Customs Notice 26-16: Rail Carrier Reporting Requirements for In-Transit Shipments

Ottawa, July 10, 2026

1. The purpose of this customs notice is to clarify the reporting requirements for in-transit scenarios in the rail mode and to inform rail carriers of changes being implemented to the reporting of domestic in-transit cargo moving from one point in Canada to another point in Canada through the United-States (CAN-US-CAN).

In-transit through Canada from/to a foreign point

2. Rail carriers are responsible for reporting in-transit cargo to the CBSA at the First Port of Arrival (FPOA) by transmitting Advance Commercial Information (ACI)/eManifest cargo reports. Rail carriers must select "Rail In-transit Manifest" in the "Movement Type (Manifest Type Code)" field of the cargo transmission and provide complete cargo details within prescribed timeframes under the Reporting of Imported Goods Regulations.

3. Before exiting Canada, carriers must report the export movement as per the current reporting requirements.

Domestic in-transit

4. The movement of goods from a point in Canada to another point in Canada through the United States (CAN-US-CAN), as well as the movement of goods from a point in the United States to another point in the United States through Canada (US-CAN-US).

5. Rail carriers have two options for the inward reporting of domestic in-transit (US-CAN-US) and (CAN-US-CAN) cargo/shipments as described in the Reporting of Imported Goods Regulations.

(US-CAN-US):

Option 1:

• Rail carriers may transmit ACI/eManifest cargo data to the CBSA at the First Port of Arrival (FPOA);
• When submitting ACI/eManifest cargo data, rail carriers must select "Rail In-transit Manifest" in the "Movement Type Code” field of the cargo transmission and provide complete cargo details within prescribed timeframe for rail (2 hours);
• ACI cargo report should reflect the rail First Port of Arrival (FPOA) as the port of report and the CBSA office where the goods will be exported as the port of destination.

Option 2:

• Alternatively, rail carriers may use the BSF708: Rail in Transit Manifest paper process
• When using this option, rail carriers must adhere to all of the following requirements:
  1. A BSF708: Rail in Transit Manifest must be completed for each shipment, be carried on board the conveyance that is transporting the shipments to Canada and be provided to CBSA personnel at the FPOA by fax or email at or before arrival to Canada to satisfy reporting requirements under Section 12 of the Customs Act.
  2. The appropriate cargo exception code “08 In-transit” must be provided within the ACI/eManifest conveyance data transmission; and
  3. Railcars are required to be sealed.

6. Before exiting Canada, rail carriers must report the export movement as per the current reporting requirements regardless of the inward option chosen.

(CAN-US-CAN):

7. Before exiting Canada, rail carriers must report the export movement as per the current reporting requirements.

8. Upon return, rail carriers were previously instructed to transmit Canadian origin cargo as an import to Canada and to include the text "in-transit Canadian origin goods" in the special instructions field of the cargo transmission. In order to align processes and achieve consistent reporting by recording the same movement type for all in-transit movements, rail carriers are now advised of the following:

Option 1:

• Rail carriers may transmit ACI/eManifest cargo data to the CBSA at the FPOA
• When submitting ACI/eManifest cargo data, rail carriers must select "Rail In-transit Manifest" in the "Movement Type Code” field of the cargo transmission and provide complete cargo details within prescribed timeframe for rail (2 hours);
• Rail carriers will continue to include the text “in-transit Canadian origin goods” in the special instructions field of the cargo transmission.
• ACI cargo reports should reflect the rail port of re-entry (FPOA) as both the port of report and port of destination for these movements.

Option 2:

• Alternatively, rail carriers may use the BSF708: Rail in Transit Manifest paper process
• When using this option, rail carriers must adhere to all of the following requirements:
  1. A BSF708: Rail in Transit Manifest must be completed for each shipment, be carried on board the conveyance that is transporting the shipments to Canada and be provided to CBSA personnel at the FPOA by fax or email at or before arrival to Canada to satisfy reporting requirements under Section 12 of the Customs Act
  2. The appropriate cargo exception code “08 In-transit” must be provided within the ACI/eManifest conveyance data transmission; and
  3. Railcars are required to be sealed.

9. The update prescribed in this Customs Notice, will be published under the Memorandum D3-6-6 at a later date.

10. For more information, contact the CBSA Border Information Service (BIS):

Calls within Canada & the United States (toll free): 1-800-461-9999
Calls outside Canada & the United States (long distance charges apply):
1-204-983-3550 or 1-506-636-5064
TTY: 1-866-335-3237

Contact Us online (webform)

Contact Us at the CBSA website may also be accessed for information.