Get a Customs Bond
A customs bond is an import document that businesses must secure before goods can be cleared by Customs and Border Protection (CBP). It guarantees the payment of import duties and adherence to customs regulations. To get a customs bond without delays, importers need to identify the correct bond type, gather accurate importer and shipment information, and work with a provider that can issue and file the bond properly.
Who Provides Customs Bonds?
Importers usually get a customs bond through a surety, a licensed customs broker, or a freight forwarder/logistics provider, depending on whether they need standalone bond help or broader shipment support.
The most common customs bond providers include:
- Sureties
- Freight forwarders and logistics providers
- Licensed customs brokers
Each provider can help you secure a bond, but each one plays a slightly different role in the import process.
Sureties
A surety is a company that issues the customs bond and financially guarantees the importer’s obligations to CBP. In a customs bond arrangement, the importer is the principal, the surety is the guarantor, and CBP is the beneficiary.
Sureties do not take over the importer’s responsibilities. A customs bond is not traditional business insurance that protects the importer from having to pay duties, taxes, or penalties. Instead, the bond protects the government.
If the importer fails to pay required duties, taxes, fees, or penalties, CBP may make a claim against the bond. The surety may pay CBP and then seek reimbursement from the importer.
Working directly with a surety or customs bond agency can be useful when you want more control over your bond. This option may also help frequent importers compare bond terms, bond amounts, and renewal requirements.
A surety may be a good fit if you:
- Import frequently and want a direct bond relationship
- Need help evaluating bond amount requirements
- Want to compare bond pricing or terms
- Have a higher import volume or more complex compliance needs
- Prefer to manage customs bond documentation separately from freight services
Choosing the right surety partner can make the bond process faster, more accurate, and easier to manage as your import activity grows.
Freight Forwarders & Logistics Providers
A freight forwarder is a logistics company that coordinates cargo movement between countries. Freight forwarders and logistics providers often help importers arrange customs bonds as part of a broader shipping service.
Many importers prefer this route because the bond is handled alongside the shipment. A logistics provider may coordinate ocean freight, air freight, warehousing, customs documentation, delivery, and bond procurement in one workflow.
This can reduce back-and-forth communication, especially for businesses that do not have an internal trade compliance team.
A freight forwarder or logistics provider may help with:
- International freight coordination
- Carrier selection
- Cargo pickup and delivery
- Commercial document collection
- Customs bond coordination
- Communication between the importer and customs broker
However, importers should still understand who issued the bond and whose name appears on it. The importer of record remains responsible for accurate entry data, proper product classification, country-of-origin claims, and payment of duties and fees.
Licensed Customs Brokers
A licensed customs broker is a professional authorized to help importers file entries with CBP. Customs brokers frequently arrange customs bonds because the bond is required before many entries can be cleared.
For many importers, a customs broker is the most practical starting point. The broker can review the shipment, determine whether a bond is required, recommend a single transaction bond or continuous bond, and file entry documents using the bond number.
A customs broker can also help identify other import requirements. This is especially important if your goods are regulated by another federal agency.
Examples of products that may require additional review include:
- Food and beverages
- Medical devices
- Cosmetics
- Chemicals
- Electronics
- Children’s products
- Agricultural products
- Textiles and apparel
If you plan to import regularly, a broker can also help monitor whether your continuous bond amount remains sufficient as your annual duties, taxes, and fees increase.
A licensed customs broker may be the right provider if you want help with both the bond and the entry filing process.
What Types of Customs Bonds Can You Get?
U.S. importers usually choose either a single transaction bond for one shipment or a continuous bond for multiple eligible imports over 12 months.
A single transaction bond one specific import shipment. This option usually works best for an importer that brings goods into the United States once or only occasionally.
Choose a single transaction bond if:
- You import occasionally
- You are covering one shipment
- You do not expect recurring entries
A continuous bond covers multiple import transactions over a 12-month period. This option is usually better for frequent importers because one bond can support eligible import activity throughout the year.
Choose a continuous bond if:
- You import regularly
- You want one bond for multiple entries
- Your business needs year-round import coverage
Single transaction bonds fit occasional imports, while continuous bonds usually fit frequent or ongoing import activity.
How Does the Customs Bond Application Process Work?
The customs bond application process usually starts with the importer deciding whether the shipment requires a bond and which bond type fits the import pattern. Most customs bond applications follow the same six-step workflow.
A clear application process reduces delays. Importers should gather accurate business and shipment information before the goods arrive at the port.
What Information Do You Need to Apply for a Customs Bond?
To get a customs bond, an importer usually confirms whether a bond is required, chooses the right bond type, submits business and shipment details, completes any surety review, and uses the approved bond for customs entry.
Most importers should be prepared to provide:
- Legal business name
- Physical business address
- Contact information
- Employer Identification Number or importer number
- Business structure
- Estimated annual import value
- Estimated annual duties, taxes, and fees
- Product descriptions
- Country of origin
- Shipment details
- Customs broker information, if applicable
Your legal business name should match tax and import records. Small differences in names, addresses, or identification numbers can create filing issues.
Your Employer Identification Number (EIN) often serves as the importer identification number. Some importers may also need a CBP Form 5106 importer record before entry filing.
Your business type may also be required. The bond provider may ask whether the applicant is a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, sole proprietorship, or individual importer.
For a continuous bond, the provider may ask for estimated annual shipment value and estimated annual duties, taxes, and fees. This information helps determine whether the bond amount is sufficient.
Product details are also important. The application may require a description of the goods, Harmonized Tariff Schedule classifications if available, country of origin, and whether the products are regulated by another federal agency.
For a single transaction bond, the provider may need shipment-specific information, such as:
- Commercial invoice value
- Port of entry
- Mode of transportation
- Bill of lading or airway bill details
- Estimated duties
- Product description
- Manufacturer or supplier information
If a customs broker will file the entry, the broker may need the bond number, importer number, power of attorney, and supporting documents.
Accuracy matters. Mistakes in the importer name, tax ID, product classification, or bond amount can delay entry filing. Product misclassification, undervaluation, or incorrect country-of-origin claims can also create compliance issues after the goods are released.
What Happens After You Get a Customs Bond?
After bond approval, the importer can use the bond for eligible entries, but approval does not transfer compliance responsibility away from the importer of record.
The bond helps your goods move through customs, but the bond does not eliminate your compliance duties. The importer of record must still provide accurate commercial invoices, classify goods correctly, declare the correct value, pay duties and fees, and follow all applicable U.S. import laws.
After your bond is active, you should:
- Share the bond information with your customs broker
- Confirm that the importer name and identification number are correct
- Keep commercial invoices and shipping records organized
- Monitor import volume and duty payments
- Review bond sufficiency as your business grows
- Track renewal, termination, or replacement requirements
After entry, CBP may review or liquidate the entry. Liquidation is the final calculation of duties, taxes, and fees owed on the shipment. If CBP determines that additional money is due, the importer must pay it.
If the importer fails to pay, CBP may pursue a claim against the bond. The surety may pay CBP first and then seek reimbursement from the importer.
For continuous bonds, importers should also monitor bond sufficiency. As your import volume grows, your bond amount may need to increase. A bond that was sufficient when you imported a few shipments may become too low after you expand into higher-value products or higher-duty categories.
If you are preparing your first shipment, the next step is to confirm whether you need a single transaction bond or a continuous bond, gather your importer details, and work with a qualified provider before the goods arrive at the port. If you’re ready to get started, call our team at (480) 725-3433 or navigate to our service page to secure the right customs bond for your shipment.
Sources:
Bond, CBP, 2024
CBP Form 5106 – Create/Update Importer Identity Form, CBP, 2025
Bonds – How Are Continuous and Single Entry Bond Amounts Determined, CBP 2026