CBP Customs Broker List: What Importers Need to Know
As of July 14, 2026, the CBP customs broker list — the federal record of every individual and firm licensed to clear goods through U.S. Customs and Border Protection — remains the single most reliable tool for verifying whether a broker you are using or considering is legally authorized to file entries on your behalf. For importers, freight forwarders, and logistics teams, understanding how this list works is not optional: relying on an unlicensed or suspended broker exposes your shipments to rejection, delays, and potential legal liability.
What Happened
CBP’s broker licensing program, governed by 19 USC 1641 and 19 CFR Part 111, requires every individual or company filing customs entries on behalf of importers to hold an active federal license issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. CBP maintains the authoritative list of all licensed brokers and publishes it through an online lookup tool at cbp.gov.
Definition Block — CBP Customs Broker License: A customs broker license is a federal authorization issued by CBP under 19 USC 1641 that permits an individual or entity to transact customs business on behalf of importers and exporters. Licenses are issued by district (individual licenses) or as national permits (firm licenses), and they remain valid only while the holder meets triennial reporting requirements and maintains a valid surety bond.
As of 2026, CBP has issued approximately 11,000 active individual and firm licenses across all U.S. customs districts. CBP conducts triennial status reports under 19 CFR 111.30, requiring all licensees to file a compliance report every three years or risk automatic revocation. Any license that lapses, is voluntarily surrendered, or is revoked by CBP is removed from the active roster — meaning entries filed by that broker after revocation are unauthorized and potentially invalid.
The practical significance: with over 2,500 active broker businesses operating across the U.S., importers frequently engage brokers through referrals, freight forwarder bundles, or online searches — without ever independently confirming the broker’s license status against the CBP master list.
Why It Matters to Importers
Using an unlicensed or lapsed broker is not a minor administrative issue. Under 19 CFR 111.2, only a licensed broker may conduct customs business — defined as “those activities involving transactions with CBP concerning the entry and admissibility of merchandise.” If CBP determines that an entry was filed by an unlicensed party, the importer of record — not the broker — bears the compliance consequence.
Practical downstream risks include:
- Entry rejection or delay — CBP may refuse to process entries filed by an unlicensed party, holding your cargo at the port.
- Liability for duties and penalties — The importer of record remains legally responsible for accurate duty payment regardless of broker error or licensing status.
- Audit exposure — If your compliance records do not document broker license verification, CBP auditors can cite this as a control failure during an importer self-assessment or focused assessment.
- Bond invalidation — A broker’s surety bond (required under 19 CFR 113) is tied to their license. A revoked license means a void bond, and an unbonded broker cannot lawfully clear goods.
For high-volume importers, even a single entry held at the port of a major hub — Los Angeles, Houston, or New York/Newark — can cascade into warehousing costs and missed delivery windows.
Affected Goods, Industries, and Trade Lanes
No specific commodity category is exempt from this issue. Every formal entry filed in the U.S., regardless of HS code or country of origin, must be filed by a licensed customs broker (unless the importer files on their own behalf as a self-filer). That said, the risk is highest for:
| Affected Party | What Changes | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| First-time importers | May unknowingly hire unlicensed “brokers” found online | High |
| E-commerce / FBA sellers | Often rely on bundled freight + brokerage without verifying license | High |
| Pharmaceutical importers | CBP and FDA dual-clearance requirements make broker licensing critical | High |
| Food and perishable importers | Time-sensitive entries mean any delay from licensing issues is costly | High |
| Automotive parts importers | High entry volume; a lapsed broker disrupts entire supply chain | Medium |
| Freight forwarders bundling brokerage | Must ensure in-house broker staff hold valid individual licenses | Medium |
| Small/mid importers using referrals | May never have independently verified the referred broker’s license | Medium |
Trade lanes with highest volume — China, Mexico, and Canada — account for the majority of U.S. import entries. Importers on these lanes are statistically most likely to have brokers handling dozens of entries per month, making the licensing verification gap most consequential.
What Importers Should Do Now
Take these steps in order. They are not complex, but they are important.
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Locate your broker’s license number. Ask your current broker for their CBP-issued license number. A legitimate broker will provide this immediately. Individual licenses are seven-digit numbers; firm licenses follow a different format. If a broker cannot or will not provide a license number, that is a serious red flag.
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Verify on CBP.gov. Go to cbp.gov and use the official broker lookup tool to confirm the license is active. Confirm the name and district match what your broker told you.
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Cross-reference on a verified directory. Use CustomsBrokerIndex.com’s broker search to find profiles cross-referenced against CBP source data. If your broker is not listed or their information does not match, investigate before your next shipment.
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Confirm the surety bond is current. Under 19 CFR 113, brokers must maintain an active surety bond. Ask your broker for their bond number and carrier. A lapsed bond is grounds for license suspension.
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Document your verification. Record the license number, verification date, and bond confirmation in your importer compliance file. If CBP audits your records, documented broker verification is a positive control.
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Find a replacement if needed. If your broker’s license has lapsed or cannot be verified, search all CBP-licensed customs brokers on CustomsBrokerIndex.com, browse by state, browse by port of entry, or browse by specialty to find a licensed replacement quickly.
Background Context
The customs broker licensing program has been in place since the Customs Brokers Licensing Act of 1984, codified in 19 USC 1641. CBP administers the licensing examination twice a year — the Customs Broker License Examination (CBLE) — and only those who pass and meet background requirements receive a license. Pass rates have historically ranged between 15% and 25%, reflecting how rigorous the licensing standard is.
Under 19 CFR 111.30, every license holder must file a triennial status report confirming they are actively engaged in customs business and maintaining all requirements. Failure to file results in automatic license cancellation. CBP also has authority to suspend or revoke licenses for misconduct, fraud, or repeated regulatory violations, with those actions published in the Federal Register.
For importers, the practical implication is straightforward: the CBP customs broker list is not a static directory. It changes continuously as licenses are issued, cancelled, and revoked. A broker who was licensed when you first hired them may not be licensed today. Verification should be part of your onboarding process for any new broker and your annual compliance review for existing ones.
For a deeper look at what a licensed broker is actually responsible for on your behalf, see 10 Core Duties of a Customs Broker Explained and 10 Key Customs Broker Responsibilities Explained.
The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA) also maintains member resources for importers seeking vetted broker referrals, and the Harmonized Tariff Schedule remains the reference tool for commodity classification that every licensed broker uses when preparing your entries.
If you work with a third-party logistics provider that also offers customs clearance, verify that the brokerage function is performed by a separately licensed broker — not assumed as part of the warehousing contract. For more on that distinction, see 3PL With Customs Clearance and Warehousing Explained.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CBP customs broker list? The CBP customs broker list is the official federal database maintained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection that records every individual and firm holding an active customs broker license issued under 19 USC 1641. It includes license numbers, names, and district assignments, and is the authoritative reference for verifying whether a broker is legitimately licensed.
When is the CBP customs broker list updated? CBP updates its licensed broker records on a rolling basis as licenses are issued, suspended, or revoked. As of July 2026, CBP conducts formal annual license compliance reviews and publishes updates to the public-facing broker lookup on cbp.gov. Importers should verify broker credentials at the time of engagement, not just once.
Who is affected by how the CBP broker list is maintained? Any U.S. importer, exporter, or freight forwarder who relies on a customs broker to file entries is affected. If a broker’s license is suspended or revoked and you continue using them, your entries may be rejected and you could face compliance liability. Carriers, bonded warehouses, and foreign shippers working with U.S.-side brokers are also affected.
What should importers do right now regarding the CBP broker list? Importers should immediately verify their current broker’s license status using the official CBP lookup tool at cbp.gov. Cross-reference the license number against CBP’s active roster, confirm the broker’s bond is current, and document that verification in your compliance records. If you do not have a verified broker, search all CBP-licensed customs brokers on CustomsBrokerIndex.com.
Where can importers find official CBP customs broker licensing information? The official source is CBP.gov, which hosts the broker license lookup, licensing requirements under 19 CFR Part 111, and enforcement actions. The NCBFAA also maintains broker resources. For a searchable, profile-rich directory of CBP-licensed brokers with direct contact details, CustomsBrokerIndex.com cross-references CBP source data and covers all 50 states, all major ports, and key specialty verticals.