What are Eligibility Requirements for C-TPAT for different categories ?

Importer Eligibility Requirements

To qualify, your company must be an active U.S. importer (imported goods within the past year) with an active U.S. Importer of Record ID (IOR) and have a (valid) registered continuous import bond with CBP. Canadian companies that have been designated a Non-Resident Canadian Importer also qualify. You must have at least one staffed business office in either of the two countries.

1. Be an active U.S. Importer or Non-Resident Canadian Importer into the United States.
2. Have a business office staffed in the United States or Canada.
3. Have an active U.S. importer of record ID in either of the following formats: U.S. Social Security Number, U.S. Internal Revenue Service assigned ID(s), or CBP assigned Importer ID
4. Possess a valid continuous import bond registered with CBP.
5. Have a designated company officer that will be the primary cargo security officer responsible for CTPAT.
6. Commit to maintaining the CTPAT supply chain security criteria as outlined in the CTPAT Importer agreement.
7. Create and provide CBP with a CTPAT supply chain security profile, which identifies how the Importer will meet, maintain, and enhance internal policy to meet the CTPAT Importer security criteria.

Importer Minimum Security Requirements PDF

Exporter Entity Eligibility Requirements

A person or company who, as the principal party in interest in the export transaction, has the power and responsibility for determining and controlling the sending of the items out of the United States. Entities that wish to participate in the CTPAT Exporter program must meet with the program’s definition of an Exporter as well as meet with the following eligibility requirements:

1. Be an active U.S. Exporter out of the United States.
2. Have a business office staffed in the U.S.
3. Be an active U.S. Exporter with a documentable
   1. Employer Identification Number (EIN), or
   2. Dun & Bradstreet (DUNS) number.
4. Have a documented export security program and a designated officer or manager who will act as the CTPAT program main point of contact.  Additionally the participant should have an alternate point of contact should the designated point of contact be unavailable.
5. Commit to maintaining the CTPAT supply chain security criteria as outlined in the CTPAT Exporter agreement.
6. Create and provide CBP with a CTPAT supply chain security profile which identifies how the Exporter will meet, maintain, and enhance internal policy to meet the CTPAT Exporter security criteria.
7. In order to be eligible the Exporter must have an acceptable level of compliance for export reporting for the latest 12-month period and be in good standing with U.S. Regulatory Bodies such as: Department of Commerce, Department of State, Department of Treasury, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Department of Defense.

Exporter Minimum Security Requirements PDF

Highway Carrier Eligibility Requirements

To qualify, your company must be an active highway carrier that crosses internationally (within the past year) into/from Mexico or Canada. You must have at least one staffed business office in one of the three countries and have an active U.S. National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA) issued Standard Carrier Alpha Code (SCAC) and Department of Transportation Number (DOT). When applying, carriers will be designated as either Mexican or Canadian based on where the company crosses goods. If your company crosses freight on both borders, you should apply under the Mexican Carrier designation.

1. Be an active international border crossing U.S./Mexico or Canada Highway Carrier.
2. Have a business office staffed in the U.S., Mexico or Canada.
3. Have an active U.S. National Motor Freight Traffic Association issued Standard Carrier Alpha Code & Department of Transportation Number in the following format: #### SCAC Code (4 Alpha Characters) and ###### DOT Number (6 Digits)
4. Have a designated company officer that will be the primary cargo security officer responsible for C-TPAT.
5. Commit to maintaining the CTPAT supply chain security criteria as outlined in the CTPAT U.S./Mexico or U.S./Canada Highway Carrier agreement.
6. Create and provide CBP with a CTPAT supply chain security profile, which identifies how the Highway Carrier will meet, maintain and enhance internal policy to meet the CTPAT Security Criteria for U.S./Mexico or U.S./Canada Highway Carriers.

Highway Carrier Eligibility Requirements PDF

U.S. Customs Broker Eligibility Requirements

To qualify, your company must be an active (within the past year) Licensed U.S. Customs Broker with an active U.S. Customs Broker’s license and filer code of record ID, and have an office staffed in the U.S.

1. Be an active Licensed U.S. Customs Broker.
2. Have a business office staffed in the United States.
3. Have an active U.S. Customs Broker’s license and filer code of record ID in the following formats: ##### Customs Broker’s License Serial Number or ### Filer Code
4. Have a designated company officer that will be the primary cargo security officer responsible for CTPAT.
5. Commit to maintaining the CTPAT Security Criteria as outlined in the CTPAT U.S. Custom Broker.
6. Create and provide CBP with a CTPAT supply chain security profile, which identifies how the broker will meet, maintain and enhance internal policy to meet the CTPAT Minimum Security Criteria for Brokers.

Customs Broker Eligibility Requirements PDF

Rail Carrier Eligibility Requirements

To qualify, your company must be an active rail carrier that transports shipments internationally (within the past year) into/from Mexico or Canada. You must have at least one staffed business office in one of the three countries. Your company must have an active U.S. National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA) issued Standard Carrier Alpha Code (SCAC) and have a (valid) common carrier bond registered with CBP.

1. Be an active Rail Carrier transporting shipments from Canada or Mexico.
2. Have at least one business office staffed in the U.S., Canada, or Mexico.
3. Have an active U.S. National Motor Freight Traffic Association issued Standard Carrier Alpha Code (SCAC) in the following format: #### SCAC Code (4 Alpha Characters)
4. Possess a valid common carrier bond registered with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
5. Have a designated company officer that will be the primary cargo security officer responsible for CTPAT.
6. Commit to maintaining the CTPAT supply chain security criteria as outlined in the CTPAT Rail Carrier agreement.
7. Create and provide CBP with a CTPAT supply chain security profile, which identifies how the Rail Carrier will meet, maintain and enhance internal policies to meet the CTPAT Rail Carrier Standards.

Rail Carrier Eligibility Requirements PDF

Air Carrier Eligibility Requirements

To qualify, your company must be an active air carrier that transports (within the past year) cargo shipments to the United States. Your company must possess an active International Air Transport Association (IATA) Code and have a (valid) continuous international carrier bond registered with CBP.

To be eligible for CTPAT, the Air Carrier must the meet the following eligibility requirements:

1. Active Air Carrier transporting cargo shipments to the U.S.
2. Have an active International Air Transport Association (IATA) Code in the following format: ## IATA Code
3. Possess a valid continuous international carrier bond registered with CBP.
4. Have a designated company officer that will be the primary cargo security officer responsible for CTPAT.
5. Commit to maintaining the CTPAT Security Criteria for Air Carriers.
6. Create and provide CBP with a CTPAT supply chain security profile, which identifies how the Air Carrier will meet, maintain and enhance internal policy to meet the CTPAT Security Criteria for Air Carriers.

Air Carrier Eligibility Requirements PDF

Third Party Logistics Providers 3PL Eligibility Requirements

To qualify, your company must be licensed and/or bonded by the Federal Maritime Commission, Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, or the Department of Transportation; be directly involved in the handling and management of the cargo throughout any point in the international supply chain, from point of stuffing, up to the first U.S. port of arrival; Manage and execute these particular logistics functions using its own transportation, consolidation and/or warehousing assets and resources, on behalf of the client company; and have an office staffed in the United States.

1. Be directly involved in the handling and management of the cargo throughout any point in the international supply chain, from point of stuffing, up to the first U.S. port of arrival. Entities which only provide domestic services and are not engaged in cross border activities are not eligible.
2. Manage and execute these particular logistics functions using its own transportation, consolidation and/or warehousing assets and resources, on behalf of the client company.
3. Does not allow subcontracting of service beyond a second party other than to other CTPAT members (does not allow the practice of “double brokering”, that is, the 3PL may contract with a service provider, but may not allow that contractor to further subcontract the actual provision of this service).
4. Be licensed and/or bonded by the Federal Maritime Commission, Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, or the Department of Transportation.
5. Maintain a staffed office in the United States.

3PL Eligibility Requirements PDF

NVOCC Or Other Intermediary Eligibility Requirements

To qualify, your company must be an active Air Freight Consolidator, Ocean Transportation Intermediary or Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC), have an office staffed in the U.S., and must also possess a valid continuous international carrier bond and/or in bond/export Consolidator bond (IBEC) registered with CBP. Also, if applicable, companies must have an active Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) issued Organization Number or an International Air Transport Association (IATA) issued Organization Number.

1. Be an active Air Freight Consolidator, Ocean Transportation Intermediary or Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC).
2. Have an business office staffed in the United States.
3. If applicable, have an active Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) issued Organization Number or an International Air Transport Association (IATA) issued Organization Number in the following format: ###### FMC Organization Number and ###### IATA Organization Number
4. Possess a valid continuous international carrier bond and/or in bond/export consolidator bond (IBEC) registered with CBP.
5. Have a designated company officer that will be the primary cargo security officer responsible for CTPAT.
6. Commit to maintaining CTPAT supply chain security guidelines as outlined in the CTPAT consolidator agreement.
7. Create and provide CBP with a CTPAT supply chain security profile, which identifies how the consolidator will meet, maintain and enhance internal policy to meet the CTPAT consolidator security guidelines.