Release of your shipment

You can use one of the following three methods to obtain the release of your goods:

• release with full accounting and payment (paper option);
• release on minimum documentation (RMD) (paper or EDI option); or
• G7 Import One Step Release on Full Documentation (RFD) (EDI option).

For more details on the electronic data interchange (EDI) option, see other service options.

• Release on minimum documentation (RMD)
• RMD release documentation requirements
• Posting security
• Transaction number
• Other service options

Release on minimum documentation (RMD)

By using RMD, you can fast-track the release of your goods by accounting for and paying for your shipments after we release them. To take advantage of this privilege, you have to post an approved amount of security with us.

Our goal is to process release requests that are complete, accurate, and do not require examination of goods or review of permits, within the following times:

Release on Minimum Documentation (RMD)

• Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)   45 minutes
• EDI Machine Release   5 minutes
• Paper   2 hours

RMD release documentation requirements

Unless we examine your shipment, we will release it under RMD when you report your shipment by presenting a completed cargo control document, any import permits or health certificates, and, in most cases, two copies of a properly completed invoice. For details on these documents, see Accounting for Your Shipment.

** Check the new Mandatory HS Requirements **

Posting security

Importers and licensed customs brokers who ask for Release Prior to Payment and for Uncertified Cheque privileges must post security representing 100% of their average monthly outstanding duties and taxes (less GST in the case of resident importers) during the previous 12-month period, up to a maximum of $10 million.

Importers and customs brokers may file either local or headquarters security. Local security should be filed with the appropriate customs office and allows an importer or broker to obtain release of goods prior to payment of duties at that customs office only. Headquarters security should be filed with Brokers Licensing and Account Security Programs; it allows an importer or broker to obtain release of goods prior to payment of duties at all customs offices in Canada.

The minimum amount of security required for importers is $250 for a single customs office and $5,000 for national privileges. The minimum amount of security required for licensed customs brokers is $5,000 to transact business at a single customs office and $25,000 for national privileges.

This security can be in the following forms:

• cash,
• a certified cheque,
• a transferable Government of Canada bond, or
• a bond issued by an approved financial institution (D120 Customs Bond format).

For more information about Account Security, please see the links listed below.

• D17-1-5 Importing Commercial Goods
• D1-7-1 Posting Security for Transacting Bonded Operations
• D120 Customs Bond - format to be used when posting security
• Sample GST Agreement Letter

Transaction number

At the CBSA, we identify each shipment with a unique 14-digit transaction number. We use this transaction number to identify your shipment at various times throughout the customs process. Under the cash option, we assign a transaction number to the documents in the accounting package when you present them to obtain release of your goods.

If you have RMD privileges, we will assign you a unique five-digit account security number. This number will always appear as the first five digits of the transaction number. After you receive your account security number, you have to affix the transaction number in bar-coded format to your release and accounting documents for all later shipments.

Other service options

If you become an established importer with a sound compliance record and a high import volume, we offer other service options to speed up our processing and release of your goods.

For details on these faster release and processing options, other service options.