CARM (CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management) is the CBSA's system for managing import accounting and payments. Registration is mandatory for every commercial importer — without it, your goods can't be accounted for and releases stall. Here's the process in the order it actually happens.
Step 1 — Business Number and RM account
You need a CRA Business Number (BN9) with an import-export program account (the "RM" extension). If you already have a BN for GST/HST, add the RM account through CRA Business Registration Online — typically processed in 1–2 business days. That timing is CRA’s, not ours, and can run longer at busy periods.
Step 2 — Create your portal login
Access the CARM Client Portal with a GCKey or a Sign-In Partner (your online banking credential). The person who registers first becomes the account's first Business Account Manager (BAM) — choose someone with authority, because the BAM controls who else can act for the business.
Step 3 — Link your business
The portal verifies you against your business by asking questions only the business should know — legal entity details and figures from recent CBSA transactions or CRA records. New importers with no customs history answer from CRA registration data. This is the step where most registrations stall: have your incorporation documents and recent statements in front of you.
Step 4 — Delegate authority to your broker
Your customs broker must be granted access within the portal before they can account for your shipments. You approve the broker's pending request (or send one) and set their access level. This replaces nothing — your broker still needs an agency agreement — but without the portal delegation, filings can't flow.
Step 5 — Post financial security (RPP)
To have goods released before duties are paid — which is how commercial importing practically works — you need Release Prior to Payment security: a customs bond or a cash deposit, sized to your monthly duty and tax volume. Without RPP, every shipment waits at the border until payment clears.
Step 6 — Set up payment and billing cycles
Duties and taxes consolidate onto a monthly Statement of Account in the portal, paid by pre-authorized debit, online banking, or EDI. Diarize the payment due date — late payment risks your RPP privilege.
Common pitfalls
Registering with a personal GCKey tied to the wrong person — the first registrant becomes BAM
Failing the identity questions because financials aren't on hand
Forgetting the broker delegation, then wondering why entries bounce
Under-sizing RPP security and hitting the ceiling in peak season
We walk clients through every step of this — most registrations finish inside a week when the documents are ready. It's included when you onboard with us as your broker.
Educational overview only — CBSA processes and portal flows change. Verify current requirements or ask our team.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is CARM registration mandatory to import into Canada?▼
Yes — every commercial importer must be registered in the CARM Client Portal for CBSA to account for their goods; without it, accounting can't happen and releases stall. This applies whether you import one pallet a year or a container a week, and it applies to non-resident importers as well as Canadian companies.
Can my customs broker register me in CARM?▼
Not entirely — the portal identity verification is tied to your business, so someone from your company must create the login and become the Business Account Manager. A broker can walk you through each screen and tell you which documents to have ready, but they can't be your BAM. Once you're registered, you delegate portal authority to the broker so filings can flow.
Can I use my customs broker's bond instead of posting my own security?▼
No — under CARM, Release Prior to Payment (RPP) security belongs to the importer, not the broker. To get goods released before duties are paid you need your own customs bond or cash deposit, sized to your import volume. Importers who skip this find every shipment waiting at the border until payment clears.
Do non-resident importers need to register in CARM?▼
Yes. A foreign company acting as the importer of record into Canada needs a Business Number with an RM account, CARM portal registration, and its own RPP security, same as a Canadian importer. The identity-verification step can be trickier without Canadian filing history, so allow extra lead time before your first shipment.
What happens if I miss a payment on my CARM Statement of Account?▼
Late payment accrues interest and, more importantly, puts your RPP privilege at risk — lose that and your shipments stop releasing before payment, which is operationally painful. Diarize the due date shown on your monthly Statement of Account in the portal and set up pre-authorized debit if you'd rather not watch the calendar.
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