PARS vs PAPS Numbers: What's the Difference and When You Need Them

If you move commercial freight by truck across the Canada-US border, you will run into PARS and PAPS numbers fast. The short version: PARS is the Canadian customs number and PAPS is the American one. Both let a customs broker pre-clear your shipment before the truck reaches the border, so goods get released in minutes instead of sitting in a queue.

This PARS vs PAPS guide explains what each number is, who issues it, what it looks like, when you need one, and how to track a shipment once it has one.

PARS vs PAPS: the quick answer

PARS (Pre-Arrival Review System) is used by the Canada Border Services Agency for shipments entering Canada. PAPS (Pre-Arrival Processing System) is used by US Customs and Border Protection for shipments entering the United States. They do the same job in opposite directions: they tie a shipment to a customs entry so the broker can request release before the truck arrives.

The main differences at a glance:

• Full name: PARS is the Pre-Arrival Review System; PAPS is the Pre-Arrival Processing System.
• Customs agency: PARS is run by CBSA in Canada; PAPS is run by CBP in the United States.
• Direction: PARS is for goods entering Canada; PAPS is for goods entering the US.
• Number format: a PARS number is a carrier code plus a cargo control number (CCN), roughly 5 to 25 alphanumeric characters; a PAPS number is a 4-letter SCAC plus a shipment control number, up to about 16 characters.
• Paired manifest system: PARS works with the ACI eManifest; PAPS works with the ACE eManifest.
• Who assigns it: the highway carrier assigns both.

The takeaway for most shippers: which number you need depends only on which country the goods are entering. A truck heading north into Canada needs a PARS number. A truck heading south into the US needs a PAPS number.

What is a PARS number?

A PARS number is the barcode reference CBSA uses to match a northbound truck shipment to a customs entry filed by your broker. It lets the broker submit release information ahead of arrival, so the border officer can approve the goods quickly or flag them for inspection.

A PARS number combines the carrier's CBSA carrier code with a cargo control number (CCN). The full reference runs from about 5 to 25 characters and can include letters, numbers, and dashes. The first four characters are the carrier code, followed by the carrier's unique shipment number.

This matters for new importers: the older rule of thumb that a PARS number is “always eight digits” is no longer accurate. CCN lengths vary by carrier, and they are not limited to numbers.

The PARS barcode label is placed on the commercial invoice and the lead sheet that travels with the shipment. When the carrier transmits its ACI eManifest, the PARS number links that manifest to the broker's release request.

What is a PAPS number?

A PAPS number is the US equivalent of a PARS number: a barcode reference CBP uses to match a southbound truck shipment to a customs entry. Carriers and brokers also call it a “PAPS number for trucking,” because it applies specifically to commercial highway freight entering the US.

A PAPS number starts with the carrier's SCAC (Standard Carrier Alpha Code), a four-letter code, followed by a unique shipment control number. The complete reference is typically numeric after the SCAC and runs up to roughly 16 characters.

Like PARS, the PAPS barcode goes on the commercial invoice that moves with the load. It links to the carrier's ACE eManifest so CBP can review the entry before the driver reaches the primary booth.

When do you need a PARS or PAPS number?

You need a PARS or PAPS number for almost any commercial shipment crossing the Canada-US border by truck. It is the default processing type for highway freight in both countries.

You need a PARS number when commercial goods enter Canada. You need a PAPS number when commercial goods enter the US. A carrier running loads in both directions will use both, one per crossing, depending on the destination country.

Personal shipments, courier low-value goods, and some other modes follow different rules. If you are unsure whether your shipment qualifies, a licensed broker can confirm the right processing type before the truck rolls.

The PARS/PAPS release process, step by step

The number ties together three parties: the carrier who assigns it, the broker who files the entry, and the customs officer who approves the release. Here is how a typical crossing works.

1. The carrier assigns a PARS or PAPS number to the shipment and sends it to the customs broker.
2. The broker uses that number to file a release request with CBSA or CBP.
3. The carrier submits its eManifest listing (ACI for Canada, ACE for the US) using the same number.
4. Customs matches the broker's entry to the carrier's manifest. Both must be accepted before the goods reach the border.
5. At the booth, the officer scans the barcode, confirms the match, and either releases the shipment or refers it for inspection.

When the entry and the manifest line up, release is usually near-instant. Mismatches are the most common cause of delay, which is why brokers and carriers confirm the number on both sides before departure. This is exactly the kind of coordination a customs broker handles for you.

How carriers register to issue PARS and PAPS numbers

Carriers, not importers, assign PARS and PAPS numbers, because the carrier is the party physically moving the freight. To do that, the carrier needs the right code from each country.

For PARS (Canada), a highway carrier must first be authorized to operate by a provincial transportation authority, then apply to CBSA for a bonded or non-bonded carrier code. That code forms the first part of every PARS number the carrier issues.

For PAPS (US), a carrier must be registered with the US Department of Transportation (or hold an MC number), then obtain a SCAC from the National Motor Freight Traffic Association. The SCAC is the first part of every PAPS number.

If you are an importer rather than a carrier, you do not register for these codes. Your carrier supplies the number, and your broker uses it to clear the goods.

How to track a PARS or PAPS shipment

Once a shipment has a PARS or PAPS number, you can track its release status in real time using that number. This tells you whether customs has accepted the entry, released the goods, or referred them for a closer look, without phoning the broker or the carrier.

BorderBuddy gives you two free tools for this:

• PARS tracker for northbound shipments entering Canada (CBSA).
• PAPS tracker for southbound shipments entering the US (CBP).

Enter the number from your barcode label and you get the current status instantly. No account, no fees. Carriers and importers use these trackers to confirm a load is cleared before it ever reaches the booth.

Tracking is most useful in the hours before a crossing. If the status has not flipped to released, it usually means the broker's entry or the carrier's manifest is still pending, and there is time to fix it before the truck arrives. Bookmark the PARS tracker and PAPS tracker so the status is one click away on every crossing.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between PARS and PAPS?

PARS is the Canadian customs number (CBSA, Pre-Arrival Review System) for goods entering Canada. PAPS is the US customs number (CBP, Pre-Arrival Processing System) for goods entering the United States. They work the same way in opposite directions.

Is PARS or PAPS used for shipping into Canada?

PARS is used for shipping into Canada. PAPS is used for shipping into the United States. The direction of travel decides which number applies.

What does PARS stand for in CBSA terms?

PARS stands for Pre-Arrival Review System. CBSA uses it to review and release commercial truck shipments before they arrive at the Canadian border.

What is a PAPS number for trucking?

A PAPS number is the barcode reference a highway carrier assigns to a commercial load entering the US. CBP uses it to match the shipment to the broker's entry and clear it before the truck reaches the border.

Who assigns the PARS or PAPS number, the carrier or the importer?

The carrier assigns it. Carriers hold the CBSA carrier code (for PARS) or the SCAC (for PAPS) needed to generate the number, because they physically move the freight.

How do you get a PARS or PAPS number?

The carrier generates it from their registered carrier code or SCAC and applies it to the shipment's barcode label. Importers do not create the number themselves; they receive it from the carrier and pass it to their broker.

The bottom line

PARS and PAPS numbers solve the same problem on each side of the border: they let your broker clear a truck shipment before it arrives, so freight keeps moving. Remember that PARS is Canadian and PAPS is American, the carrier assigns the number, and a clean match between the broker's entry and the carrier's eManifest is what gets you released without delay.

Already have a number on your label? Track it now with the free PARS tracker (into Canada) or PAPS tracker (into the US). And if you would rather not manage the broker coordination yourself, BorderBuddy clears thousands of cross-border shipments and knows both systems end to end. Get a free customs quote or talk to a broker before your next crossing.