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Calculate duties and taxes
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To check a PARS status, enter the full PARS number from the barcode label on your shipment paperwork and run the search. The tracker returns the current release status for that entry.
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A PARS number is usually the carrier's four-character carrier code followed by a unique reference number. You'll find it on the barcode sticker attached to the commercial invoice or bill of lading. Type it exactly as printed, with no spaces.
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If the tracker shows your PARS as accepted, the shipment has been released, and the driver can proceed to the border. If it shows no record or a rejection, hold off. Crossing without an accepted PARS can mean hours of delay at the port of entry.
PARS stands for Pre-Arrival Review System, a CBSA program that lets customs review and approve commercial shipments before the truck arrives at the Canadian border. The PARS number is the barcode reference that ties your shipment's paperwork to that pre-arrival review.
The process works in four steps:
Pre-arrival review is what keeps commercial traffic moving. Without it, every truck would wait at the border while paperwork gets processed from scratch. For a deeper explainer, see our guide to PARS and PAPS numbers and when you need them.
Your tracker result indicates whether the shipment will clear upon arrival. There are three outcomes to know.
The broker's release request went through, and CBSA has the entry on file. The driver can proceed to the crossing, where the officer scans the barcode and releases the load. This is the status you want before the truck is anywhere near the border.
The PARS number returns no record. This usually means the broker hasn't received the paperwork yet, hasn't submitted the entry, or the number was keyed in wrong. Re-check the number first, then contact the broker to confirm they have the invoice and the correct ETA.
CBSA reviewed the entry and refused release, most often due to missing or inconsistent paperwork. The broker must correct and resubmit the entry. Do not send the driver to the border until the status changes to accepted; otherwise the shipment may be held or forced to re-file at the port.
If your PARS isn't showing as accepted a few hours before crossing, act immediately: confirm the broker has the paperwork, the correct PARS number, and the right port and ETA. Most failed lookups trace back to one of those three things.
Common causes and fixes:
Resend the commercial invoice with the PARS label clearly visible.
Compare the number on the label against what was transmitted, character by character.
If the truck was rerouted or delayed, the broker needs to update the entry with CBSA.
The importer must have a licensed customs broker file the release. If a shipment is stuck without one, BorderBuddy's Canadian customs clearance team can take over the entry and file with CBSA fast.
Shipments that arrive without an accepted PARS default to full manual processing at the border, the exact delay the Pre-Arrival Review System exists to prevent. Our guide on how customs clearance works in Canada walks through what happens in that scenario.
Stuck at the border or racing a deadline? BorderBuddy's licensed brokers set up and file PARS entries every day. Talk to a broker now or get an instant duty and tax quote.
PARS is for shipments entering Canada. PAPS (Pre-Arrival Processing System) is the U.S. equivalent of the system for shipments entering the United States. The direction of travel decides which number your shipment needs.
Carriers running loads in both directions need both processes set up. If you're southbound, use our PAPS tracker instead.
Enter the full PARS number from the barcode label into the tracker at the top of this page. The tool checks the release status on file and shows whether the entry is accepted, missing, or rejected.
Send paperwork to the broker as early as possible, and confirm the entry shows as accepted before the driver approaches the border. CBSA recommends a minimum lead time of 1 to 2 hours before arrival for EDI entries.
The carrier. PARS barcodes are part of the carrier's code, and the carrier attaches the label to the shipment paperwork. The customs broker then uses that number when filing the release request with CBSA.
The shipment won't be released. The driver may need to wait while the broker corrects and resubmits the entry, or the load may be moved to a bonded warehouse at the carrier's expense. Checking status before arrival avoids this.
Yes. This tracker checks PARS status for any customs broker in Canada. Most broker trackers, such as those from Livingston, Cole, or Farrow, report only their own entries. Here, you can view all shipments on one page, regardless of which broker filed them.
An accepted PARS before the truck rolls is the difference between a 30-second scan and a day lost at the border. Bookmark this page, check every load before dispatch, and fix problems while the truck is still on the highway.
And when a shipment needs more than a status check, BorderBuddy handles the rest: HS classification, duty calculation, B3 filing, and CARM compliance. Get a custom quote and have a licensed Canadian customs broker on your side for the next crossing.