Quick answer: A PARS number is the cargo control number (CCN) on a truck shipment entering Canada. PARS stands for Pre-Arrival Review System, the CBSA release option where a customs broker or importer quotes that number. As of October 2026, the carrier usually builds it from its four-character CBSA carrier code plus a unique shipment number, up to 25 characters in total. It goes on a PARS barcode label.
Sources were checked on October 10, 2026: CBSA Memoranda D17-1-4, D3-4-2 and D3-1-1, CBSA's bar-coded label guidance, Customs Notices 24-27 and 25-23, the Reporting of Imported Goods Regulations, 19 CFR 123.92 and CBP's truck guidance.
What does PARS stand for, and what does it do?
PARS stands for Pre-Arrival Review System. It is a CBSA release option that lets an importer or customs broker send release information for commercial goods before or after they arrive in Canada. A border services officer reviews it and decides whether to release the goods or refer them for examination (CBSA Memorandum D17-1-4).
PARS is not the eManifest. The carrier's ACI (Advance Commercial Information) eManifest reports the truck and its cargo, and the broker's PARS asks for release. The PARS number links the two, because the CCN in the cargo data must exactly match the CCN in the PARS (CBSA Memorandum D3-1-1). A highway shipment is normally released at the first port of arrival when that port is the destination named in its cargo data. The release request must also be on file and in good standing (D17-1-4).
What are the key PARS rules at a glance?
The carrier normally assigns the number, the importer or broker files the release, and both must quote exactly the same number.
| Question | Answer (CBSA rules as of October 10, 2026) |
|---|---|
| What PARS stands for | Pre-Arrival Review System, a CBSA release option for goods entering Canada |
| What the PARS number is | The shipment's cargo control number (CCN) |
| Who creates it | Usually the carrier: its CBSA carrier code plus a unique shipment number |
| Length | 4-character carrier code plus up to 21 characters; 25 maximum, no spaces |
| Label | One bar-coded label per shipment, marked PARS, on the invoice or bill of lading |
| PARS document | The invoice or bill of lading that carries the label; the driver should have the original at the border |
| Who files the release request | The importer or its customs broker, electronically |
| Release request window | Up to 45 calendar days before arrival, or 40 days after the goods are reported |
| Carrier's ACI deadline | At least 1 hour before arrival, and no more than 30 days before |
| Reuse | Not for 3 years, counted from January 1 of the year after first use |
| How to check status | Ask the customs broker; carriers can also use the CBSA eManifest Portal or CBSA's Release Notification System (RNS) |
| US equivalent | PAPS, run by CBP for US-bound freight |
How is a PARS number structured?
A PARS number is the carrier's four-character CBSA carrier code followed by a shipment number the carrier chooses, with no spaces (CBSA Memorandum D3-4-2). Memorandum D3-1-1 caps the whole number at 25 characters.
| Part | CBSA example | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Carrier code | 9999 | First 4 characters, issued by CBSA |
| Letters PARS (optional) | PARS | If used, they must also be in the bar code and the ACI cargo data |
| Shipment number | 000001 | Chosen by the carrier; not reused for 3 years, counted from January 1 of the year after first use |
| Number in the bar code | 9999PARS000001 | No spaces; 25 characters maximum |
Spaces or dashes may appear in the printed number but are not read into the bar code (D3-1-1, Appendix C). CBSA's FAQ gives a second example: a label reading 1234PARS56789 needs a CCN of 1234PARS56789 in the cargo data (CBSA EDI and eManifest Portal FAQ).
Two other numbers look similar. The broker's release request has its own unique 14-digit transaction number (D17-1-4). The truck's trip has a conveyance reference number (CRN), which also starts with the carrier code but must use a different suffix (D3-4-2).
What are the rules for PARS barcode labels and PARS documents?
A PARS document is the invoice or bill of lading that carries the shipment's bar-coded PARS label. CBSA requires one label per shipment, showing the word PARS (CBSA cargo control and bar-coded labels). The label is a sticker: D3-1-1 says bar-code labels must be self-adhesive, permanent and smudge-proof. The driver should have the original PARS document in hand at the border.
On multi-page paperwork, the label goes on the first page and the pages are numbered, such as page 1 of 4. The word PARS can sit above the bar code, below the human-readable number, or inside the number itself. Bar codes use Code 3 of 9 or Code 128, and numbers longer than 18 characters may not fit Code 3 of 9 (D3-1-1). CBSA keeps a list of printers with approved bar codes, and samples from other printers must pass CBSA readability testing. PARS numbers must also differ from any numbers used for paper release on minimum documentation (RMD), because CBSA systems reject all duplicates.
Who does what in the PARS process?
The carrier normally creates the PARS number and reports the cargo, and the importer or its customs broker files the release request. The regulations describe the cargo control number as a "number assigned by the carrier, beginning with its carrier code" (Reporting of Imported Goods Regulations).
| Party | Job | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Carrier | Creates the PARS number, labels the paperwork, transmits ACI cargo and conveyance data quoting it | ACI at least 1 hour before arrival |
| Shipper or exporter | Gives the importer or broker information on the goods, such as the invoice | Before the broker files |
| Customs broker or importer | Transmits the PARS release request quoting the PARS number; corrects any reject | Up to 45 calendar days before arrival |
| Importer | Holds a Business Number with an importer account and its own Release Prior to Payment (RPP) privileges | RPP required for PARS since May 20, 2025 |
| Driver | Has the original bar-coded PARS paperwork in hand and presents a lead sheet: a document with a bar-coded CRN (CBSA's preferred option) or the PARS paperwork with a handwritten CRN | At the first port of arrival |
That is why CBSA tells a broker whose release was rejected for a reused CCN to get a new CCN from the carrier (CBSA EDI FAQ). For duty and tariff questions about the goods, see our 2026 tariff guide for carriers.
How does PARS customs clearance work, step by step?
A typical PARS clearance follows six steps, and the PARS number must be identical in every one.
- Assign: the carrier picks a new PARS number and labels the invoice or bill of lading.
- Send: the carrier sends the invoice or bill of lading to the importer's broker at least two hours before the goods arrive in Canada, as CBSA's label guidance requires. The carrier also makes sure the broker knows which crossing the truck will use. A release sent to a different port cannot be used where the truck arrives (D3-4-2).
- File PARS: the broker transmits the release request quoting the PARS number.
- File ACI: the carrier, or its service provider, transmits cargo and conveyance data quoting the same number.
- Arrive: the driver presents a lead sheet (a document with a bar-coded CRN, or the PARS paperwork with a handwritten CRN), and the officer scans the PARS bar code.
- Release: if CBSA releases the shipment, the officer date-stamps the invoice or bill of lading as proof of clearance. Otherwise the goods are referred for examination or held.
PARS is one of four release options in D17-1-4. The integrated import declaration (IID) carries the data other government departments need for regulated goods and can be sent up to 90 calendar days before arrival. Release on minimum documentation (RMD) is a paper request, accepted only when an exception to electronic filing applies. The fourth option is the Commercial Accounting Declaration (CAD) C-type. IID, PARS and RMD requests must all include a cargo control number.
How early must PARS and the ACI eManifest be sent?
The carrier's ACI cargo and conveyance data must be received and validated by CBSA at least one hour before the truck arrives in Canada, and no more than 30 days ahead. The importer or broker can file PARS up to 45 calendar days before the goods arrive at the office of release, or up to 40 days after the goods are reported.
The one-hour rule is in section 19 of the Reporting of Imported Goods Regulations, and the 30-day limit is in D3-4-2. The PARS window is set out in D17-1-4. Data received less than one hour before the transmitted arrival time is accepted with an "insufficient review time" warning, and administrative monetary penalties (AMPS) may apply (D3-4-2). CBSA's label guidance also notes that a PARS shipment sometimes has not been processed by the time the carrier reaches the border.
How do you check PARS status or track a PARS shipment?
To check PARS status or track a PARS shipment, ask the customs broker that filed the release request, because CBSA sends release and referral notices to the importer or broker (D17-1-4). Carriers can also check cargo status in the CBSA eManifest Portal, or query the cargo control number through CBSA's Release Notification System (RNS).
- Broker: the broker's "declaration accepted" notice comes only when both the release request and the ACI cargo are on file (CBSA EDI FAQ).
- eManifest Portal: carriers can see statuses such as Matched, Not Matched, Document Package Complete (every shipment on the cargo document is linked to a pre-arrival release), Held for CBSA and Released. This works even for data sent by EDI or a service provider. Release documents and RNS messages are not shown (eManifest Portal FAQ).
- Document Not on File notice: CBSA sends it to the carrier when a release request such as a PARS quotes a CCN the carrier has not yet transmitted.
- RNS: carriers can apply through CBSA's Technical Commercial Client Unit for automatic release notification or status queries (RNS application form). The form asks how the company will exchange data with CBSA, such as the Customs Internet Gateway or a value added network, or which service provider it uses. A query by CCN returns messages such as "CCN not on file" or "Goods released".
CBSA expects carriers to tell drivers which documents to present and which need a stamp. An RNS release message or a CBSA-stamped invoice or bill of lading is proof of release (D3-4-2).
Why does a PARS show "not on file" or fail at the border?
"Not on file" in a CBSA message means CBSA has not received a matching filing: either the release request, or the carrier's ACI cargo data under that exact cargo control number. If the release request is missing, rejected or still unprocessed when the truck arrives, the goods may not be released at the border. CBSA calls this a failed PARS (D17-1-4; D3-4-2). CBSA documents these causes:
| What went wrong | What CBSA says happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| No release request on file | Goods are held (Failed PARS) | Broker files the release |
| Release request rejected | A note in the reject message can name the cause | Broker corrects it |
| Numbers differ between ACI data and PARS, including the letters PARS | No RNS messages; the shipment may not be released; AMPS possible | Use one identical number |
| Carrier's ACI cargo not on file | Carrier gets a Document Not on File notice; a conveyance quoting that CCN is rejected | Carrier transmits the cargo data |
| Truck arrives at a port other than the port of release | Release cannot be effected there | A bonded carrier can ask to move in bond |
| Number used before | CBSA's EDI FAQ lists reject codes 464 and T36 (CCN in history) | Carrier issues a new number |
| Importer lacks RPP privileges | Not eligible for PARS since May 20, 2025 | Importer enrols in RPP and posts its own security, or a CAD C-type is filed with duties and taxes paid at release |
| Officer refers the goods | Goods are required for examination | No filing fix; CBSA examines the goods |
Table sources: D17-1-4, D3-1-1, D3-4-2, the CBSA EDI and eManifest Portal FAQs, and Customs Notice 25-23.
What happens after a failed PARS?
CBSA gives two ways to get the goods released (D17-1-4). The goods can wait at the first port of arrival until the release request is submitted and processed. They can also move inland for release at a sufferance warehouse, and the carrier should then tell the importer or broker about the new release office. Moving goods in bond takes a bonded carrier, although a carrier with a non-bonded code can apply for a single trip bond at the CBSA office of report (D3-4-2). For an in-bond move, the carrier presents Form A8A(B) as proof of report. It reuses the same PARS number on that form and marks "Failed PARS" in the description field, so the goods are not released twice (D3-4-2 and CBSA's label guidance). A sub-location code in the cargo data can name the inland port in advance. CBSA says failed PARS shipments should not happen regularly; if they do, check with your broker to find the cause.
Does CARM change how PARS works?
PARS still exists under CARM, but since May 20, 2025, importers without Release Prior to Payment (RPP) privileges cannot use it (Customs Notice 25-23). Those importers generally must file a Commercial Accounting Declaration (CAD) C-type and pay duties and taxes at release. The same notice also set up a temporary contingency plan for brokers. For importers without RPP, it covers time-sensitive or perishable goods and goods needed for a person's health and well-being. It lasts until CBSA ends it.
CARM, the CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management system, became the official system for accounting for imports and paying duties on October 21, 2024. Since then, importers cannot use a broker's RPP security. A transition period ended on May 20, 2025, so an importer that wants release before paying duties must now have posted its own financial security in the CARM Client Portal (Customs Notice 24-27). For carriers, the most direct link to CARM is the carrier code that starts every PARS number: CBSA now takes carrier code applications in that portal (CBSA carrier code guidelines).
PARS vs PAPS: what is the difference?
PARS is CBSA's pre-arrival release system for freight entering Canada; PAPS, the Pre-Arrival Processing System, is CBP's for freight entering the United States.
| PARS | PAPS | |
|---|---|---|
| Agency | CBSA (Canada) | CBP (United States) |
| Number begins with | The carrier's CBSA carrier code | The carrier's Standard Carrier Alpha Code (SCAC) |
| Release filed by | Importer or customs broker | Customs broker or self-filing importer, through CBP's Automated Broker Interface (ABI) |
| Carrier's advance data | ACI eManifest, at least 1 hour before arrival | ACE e-Manifest, at least 1 hour before arrival (30 minutes for FAST) |
US rules: 19 CFR 123.92, CBP's truck FAQ and its ACE eManifest truck user guide. See our PAPS vs PARS comparison and What Is a PAPS Number? for the US side.
How does TruckerPro handle PARS numbers?
TruckerPro stores a PARS number on cross-border loads and can block dispatch when a cross-border load is missing its customs number. On the load form, the customs fields for a cross-border load include a PARS number field marked Canada-bound. On a Canada-bound load, the eManifest panel shows the PARS number to users with border access, and those who can also edit dispatch can add or change it there.
Customs Validation is an optional dispatch compliance setting that stays off until a company turns it on. When it is on, it blocks dispatch of a cross-border load that has neither a PAPS nor a PARS number. It also blocks a load whose delivery province makes it Canada-bound but that has only a PAPS number. A dispatcher with manage permission can override the block by entering a reason.
By default, the panel's eManifest button opens BorderPro (borderpro.ai), a separate product. As of October 10, 2026, BorderPro is in early access. It prepares and checks ACI cargo and conveyance drafts, but it does not yet transmit them to CBSA or show live PARS release status (BorderPro ACI eManifest page). Live ACI data must still reach CBSA through its EDI systems or the CBSA eManifest Portal, sent by the carrier or a service provider the carrier authorizes (D3-4-2). For Windsor-Detroit crossings, the Gordie Howe bridge truck toll calculator estimates the toll by axle count.
Frequently asked questions
What does PARS stand for in shipping?
PARS stands for Pre-Arrival Review System, a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) release option for commercial goods entering Canada. The importer or customs broker sends release information before or after the goods arrive. A border services officer then decides whether to release them or refer them for examination.
Who provides the PARS number?
Usually the carrier. Canadian regulations describe the cargo control number as a number assigned by the carrier that begins with its carrier code. The carrier puts the number on the PARS label and sends it in its ACI cargo data, and the customs broker quotes the same number in the release request. A freight forwarder assigns its own number to a shipment it is responsible for.
How do I get a PARS number?
Ask the carrier hauling the load, because the carrier normally assigns it. A carrier first needs its own CBSA carrier code, which it applies for through the CARM Client Portal. It then uses CBSA-approved bar-coded labels that pair that code with a new shipment number for each PARS shipment.
What is a PARS document?
A PARS document is the invoice or bill of lading that carries the bar-coded PARS label. The driver can present it, with a handwritten conveyance reference number, as the lead sheet at the border. If the goods are released there, the officer stamps it, and the stamp serves as proof of report and proof of release.
What does a PARS number look like?
A PARS number is a four-character CBSA carrier code followed by the carrier's own shipment number, 25 characters at most in total. CBSA's own examples are 9999 PARS 000001 and 1234PARS56789. The letters PARS are optional inside the number, but the word PARS must appear on the label.