A customs exam is an inspection carried out by customs authorities to verify that imported or exported goods match the declaration and comply with trade, safety, security, and admissibility rules. The exam may involve document review, X-ray scanning, seal checks, tailgate inspection, sampling, or a full physical examination. Customs exams can be triggered by risk targeting, missing information, commodity type, country of origin, random selection, or agency requirements, and they may delay release until the shipment is cleared.
A customs exam is a CBP inspection of imported cargo to verify the accuracy of entry data, screen for prohibited goods, or enforce regulatory requirements. CBP selects shipments for exam based on risk assessment, random selection, or targeting criteria.
Types of Customs Exams
- Document exam: review of entry paperwork only
- X-ray exam: non-intrusive scan of the container or cargo
- Tail Gate exam: visual inspection of the rear of the container at the terminal
- Intensive exam: full devanning of the container at a CES facility
- VACIS exam: gamma-ray imaging of the entire container
Costs and Delays
- Exam fees are borne by the importer
- Intensive exams at a CES typically cost several hundred to over a thousand dollars
- Exams can delay cargo release by one to several days
For related logistics context, see glossary entries on CES, Customs Exam Fee, CBP, and Customs Entry.
