A customs bond is a legally binding contract that guarantees the U.S. government will receive all duties, taxes, and fees owed on imported goods. Every commercial import shipment valued over $2,500 entering the United States requires one. Without a valid customs bond, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will not release your cargo.
The bond is not insurance for the importer. It is a guarantee to the federal government. If the importer fails to pay what they owe, the surety company that issued the bond pays CBP directly and then pursues the importer for reimbursement. This distinction matters because it determines who the bond actually protects: the government, not the importer.
For importers bringing goods into the United States regularly, understanding how customs bonds work, which type you need, and what they cost is foundational to running a compliant import operation.
How a Customs Bond Works
A customs bond involves three parties, each with a distinct role in the guarantee mechanism.
The principal. This is the importer of record — the person or business legally responsible for the imported goods. The principal is the party that owes duties, taxes, and fees to CBP and is obligated to comply with all U.S. customs laws and regulations. When you apply for a customs bond, you are the principal.
The surety company. This is a Treasury-listed insurance company authorized to issue customs bonds. The surety underwrites the bond, meaning it evaluates the importer's financial standing and import activity to determine whether to issue the bond and at what cost. If the importer fails to pay duties or comply with CBP requirements, the surety is liable for the bond amount. There are approximately 50 Treasury-listed sureties authorized to write customs bonds in the United States.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). CBP is the obligee — the party the bond protects. The bond guarantees to CBP that the importer will pay all duties, taxes, and fees; comply with all laws and regulations governing the importation; and correct any deficiencies identified by CBP during the entry process.
The guarantee mechanism works like this: when an importer files a customs entry, CBP calculates the estimated duties owed. The customs bond secures that obligation. If the importer pays on time, the bond is never activated. If the importer defaults — fails to pay duties, provides inaccurate information, or violates import regulations — CBP issues a claim against the bond. The surety pays CBP and then seeks recovery from the importer through a process called indemnification.
This structure is governed by 19 CFR Part 113, which specifies the conditions, types, and requirements for customs bonds. The bond itself is documented on CBP Form 301.
Types of Customs Bonds
There are two primary types of customs bonds that importers use. The right choice depends on how frequently you import.
Single Entry Customs Bond (Single Transaction Bond)
A single entry customs bond — also called a single transaction bond — covers one specific import shipment at one specific port. It is valid only for the entry it is associated with and expires once that entry is fully liquidated by CBP, which typically takes 10 to 12 months after the entry date.
Single entry bonds are priced based on the value of the specific shipment plus the estimated duties, taxes, and fees. The bond amount must equal the total entered value of the goods plus all duties and fees, or $50,000, whichever is greater for certain types of entries. The cost to the importer is typically $50 to $100 per shipment, though this varies depending on the shipment value and commodity.
A single entry bond makes sense when you are importing one or two shipments per year, testing a new product or supplier before committing to regular imports, or importing a single large or unusual shipment outside your normal activity.
Continuous Customs Bond
A continuous customs bond covers all import transactions at all U.S. ports of entry for a full 12-month period. It renews automatically each year unless terminated by the principal, the surety, or CBP. The minimum continuous bond amount is $50,000, though CBP may require a higher amount based on your import volume and duty payments.
For most importers, a continuous customs bond costs $400 to $500 per year. This is a single annual premium regardless of how many shipments you bring in. If you import 10 shipments per year, that works out to $40 to $50 per shipment — significantly less than purchasing 10 individual single entry bonds. Not sure what size bond you need? Use our customs bond calculator to get your exact continuous or single entry bond amount in seconds.
A continuous customs bond is the right choice when you import three or more shipments per year, you import at multiple ports, you import FDA-regulated goods or other products requiring ongoing bond coverage, or you want to avoid the delay of obtaining a new bond for each shipment.
| Feature | Single Entry Bond | Continuous Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage | One shipment, one port | All shipments, all ports, 12 months |
| Typical cost | $50–$100 per shipment | $400–$500 per year |
| Best for | 1–2 shipments per year | 3+ shipments per year |
| Renewal | Expires after entry liquidation | Auto-renews annually |
| Processing time | Must be obtained per shipment | Set up once, valid all year |
The breakeven point is straightforward. If you plan to import more than three to four times in a 12-month period, a continuous bond saves money and eliminates the logistical overhead of arranging a new bond for each shipment.
Import Bond Requirements: When You Need a Customs Bond
Import bond requirements in the United States flow from one core rule and a series of category-based exceptions that override it. Understanding both is the difference between an import that clears in hours and one that sits at the port accruing storage and demurrage while you scramble to procure an import customs bond.
The $2,500 commercial threshold. Any commercial import shipment valued over $2,500 requires a customs bond. This is the headline trigger and it covers the vast majority of import bond requirements. Personal-use shipments and informal entries below the threshold generally do not require a bond, but the moment a shipment is filed as a formal entry the import customs bond is mandatory.
FDA-regulated goods (always). Food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, dietary supplements, medical devices, cosmetics, tobacco, and animal-derived products require an import customs bond regardless of value. The FDA Prior Notice and entry filing both reference the bond, and CBP will not release the goods without it. Importers of FDA-regulated goods almost always carry a continuous customs bond because the per-shipment cost of a single entry bond becomes uneconomic quickly.
Antidumping and countervailing duties (always). Goods subject to antidumping or countervailing duties require a bond regardless of value because of the elevated duty exposure and the long liquidation cycle. Cash deposits and bond amounts on AD/CVD shipments are sized to the AD/CVD rate, which in some cases exceeds 100%, and the bond can remain at risk for years before final liquidation.
Partner Government Agency filings. Shipments requiring filings with USDA, EPA, FCC, FWS, ATF, NHTSA, CPSC, or other PGAs require bond coverage to guarantee compliance with each agency's admissibility conditions. PGA-flagged entries account for a large and growing share of formal entries in 2026, and import bond requirements track that growth.
Quota goods. Shipments of merchandise subject to absolute or tariff-rate quotas require an import customs bond to cover the possibility that the quota fills before liquidation and additional duty becomes payable on the over-quota portion.
In-bond shipments. Goods moving in-bond from one U.S. port to another, into a bonded warehouse, or into a Foreign Trade Zone require an import customs bond on the carrier or warehouse proprietor — separate from the importer's own bond. Section 321 de minimis shipments (under $800) do not currently require an import bond, but are increasingly subject to PGA filings that may.
For a detailed breakdown of every scenario that triggers a bond requirement, including thresholds, exceptions, and penalty exposure, read our complete guide: When Is a Customs Bond Required?
Customs Bond Cost: What Importers Actually Pay in 2026
Customs bond cost is the question every importer asks first, and the answer depends on which type of bond you need, who underwrites it, and your duty exposure. The headline numbers in 2026 are unchanged from prior years: a single entry bond cost of $50 to $100 per shipment and a continuous customs bond cost of $400 to $500 per year for the standard $50,000 minimum bond amount.
Those figures describe the bond premium — the fee the surety company charges to issue the bond. The premium is not the bond itself. The bond is the contractual liability amount. CBP does not collect the premium; the surety does. Importers searching "customs bond price" and "customs bond cost" are typically asking about the premium, and the two terms are used interchangeably across the industry.
Cost scales with the bond amount. The continuous customs bond minimum is $50,000, set by CBP at 10% of the duties, taxes, and fees the importer paid in the most recent 12-month period and rounded up to the nearest $10,000. An importer paying $1.2 million in duties annually will be sized to a $120,000 continuous bond, with a premium roughly 2.4× the $50,000 minimum, or about $960 to $1,200 per year.
The cost-per-shipment math is what makes the continuous customs bond compelling for any importer beyond a few entries per year. The table below shows the effective cost per shipment at the $400–$500 annual premium, and how it compares to buying single entry bonds outright.
| Annual shipments | Single entry bonds (at $75 ea.) | Continuous bond (at $450/yr) | Continuous bond saves |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 shipment | $75 | $450 | –$375 (single entry wins) |
| 5 shipments | $375 | $450 | –$75 (about even) |
| 10 shipments | $750 | $450 | $300 |
| 20 shipments | $1,500 | $450 | $1,050 |
| 50 shipments | $3,750 | $450 | $3,300 |
Several factors push customs bond cost above the baseline. Commodities subject to antidumping or countervailing duties carry surety risk well above the standard MFN exposure, so sureties write higher bond amounts and charge higher premiums — sometimes a multiple of the standard rate. FDA-regulated goods, products triggering Partner Government Agency filings, and high duty-rate Section 301 products can all elevate the bond size. Importers with limited financial history or compliance issues may be required to post collateral or accept a non-standard underwriting rate. Estimate your specific bond amount with our bond calculator.
The bond premium is separate from customs brokerage fees. Your customs broker may charge an additional fee for bond procurement and filing, or this may be included in their per-entry rate. Greenwich Mercantile includes bond procurement assistance in our flat-rate pricing with no surcharges. For a comprehensive breakdown of customs brokerage costs, including how customs bond cost fits into your total landed cost, see our pricing guide: How Much Does a Customs Broker Cost?
How to File CBP Form 301
CBP Form 301 — titled simply "Customs Bond" — is the document that creates the customs bond on file with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Every continuous customs bond and every single entry customs bond is recorded on a CBP Form 301 and entered into the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). Knowing what the form contains and how it gets filed makes it easier to work efficiently with your broker and surety.
The principal / surety / obligee structure. CBP Form 301 names three parties. The principal is the importer of record — you, the business named on the entry, identified by IRS EIN or CBP-assigned number. The surety is the Treasury-listed insurance company that underwrites the bond and is liable to CBP if the principal defaults; the surety is identified by its CBP-assigned three-digit code. The obligee is U.S. Customs and Border Protection, named as the beneficiary of the guarantee. Form 301 also identifies the bond type (Activity Code 1 for an Importer or Broker continuous bond is the most common), the bond amount, the effective date, and any limits of liability.
What to provide your broker. If you are filing CBP Form 301 through a licensed customs broker — the most common path — the broker needs the legal name and address of the importer, the IRS EIN or CBP-assigned IOR number, the bond type and amount being requested, an estimate of annual import volume and duties paid (used to size a continuous customs bond), and basic financial information that the surety uses for underwriting. For a single entry customs bond, the broker also needs the entered value of the shipment and the estimated duties, taxes, and fees so the bond amount is sized correctly.
Direct filing through a surety. An importer can also apply directly with a Treasury-listed surety company, complete CBP Form 301 in cooperation with the surety, and submit financial documentation for underwriting. This route generally takes longer than going through a broker, and you will still need a customs broker to file your entries with CBP. Either way the same information is required and the same Form 301 is produced.
Typical 24–48 hour turnaround. Most brokers can have a new continuous customs bond active in ACE within 24 to 48 hours of receiving the importer's information, assuming the surety underwrites at standard terms. Single entry bonds are typically faster — often the same day — because they are sized to a known shipment and require less underwriting. Once CBP records the bond, the bond number is referenced on every subsequent entry.
What Happens After You Get a Bond
Once your customs bond is active, CBP records it in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) system. Your customs broker references the bond number on every entry filing. For a continuous bond, there is no additional action required for individual shipments — the bond covers everything for the full 12-month term.
Your bond can be challenged by CBP if your import activity significantly exceeds the bond amount, if you accumulate unpaid duties, or if you have repeated compliance violations. In those cases, CBP may require a bond rider (an increase in the bond amount) or may instruct the surety to terminate the bond entirely. Maintaining a clean compliance record and paying duties on time keeps your bond in good standing.
For importers filing ISF (Importer Security Filing) entries, note that the ISF bond is typically covered by your continuous bond. If you are using a single entry bond, you will need to ensure ISF coverage is included.
If you are acting as the importer of record for goods on behalf of another party, the bond must be in your name as the IOR, not in the name of the foreign supplier or the ultimate consignee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who needs a customs bond?
Any person or business importing commercial goods into the United States valued over $2,500 needs a customs bond. Bonds are also required regardless of value for FDA-regulated products, goods subject to antidumping or countervailing duties, and any shipment requiring a filing with a Partner Government Agency.
What's the difference between single entry and continuous bonds?
A single entry bond covers one specific import shipment and expires after that entry is liquidated. A continuous bond covers all imports at all U.S. ports for a 12-month period. If you import more than two or three times per year, a continuous bond is almost always more cost-effective.
Can I import without a customs bond?
No. CBP will not release any commercial shipment valued over $2,500 without a valid customs bond on file. Attempting to import without a bond results in your cargo being held at the port, incurring storage and demurrage charges until a bond is obtained.
How long does a continuous bond last?
A continuous bond is valid for one year from its effective date and renews automatically unless terminated by the principal, the surety, or CBP. Termination requires written notice at least 30 days before the anniversary date.
How much does a single entry customs bond cost?
A single entry customs bond typically costs $50 to $100 per shipment. The bond amount must equal the entered value of the goods plus all duties, taxes, and fees. For shipments subject to antidumping, countervailing, or PGA-regulated commodities, the bond amount and premium can be substantially higher.
How much does a continuous customs bond cost per year?
Most importers pay $400 to $500 per year for a continuous customs bond at the $50,000 minimum. Importers with higher annual duty obligations may need a larger bond, which scales the premium accordingly. The bond renews automatically each year unless terminated by the principal, surety, or CBP.
What is CBP Form 301?
CBP Form 301 is the official Customs Bond form filed with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to record a customs bond. It identifies the principal (importer), the surety company, and the bond type and amount, and is the document CBP records in ACE to establish bond coverage.
What's the minimum continuous bond amount?
The minimum continuous customs bond amount is $50,000. CBP sets the actual required amount at 10% of the duties, taxes, and fees the importer paid in the most recent 12-month period, rounded up to the nearest $10,000, with $50,000 as the floor.
This guide reflects U.S. customs bond requirements as of April 2026. Bond requirements and regulations are subject to change. Importers should verify current requirements through CBP and consult with a licensed customs broker for situation-specific guidance.