COVID-19: Border information for business
Cross-border supply chains are vital to ensure the continued flow of goods, including food and medical supplies for all Canadians. The CBSA and our federal partners are working with commercial stakeholders to ensure that commercial traffic at the border is not impeded by the COVID-19 pandemic.
General information for our business clients
To help us respond to your questions quickly, if you are a business client using the services listed below, submit your inquiries, requests or questions via email or electronic forms:
You may be affected by processing delays if you are importing goods by mail. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a significant increase in volume, resulting in processing delays at the three (3) international mail centres.
Learn more about Importing goods by mail.
Electronic notices
We urge carriers who do not already get electronic notices to sign up as soon as possible. Drivers and carriers who get electronic notices do not need to stop at Primary Inspection Lines (PIL) for a stamped copy of the lead sheet. This reduces document handling at PILs and is an important safety measure during COVID-19.
Electronic Longroom
The Electronic Longroom is an email and digital stamping service applicable for certain importing and exporting documents, offered at some CBSA offices. Commercial clients can use this service instead of submitting paper, allowing the continued movement of cargo without the need for face-to-face interaction. The initiative is being expanded as part of CBSA's response to COVID-19.
Read more about the Electronic Longroom service, including the available locations , related to:
Changes to CBSA services for importers
CBSA Assessment Revenue Management initiative: Delayed implementation
A planned implementation timeline will be added once operations normalize, following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read more about the CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM) project.
Release of goods regulated by other government departments
As of , the CBSA decommissioned the legacy Other Government Department (OGD) release service options OGD PARS (SO463) and OGD RMD (SO471) as of .
Release requests submitted using the OGD legacy service options will be rejected with an error message of "Invalid Function Type Code." Transactions that were submitted using these service options prior to , will still be processed.
Please refer to Customs Notice 20-21 for the release service options that remain available to you.
More information
Relevant customs notices
For information related to temporary measures such as extension of timeframes, late accounting penalties, importation of emergency goods and system changes:
- Customs Notice 20-19, Certain Goods Remission Order (COVID-19)
- Customs Notice 20-12, COVID-19: Tariff Classification and Other Information to Import Medical Supplies
- Customs Notice 20-11, Extension of Timeframes for Payment of Customs Duties and GST (COVID-19)
- Customs Notice 20-10, Waiver of Late Accounting Penalties (COVID-19)
Changes to CBSA services for exporters
Export declarations
On , the CBSA launched the Canadian Export Reporting System (CERS), a web-based portal for exporters to electronically submit their export declarations and monthly summary reports. Paper-based reporting is no longer available. Please submit monthly Summary Reporting Program (SRP) reports via the CERS Portal.
More information
Special Import Measures Act activities: Schedule changes
Due to COVID-19, the CBSA revised schedules for a number of Special Import Measures Act (SIMA) activities. Refer to our Anti-dumping and countervailing page for more details.
Related links
- Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Canada's response
- Federal safety guidance to protect drivers and limit the spread of COVID-19 in commercial vehicle operations
- Information on importing
- Information on exporting
Report a problem on this page
- Date modified: