Licensing guide · Canada (federal)

How to Become a Customs Broker in Canada (federal)

Last checked 4 sources checkedNOC 13200

Do you need a licence?

Licence required

You must be registered with the Canada Border Services Agency to work as a customs broker in Canada or to use a protected title.

Protected titles
Not listed in the sources checked
Show the source
“While in most cases any duly authorized agent may transact business with the CBSA on behalf of clients, only a licensed customs broker may account for goods and pay duties under Section 32 of the *Customs Act* as an agent of an importer or owner.”

From cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/services/cb-cd/menu-eng.html, checked October 10, 2026.

At a glance

Licence status
Licence required See the source
Routes
Annual fees
  • Customs Broker Licence annual fee: $751.65 (annual fee for a customs broker licence, effective April 1, 2026)
    Source
    “Effective April 1, 2026, the annual fee for a customs broker licence is $751.65. Payments are to be made by cheques made payable to “Receiver General for Canada”.”
    cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/services/cb-cd/menu-eng.html

Your roadmap

Every route is listed. Follow the one that matches where you trained.

Trained in Canada

  • 9 steps without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $751.65 (annual fee for a customs broker licence, effective April 1, 2026)

  1. Download, complete, and print out the application form for the customs brokers examination.

    Source
    “Download, complete, and print out the Application for Customs Brokers Examination (Form L55).”
    cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/services/cb-cd/exam-eng.html

  2. Include a cheque for the examination fee made payable to the Receiver General for Canada.

    Source
    “Include a cheque for $250.55 to the Receiver General for Canada.”
    cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/services/cb-cd/exam-eng.html

  3. Include a clear scanned copy of valid government-issued photo identification showing full name, date of birth and photo.

    Source
    “Include a scanned copy of a valid piece of ID (not expired). The copy must be clear, legible and issued by a Canadian federal, provincial or territorial government or equivalent abroad.”
    cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/services/cb-cd/exam-eng.html

  4. Mail the completed form and ID copies so the postmark is dated on or before the application deadline.

    Source
    “Mail in your completed form and ID copies. Ensure the postmark is dated on or before the application deadline.”
    cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/services/cb-cd/exam-eng.html

  5. After mailing the application, email the CBSA with your name, address and a scan or photo of your ID documents.

    Source
    “Once you’ve mailed in your application, email us at brokers\_licensing-agrement\_des\[email protected].”
    cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/services/cb-cd/exam-eng.html

  6. Attend the examination and present valid photo identification, achieving the passing grade.

    Source
    “On exam day: In order to take the exam, you must present a valid photo ID.”
    cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/services/cb-cd/exam-eng.html

  7. Before applying for a licence, create a CARM client portal user account and select the option to enroll in the Customs Broker program.

    Source
    “Prior to the application of a customs broker licence, an applicant must first have a CARM client portal user account. Once a CCP account has been created, the applicant can select the option to enroll in the Customs Broker program.”
    cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d1/d1-8-1-eng.html

  8. Download and complete the program enrolment form, gather all required documentation, and upload and submit everything through the CARM client portal.

    Source
    “To submit a customs broker application, an applicant must download and complete the program enrolment form found on the CCP, obtain all required additional documentation, and upload and submit all components to the CCP.”
    cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d1/d1-8-1-eng.html

  9. After the application is approved, pay the Customs Broker Licence fee invoiced through the portal and post the required financial security.

    Source
    “Once a complete application is approved, an invoice for the Customs Broker Licence fee is generated and posted to the applicant's RM account in the CCP. The applicant must then post the required financial security and pay the Customs Broker Licence fee.”
    cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d1/d1-8-1-eng.html

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Canada Border Services Agency

9 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Annual fees Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total.

  • Customs Broker Licence annual fee: $751.65 (annual fee for a customs broker licence, effective April 1, 2026)
    Source
    “Effective April 1, 2026, the annual fee for a customs broker licence is $751.65. Payments are to be made by cheques made payable to “Receiver General for Canada”.”
    cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/services/cb-cd/menu-eng.html

Official page for this route

Other listed fees

The regulator lists these without tying them to one step, so they are not in the route totals above. Check which apply to you.

Requirements

Conditions the regulator sets on top of the roadmap steps.

Education

  • The applicant must have sufficient knowledge relating to imports and exports, demonstrated by passing the CBSA examination.

    Source
    “By passing this examination, candidates will have demonstrated that they meet the knowledge requirement of section 4 of the Regulations.”
    cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d1/d1-8-3-eng.html

Police check

  • A certified criminal record check with fingerprinting must be included for the qualified officer and all partners and directors.

    Source
    “a certified criminal record check with fingerprinting from your local police station or police force of jurisdiction or an RCMP certified third party must be included with each form L60 for each qualified officer and all partners and directors”
    cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d1/d1-8-1-eng.html

Good character

  • An individual applicant must be of good character.

    Source
    “An individual applying for a custom broker licence has to be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada who is of good character, who is at least 18 years of age, who has the financial resources to conduct business in a responsible manner; and who has sufficient knowledge relating to imports and exports.”
    cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d1/d1-8-1-eng.html

Residency

  • An individual applying for a customs broker licence must be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada.

    Source
    “An individual applying for a custom broker licence has to be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada who is of good character, who is at least 18 years of age, who has the financial resources to conduct business in a responsible manner; and who has sufficient knowledge relating to imports and exports.”
    cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d1/d1-8-1-eng.html

Other

  • An individual applicant must be at least 18 years of age.

    Source
    “An individual applying for a custom broker licence has to be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada who is of good character, who is at least 18 years of age, who has the financial resources to conduct business in a responsible manner; and who has sufficient knowledge relating to imports and exports.”
    cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d1/d1-8-1-eng.html

  • The applicant must have the financial resources to conduct business in a responsible manner.

    Source
    “An individual applying for a custom broker licence has to be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada who is of good character, who is at least 18 years of age, who has the financial resources to conduct business in a responsible manner; and who has sufficient knowledge relating to imports and exports.”
    cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d1/d1-8-1-eng.html

Already licensed in another province?

Not stated

The pages do not state how someone already licensed in another Canadian province or territory can register.

Source
“The transition to national licensing happened automatically on April 1, 2024. Customs brokers with a single licence may operate at all customs offices in Canada.”
cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/services/cb-cd/menu-eng.html

Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with Canada Border Services Agency

Check a move between two provinces

Credential assessment

Not stated by the regulator Check with Canada Border Services Agency

Exams

  • Customs Brokers Professional Examination

    Source
    “This memorandum contains information concerning the Customs Brokers Professional Examination, given pursuant to section 15 of the *Customs Brokers Licensing Regulations*.”
    cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d1/d1-8-3-eng.html

Language tests

Not stated by the regulator Check with Canada Border Services Agency

Compare scores across provinces and professions

Canadian experience

Not stated by the regulator Check with Canada Border Services Agency

Supervised practice

Not stated by the regulator Check with Canada Border Services Agency

Demand and pay

Job Bank figures for NOC 13200, Customs, ship and other brokers. Wages for 2023-2024 in Canadian dollars an hour; outlook for 2025-2027.

Job Bank wages and outlook in Canada
WhereLowMedianHighOutlook
Canada $20.51 $27.12 $36.63 —

Wages in every province and territory

Customs brokers in other provinces and territories

Regulated in 0 of the other 13 jurisdictions checked so far. The rules differ from one place to the next.

  • British Columbia Not confirmed yet
  • Alberta Not confirmed yet
  • Saskatchewan Not confirmed yet
  • Manitoba Not confirmed yet
  • Ontario Not confirmed yet
  • Quebec Not confirmed yet
  • New Brunswick Not confirmed yet
  • Nova Scotia Not confirmed yet
  • Prince Edward Island Not confirmed yet
  • Newfoundland and Labrador Not confirmed yet
  • Yukon Not confirmed yet
  • Northwest Territories Not confirmed yet
  • Nunavut Not confirmed yet

Compare customs broker licensing across Canada

Sources checked

Pages read on October 10, 2026.

  1. Licensed customs brokers cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/services/cb-cd/menu-eng.html · fetched October 10, 2026
  2. How to apply for the customs broker professional exam cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/services/cb-cd/exam-eng.html · fetched October 10, 2026
  3. Memorandum D1-8-1: Licensing of Customs Brokers cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d1/d1-8-1-eng.html · fetched October 10, 2026
  4. Memorandum D1-8-3: Canada Border Services Agency Customs Brokers Professional Examination cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d1/d1-8-3-eng.html · fetched October 10, 2026

Frequently asked questions

2

Do you need a licence to work as a customs broker in Canada?

Yes. A licence or certificate from the Canada Border Services Agency is required to work in Canada.

Which exams are required?

Customs Brokers Professional Examination.

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