U.S. Customs Bonds
Get Your U.S. Customs Bond Today! Fast approvals. Lowest rates. Guaranteed CBP compliance. Licensed nationwide. A-rated surety partners.
Start Your ApplicationA U.S. Customs Bond ensures your imported goods clear U.S. ports without delays by guaranteeing payment of duties, taxes, and fees, as well as full compliance with CBP regulations. Whether you're importing merchandise, operating a customs-regulated business, or filing entries through a broker, this bond protects the federal government from financial loss and ensures you meet all documentation, reporting, and trade law requirements.
Securing this bond demonstrates your reliability as an importer and keeps your supply chain moving smoothly through U.S. ports of entry.
Working with federal or agency bond requirements? Explore our Federal & BLM Bond Hub for USDA, BLM, HUD, BIA, and federal agency bond resources.
What Are U.S. Customs Bonds?
A U.S. Customs Bond is a federal surety bond required by U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) for businesses importing goods into the United States or engaging in certain customs-regulated activities.
These bonds ensure that importers and customs-regulated businesses:
Without a customs bond, your goods cannot clear U.S. ports of entry.
Types of U.S. Customs Bonds We Provide
Continuous Import Bond (Activity Code 1)
Required for importers making regular or high-value shipments. Covers all imports for 12 months. Ideal for businesses importing more than 3–4 times per year.
Single-Entry Bond (SEB)
Covers one shipment at one port of entry. Best for low-volume or one-time importers.
Drawback Bond (Activity Code 1A)
Required for companies claiming duty refunds (drawbacks). Ensures compliance with drawback regulations.
International Carrier Bond (Activity Code 3)
Required for airlines, vessel operators, and carriers entering U.S. ports. Guarantees compliance with CBP carrier regulations.
Customs Broker Bond (Activity Code 11)
Required for licensed customs brokers. Ensures ethical and compliant customs brokerage operations.
Bonded Warehouse Bond (Activity Code 2)
Required for operators of bonded warehouses storing imported goods. Guarantees proper handling and reporting of bonded merchandise.
Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) Bond (Activity Code 4)
Required for FTZ operators and users. Ensures compliance with FTZ regulations and duty-deferral rules.
Custodian of Bonded Merchandise Bond (Activity Code 2)
Required for container freight stations, terminals, and bonded carriers. Ensures proper custody and control of bonded cargo.
U.S. Customs Bond Amounts and Cost
Bond amounts are set by CBP and depend on:
Typical continuous bond amounts start at $50,000, but may be higher for:
Your premium depends on:
Most importers qualify instantly with competitive rates.
Who Needs a U.S. Customs Bond
You may need a customs bond if you are:
Any business moving goods through U.S. ports may be required to file a customs bond.
U.S. Customs Bond Requirements & Eligibility
CBP typically requires:
Some industries require additional federal compliance (FDA, USDA, EPA, ATF, etc.).
How the U.S. Customs Bond Process Works
Complete the Application
Submit the quick, 60-second application.
Secure the Lowest Rate
We match you with the best rate available from A-rated sureties.
Receive Your Bond
Same-day issuance available for CBP filing.
Why Importers Choose Us
Top U.S. Customs Bond Questions Answered
Our most common questions answered efficiently.
How much does a customs bond cost?
Costs depend on import volume, shipment value, and type of goods. Continuous bond amounts typically start at $50,000, with higher amounts for high-value or regulated imports.
How long does approval take?
Approvals are fast, with same-day issuance available for CBP filing.
What does the bond guarantee?
The bond guarantees payment of duties, taxes, and fees, and compliance with CBP regulations, protecting the federal government from financial loss.
Can the bond be refunded?
Refund policies vary by surety and bond type. Contact us for specifics on your customs bond.
Do I need a continuous bond or single-entry bond?
Continuous bonds are ideal for businesses importing more than 3–4 times per year, while single-entry bonds work best for low-volume or one-time importers.
Customer Testimonials
What our customers are saying about us.
Our import volume grew fast, and we needed a higher continuous bond immediately. Inspire Surety handled the increase the same day and kept our shipments moving.
Liam C.Import Compliance ManagerAs a first-time importer, I had no idea how customs bonds worked. Inspire Surety explained everything clearly and issued my bond within hours.
Sabrina F.Small Business ImporterWe manage multiple bonded warehouses and needed several bonds across different facilities. Inspire Surety coordinated everything flawlessly.
Darius P.Warehouse Operations DirectorOur customs broker recommended Inspire Surety, and now I see why. The filing with CBP was instant, and the service was exceptional.
Nina A.International Trade CoordinatorWe were facing delays at the port due to a bond issue. Inspire Surety stepped in, resolved it immediately, and helped us avoid costly storage fees.
Owen M.Logistics ManagerWe import controlled goods and needed a higher-risk bond. Inspire Surety secured approval quickly and at a rate better than our previous provider.
Harper S.Regulated Goods ImporterReady to Get Your U.S. Customs Bond?
Fast approvals, lowest rates, guaranteed CBP compliance.
Start My ApplicationOur local desks
Local freight desks
Inspire Surety desks for this filing — same agency, not a separate marketplace.
Miami-Dade · Miami Freight Bonds
Need a Miami-Dade BMC-84 filing? Use our Miami freight desk.
Fort Lauderdale · Fort Lauderdale Freight Bonds
Fort Lauderdale U.S. customs bond
Filing from Fort Lauderdale or Broward County? Use our Fort Lauderdale freight desk.
Houston-Galveston · Houston Freight Bonds
Need a Houston-Galveston BMC-84 or TxDMV broker filing? Use our Houston freight desk.
Dallas-Fort Worth · Dallas Freight Bonds
Filing from Dallas-Fort Worth? Use our Dallas freight desk for BMC-84 and TxDMV broker bonds.