Commercial Carrier and Freight Forwarder Identification and Eligibility
Marine Carrier Code Application Process

Non-bonded

Bonded

Application to Transact Marine Operations with the CBSA — Form BSF329-4

• Field 1 – Legal business name: This must match the name on the company ownership documents.

  Operating name: The name the company does business as (if different from the legal name). Leave it blank if the company does not have one.

• Field 6 – Name and title of contact(s): 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.

  An e-mail must be provided for future correspondence.

• Field 10 – IMO Unique Company and Registered Owner Identification Number

  The CBSA will accept this seven (7) digit number in lieu of proof of company ownership documents. If no number is provided, or if the data does not match the application, then documentation for Field 11must be submitted. See section "Proof of company ownership".

• Field 12 - CRA Business Number (BN): 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.

• Field 16 – Conveyance Listing: List some (at least one) of the vessels the company currently operates that may come to Canada and each vessel's IMO number (IMO + seven-digit number assigned when constructed)

• Field 17 – Marine Overland Movement: Only needed for bonded carriers who will wish to forward freight in bond from a Canadian seaport(s) overland to a Canadian destination(s) for clearance or exportation without re-manifesting to a forwarding rail or highway carrier.

  List each port and warehouse code where the goods will be released:

  • Port Codes  
  • Sufferance warehouse sub-location codes

  If you do not require marine overland, leave this section blank.

• Fields 18-22 - Bonded or Non-Bonded?

  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 subsequent ports of call).

  The CBSA strongly recommends that marine carriers apply for a bonded carrier code, which is needed to move unreleased goods beyond the first port of arrival (FPOA), including emergency stops, inspections, and any other occasion when the FPOA is changed. If a bonded carrier code is not obtained and a bonded movement is required, the carrier will not be allowed to move until a bond has been submitted along with a bonded status change application.

  Bonded applicants 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.

• Field 23 - Signature: Signature must be from CEO, CFO, President, Vice President, Executive Director, Director, Owner, Partner, Secretary Treasurer, 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.

• Field 24 - Third Party Consent: A representative who acts on behalf of the applicant regarding application matters, NOT an agent for cargo/conveyance reporting.

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 Marine Carrier Operations
  • Relevant legislative authority: Transportation of goods regulations
  • Bond amount: $25,000
• Section 3 - 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.
• Section 4 - All CBSA Offices in Canada
• Section 7 - For principal/applicant
  • Principal name – must match the name on the company ownership documents and the application (Form BSF 329-4)
  • 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
  • Signature must be from the Owner, President, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Executive Director or a similar highest ranking official.
    • 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.
    • In the case of a sole proprietor, only the owner may sign.
    • For a partnership, the signatures of two partners are required
  • Secretary Treasurer's signature is no longer required. However, a witness has to sign Section 8. (See Section 8 - witness)
  • Embossed seal of the principal (applicant)
    • Please note that the CBSA no 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.
• Section 7 - Surety
  • 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. The witness must include his or her seal, stamp, or license number.
• Section 8 (witness)
  • This section is for witnessing the principal's signature.
    • A witness has to sign for the principal. The witness does not need to be a notary public, lawyer, or commissioner.
    • A witness for the surety, if required, must sign elsewhere on the document (See Section 7).
• Section 9 (date) - State the date the bond was signed and sealed.
• Use of Power of Attorney to Apply to Transact Carrier Operations with the CBSA
  • 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.