PARS vs PAPS: cross-border customs, explained
PARS and PAPS are the two pre-arrival customs systems that keep trucks moving across the Canada-US border. Here is how each one works and who does what before the truck reaches the crossing.
The short version
PARS is northbound, US to Canada, filed to the CBSA. PAPS is southbound, Canada to the US, filed to US CBP. Both let the customs entry be submitted before the truck reaches the border, so a released shipment can cross without sorting paperwork at the primary booth. With Setara, that entry is filed through a licensed customs broker partner, while the carrier handles the eManifest.
What PARS is and how it works
PARS stands for Pre-Arrival Review System. It is the CBSA program for freight moving into Canada from the United States. A customs broker sends the release request to the CBSA before the truck arrives, so the shipment can be reviewed and, in most cases, released while it is still on the road.
The link between the truck and the entry is a barcode. A PARS label, built from the carrier code and a unique shipment number, goes on the commercial invoice and travels with the load. The broker matches its release request to that same barcode. At the border the driver presents the barcoded invoice, the CBSA officer scans it, and the system returns the shipment's status.
What PAPS is and how it works
PAPS stands for Pre-Arrival Processing System. It is the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) equivalent for freight moving from Canada into the United States. A US customs broker files the entry against a PAPS barcode before the truck reaches the crossing.
The mechanics mirror PARS. The PAPS barcode is made from the carrier's SCAC and a shipment number, applied to the invoice, and matched to the broker's entry. At the booth, CBP scans the barcode and the shipment either releases or is referred for a closer look. Same idea, opposite direction, different agency.
| PARS | PAPS | |
|---|---|---|
| Direction | US to Canada (northbound) | Canada to US (southbound) |
| Agency | CBSA | US CBP |
| Full name | Pre-Arrival Review System | Pre-Arrival Processing System |
| Barcode built from | Carrier code + shipment number | SCAC + shipment number |
| Carrier eManifest | ACI eManifest (CBSA) | ACE eManifest (CBP) |
| Who files the entry | Canadian customs broker | US customs broker |
Where ACI and ACE eManifest fit
The PARS or PAPS entry is only one half of a crossing. The carrier also has to transmit an electronic cargo report, and that is a separate filing. Into Canada it is the CBSA ACI eManifest; into the United States it is the CBP ACE eManifest. Both cover the truck, the driver, and the cargo at the conveyance level.
The two pieces are meant to line up. The broker files the release request tied to the PARS or PAPS barcode, and the carrier transmits the eManifest referencing that same shipment. When the driver reaches primary and the officer scans the barcode, both records should already be on file. This is why the entry is filed through a licensed customs broker partner while the carrier owns the eManifest: two filers, two systems, one shipment.
Release notification: how everyone learns the shipment cleared
- RNS The CBSA Release Notification System sends an electronic message when a shipment is released or set for exam. The broker and, if subscribed, the carrier get the update.
- Released on arrival If the PARS entry is accepted, the driver can cross once the barcode scans clean at primary. No release means no crossing, so the paperwork has to reach the broker with time to spare.
- Referred for exam Either agency can pull a load for a document check or a physical inspection. That is normal and outside anyone's control at the booth.
- Send documents early Late invoices are the most common reason a PARS or PAPS shipment is not ready. Get the paperwork to the broker well before the truck rolls.
Who does what before the border
For a clean crossing, three parties each have a job. The shipper or exporter produces an accurate commercial invoice and gets it to the broker early, with the barcode applied. The carrier transmits the ACI or ACE eManifest and carries the barcoded documents in the cab. The customs broker files the release entry and monitors the release notification.
Setara sits across all three. We move the freight with cross-border trucking, make sure the barcode and eManifest are handled, and route the entry to a broker so nothing is filed at the last minute. If you are still deciding whether you need a broker at all, our guide on whether you need a customs broker to import to Canada walks through it.
How Setara handles PARS and PAPS
Setara is a GTA-based freight forwarder in Vaughan, Ontario. On a cross-border move we book the truck through Setara Transport and our vetted carrier network, apply the PARS or PAPS barcode to your documents, and make sure the ACI or ACE eManifest is transmitted on time. The customs entry itself is filed through a licensed customs broker partner, since we are a freight forwarder and not a customs broker. See our customs coordination and cross-border pages for how the pieces connect. We can also coordinate Port of Montreal container moves through partner carriers when a shipment routes that way.
Frequently asked
What is the difference between PARS and PAPS?
PARS (Pre-Arrival Review System) is for freight entering Canada from the US and is filed to the CBSA. PAPS (Pre-Arrival Processing System) is for freight entering the US from Canada and is filed to CBP. Same pre-arrival idea, opposite directions, different agencies.
What is PARS in customs?
PARS is the CBSA program that lets a customs broker request release of a US-to-Canada shipment before the truck arrives at the border. A PARS barcode on the invoice links the load to the broker's entry, so the shipment can clear at the primary booth.
How does PAPS work from Canada to the US?
A PAPS barcode, built from the carrier's SCAC and a shipment number, goes on the invoice. A US customs broker files the entry against that barcode before arrival. At the border CBP scans it and the shipment either releases or is referred for inspection.
Is the eManifest the same as PARS or PAPS?
No. PARS and PAPS are the broker's release entries. The eManifest is the carrier's electronic cargo report, ACI into Canada and ACE into the US. Both have to be on file for a clean crossing, and they are filed by different parties.
Does Setara file the customs entry?
No. Setara is a freight forwarder, not a customs broker. We arrange the trucking, apply the barcode, and make sure the eManifest is transmitted, but the customs entry is filed through a licensed customs broker partner.
How early should documents reach the broker?
As early as you can. A PARS or PAPS entry can only be prepared once the broker has a complete, accurate invoice. Late or missing paperwork is the most common reason a shipment is not released when the truck reaches the border.
Last reviewed: July 2026. General information, not legal or customs advice. Sources: CBSA (PARS, ACI eManifest, RNS) and US CBP (PAPS, ACE eManifest).
Crossing the border soon?
Tell us the lane and the commodity. We will line up the truck, the barcode, and the broker partner so your shipment is ready before it reaches the border.
Get a quote