How do you apply to become a bonded warehouse?

If you are interested in establishing a bonded warehouse, you should first decide the type or class of warehouse you are interested in. There are nine different types or classes of Customs bonded warehouses authorized in Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Regulations (19 CFR 19.1).

To apply, an owner or lessee must construct a written application and address it to the local CBP Port Director describing their premises, giving the location, and stating the class of warehouse they wish to establish.

The application must be accompanied by a certificate signed by the president or a secretary of a board of fire underwriters certifying that the building is suitable for a warehouse and acceptable for fire-insurance purposes, and a blueprint showing measurements to be bonded.

A prerequisite to operating a Customs warehouse is being bonded. The Port Director determines the bond amount based on the purpose for the bond. The bond can not be less than $25,000 on each building or area covered by the bond. You can obtain a Customs bond from a Treasury licensed surety company. A list of sureties is available on the U.S. Department of the Treasury Web site.

For additional information, please reference our publication U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bonded Warehouse .