part 1 approval, followed by testing and final approval. Most companies should plan for a few months from start to finish.

No. PIP is not a requirement for CSA itself. To use the FAST lanes, though, the importer and carrier must be PIP members (or CSA and PIP members) and the driver must be FAST or CDRP registered. Many carriers hold both.

CSA simplifies customs clearance and accounting for low-risk carriers and importers. PIP is CBSA's supply chain security program. FAST is the dedicated border lane that eligible shipments can use when the companies and the driver meet the program requirements.

For eligible goods from the U.S. or Mexico, the CSA carrier reports the shipment at the first point of arrival with bar codes and the driver's registration card, and gets authority to deliver directly to the CSA importer without presenting cargo documents.

CSA carriers are exempt from electronic cargo and conveyance transmission when all CSA clearance conditions are met. Shipments that do not meet those conditions follow normal eManifest rules.

Yes. Carriers and importers with a head office or branch office in the United States can apply, as long as they meet CBSA's requirements. MAZE supports U.S. companies from our Los Angeles office.

Yes. CBSA can suspend a CSA carrier for losing its security, becoming insolvent or failing to keep the required records, and members must report company changes on time. Ongoing support keeps your authorization active.