The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) makes available electronic data interchange (EDI) applications to support your business’ submission of advance commercial information (ACI), eManifest commercial cargo data, integrated import declarations (IID), G7 export reports and more.
How the CBSA’s commercial clients use electronic data interchange (EDI)
Use cases for EDI
The option to transmit trade data via EDI is available to all businesses throughout the commercial importing and exporting process, including:
- cargo and conveyance reporting
- release
- commercial exporting
The CBSA issues notices in response to the data transmissions it receives.
Who must use EDI
The following trade chain partners must use EDI to transmit trade data to the CBSA:
- Air carriers
- Marine carriers
- Rail carriers
- Importers
- Customs brokers
- Warehouse operators
Alternatives to EDI
Highway carriers and freight forwarders may transmit data via EDI or the eManifest Portal.
Exporters may transmit data via EDI or the Canadian Export Reporting System (CERS) Portal.
Data and documents to transmit
This section describes the types of data and documents users can transmit by EDI.
Cargo reporting data: Advance commercial information or pre-arrival conveyance and cargo information
Under ACI, carriers and freight forwarders submit electronic cargo, house bill and conveyance data to the CBSA before arriving at a first port of arrival.
More information: Commercial reporting requirements
Release documents
Importers and customs brokers submit release documents to clear imported goods through customs and authorize the goods to enter Canada.
Integrated Import Declaration (IID)
The IID is the CBSA’s electronic release message that allows traders to submit information that complies with the agency’s requirements as well as with the requirements of the other participating departments and agencies or that also regulate the commercial importing of certain commodities.
Pre-Arrival Review System (PARS) release document
More information:
- Single Window Initiative
- Electronic Commerce Client Requirements Document Chapter 23: Single Window Initiative Integrated Import Declaration (IID)
- Electronic Commerce Client Requirements Document Chapter 16: Accelerated Commercial Release Operations Support System (ACROSS)
Export declarations
Using the G7 export reporting method, exporters may file electronic export declarations for each shipment using a standard G7 electronic message format.
Exporters may also use the Canadian Export Reporting System (CERS).
More information: G7 Electronic Data Interchange Export Reporting
Customs Self Assessment documents
Participants in the Customs Self Assessment (CSA) Program use EDI to transmit trade data to the CBSA. CSA is a Trusted Trader program that streamlines border clearance for low-risk clients.
More information: Customs Self Assessment Program
Electronic notices issued by the CBSA
The CBSA issues different types of electronic notices to confirm receipt of data, as well as to indicate to clients the status of its decisions, when applicable.
ACI or eManifest notices (D4)
ACI or eManifest notices, also known as the D4 notices, allow the CBSA to respond to data received from external clients via EDI and to communicate any of the following:
- Status notices
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inform clients of the level to which their pre-arrival data has been transmitted, and/or the decisions that have been made with regard to their data transmissions to the CBSA
- Completeness notices
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inform clients regarding the fulfillment of CBSA pre-arrival document requirements
- Disposition notices
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inform clients of decisions that have been made with regard to their Cargo data transmitted to the CBSA
- Deconsolidation notice
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informs clients that the CBSA has authorized the transfer of Cargo control from a consolidated shipment to its related House Bills
More information: Electronic Commerce Client Requirements Document Chapter 11: Advance Commercial Information (ACI) or eManifest Notices
Release decisions
The CBSA communicates its release decisions using the Release Notification System.
This system also allows carriers and warehouse operators to send arrival messages to the CBSA.
More information: Electronic Commerce Client Requirements Document Chapter 21: Release Notification System (RNS)