CBSA’s New Importer Payment Portal (CARM)

You can access the CARM Client Portal (CCP) from the CBSA website: https://ccp-pcc.cbsa-asfc.cloud-nuage.canada.ca/en/homepage

To register, you need your Business Number (BN9) plus Importer Program Number (RM). This 15-character BN15 is structured as follows:

Example BN15: 123456789RM0001

• The BN9 is the unique business number assigned by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

• The RM number identifies the CBSA program associated with the business.

🔹 For Canadian-based businesses: Most already have a BN9. If not, they can obtain one during CCP registration.
🔹 For Non-Resident Importers (NRIs): They must get a BN9 from CRA before registering on the CCP.

💡 RM Program Number Details:

• The CBSA program number (RM) defines the type of user and their activities on the portal.

• Importers, brokers, warehouses, and sureties each have distinct RM numbers.

  • Carriers and Warehouses must obtain a unique RM Program Number specific to their activities.  Additionally, Carriers and Warehouses must request CBSA link their Carrier Code with their BN9 before any financial security may be filed. This request may be submitted using the CBSA Client Support Contact webform.

• RM numbers are assigned sequentially (e.g., RM0001, RM0002, etc.).

The RPP program allows importers to have their goods released by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) before they pay duties and taxes. However, importers must now provide their own financial security to participate in RPP, as they can no longer rely on their customs broker’s financial security.

Without RPP, importers must pay all duties and taxes at the time of importation before their goods are released.

If you do not provide the required financial security by the deadline, you will no longer be eligible for RPP. This means you must pay duties and taxes at the time of importation before CBSA releases your goods.

CBSA calculates your required financial security based on your highest monthly accounts receivable balance (including duties and GST) over the last 12 months for each of your program accounts (RM accounts).

This required amount will be visible in your CARM Client Portal.

There are two ways to provide financial security:

1. Written Security Agreement  (a financial institution such as a bank or surety bond provider) *Buy a Bond Today!

   • Must be at least 50% of the required financial security (minimum CAD $5,000 per RM account).

   • One option for financial security is an RPP bond, which can be arranged through your customs broker. Many brokers collaborate with surety providers, to help importers facilitate the process.

   • You must first contact a financial security provider to set up an agreement before entering the details in the CARM Client Portal.

2. Security Deposit (made directly in the CARM Client Portal)

   • Must be 100% of the required financial security.

   • There is no minimum deposit requirement.

If your company imports goods commercially into Canada, there are no exceptions or opt-out possibilities. All importers of commercial goods will be required to set up a CCP account for their business.

The person initially registering your business on the CARM Client Portal (CCP) – the Business Account Manager (BAM) – should be someone who knows your business details registered with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and ideally has some involvement in your company's financial management.

While the CBSA doesn't specify who can register, the person who does automatically becomes the BAM. The BAM has full control over the company's CCP account and is responsible for approving access for other employees, including secondary BAMs and Program Account Managers (PAMs).description

Consider granting CCP access to employees involved in various import-related activities, such as managing broker relationships, ensuring customs compliance, handling post-entry adjustments, overseeing duty deferral programs, managing ruling requests, paying broker fees and CBSA duties, purchasing imported goods, and managing receiving activities.

Most importantly, you must delegate authority to your customs broker through the CARM Client Portal (CCP) for them to be able to submit Commercial Accounting Declarations (CADs) to the CBSA on your behalf. Without this CCP delegation, even with a power of attorney, your broker will be unable to finalize and account for your customs entries.

CARM Set Up Guides can be found here