List of US Customs Brokers: What Importers Need to Know
As of July 19, 2026, the official list of US customs brokers maintained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) includes approximately 11,000 active individual license holders — yet most importers have no efficient way to find, filter, or contact the right one. Understanding how this list works, who is on it, and how to use it effectively can mean the difference between a cleared shipment and a costly customs hold.
What Happened
CBP’s licensing database for customs brokers has long existed as a backend regulatory record rather than a public-facing tool. The agency maintains this list under authority granted by 19 USC § 1641 and the implementing regulations at 19 CFR Part 111, which govern who may act as a customs broker on behalf of an importer.
In recent years, import volumes have surged. U.S. Customs and Border Protection processed more than 40 million formal entry summaries in fiscal year 2024, according to CBP trade statistics. This growth has increased demand for licensed customs brokers, particularly in high-compliance sectors such as pharmaceuticals, food, automotive parts, and electronics.
At the same time, importers — especially first-time and small-to-midsize businesses — consistently struggle to identify qualified, licensed brokers. CBP’s official lookup tool confirms license status but provides no contact information, no specialty data, and no geographic filtering beyond district assignments. The gap between the official list and practical usability remains wide.
Definition Block — Customs Broker License: A customs broker license is a federal authorization issued by CBP under 19 CFR Part 111, permitting an individual to transact customs business on behalf of importers and exporters. It requires passing the Customs Broker License Examination, a background check, and a demonstration of financial responsibility. The license is tied to the individual, not the firm.
Why It Matters to Importers
Hiring an unlicensed person to clear your goods through U.S. Customs is not just a compliance risk — it is illegal under 19 USC § 1641(a). Only a CBP-licensed customs broker may file entry documents, pay duties on a client’s behalf, and communicate with CBP in an official transactional capacity.
The practical stakes are significant:
| Affected Party | What Changes | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| First-time importers | Cannot legally self-file formal entries over $2,500 without a broker | High |
| E-commerce sellers (FBA, DTC) | Unlicensed “customs agents” create liability exposure | High |
| Freight forwarders without a license | Cannot legally act as the broker of record | Medium |
| Established importers using one broker | May lack specialty coverage for new commodity types | Medium |
| Importers at smaller ports | Fewer broker options; harder to find CBP-listed specialists | Low–Medium |
Beyond legality, the right broker materially affects your landed cost and clearance speed. A broker unfamiliar with your commodity’s HS code classification or applicable antidumping/countervailing duty orders — searchable at enforcement.trade.gov/adcvd — can cause delays, penalty exposure, and overpaid duties that are difficult to recover.
Affected Goods, Industries, and Trade Lanes
The challenge of finding the right broker from CBP’s raw list is not uniform across all importers. Some sectors feel it more acutely.
Pharmaceuticals and medical devices require brokers with FDA Prior Notice experience and familiarity with 21 CFR compliance. Not all 11,000 license holders work in this space. You can browse pharmaceutical-specialist brokers to narrow the field quickly.
Automotive imports — including passenger vehicles, parts, and components — involve separate EPA and NHTSA compliance requirements in addition to CBP entry. A general broker may not know the Form HS-7 or the 15-day import bond window. See 5 Key Facts About Davidson and Sons Customs Broker for an example of what specialized automotive brokerage looks like in practice.
Food and perishables require coordination with FDA and USDA APHIS, including Prior Notice filings and phytosanitary certificates. Clearance delays at the port can result in spoiled product. Understanding 3PL with customs clearance and warehousing is particularly relevant for perishable importers managing cold chain logistics.
High-volume e-commerce importers sourcing from China, Vietnam, and Bangladesh face antidumping exposure on dozens of product categories. Verifying HS codes against hts.usitc.gov and checking ADD/CVD order lists before your shipment ships is essential — a task your broker should be doing proactively.
Trade lanes through the Ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach, New York/Newark, Miami, and Chicago O’Hare account for the majority of formal entry volume. If your goods move through any of these, browse brokers by U.S. port of entry to find licensed professionals with local knowledge and established CBP relationships.
What Importers Should Do Now
If you are currently sourcing from abroad — or planning to — take these steps to ensure you are working with a properly licensed customs broker:
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Verify your broker’s CBP license number. Every licensed customs broker has a unique license number on file with CBP. Ask for it and confirm it against CBP.gov records. If your provider cannot supply a license number, they are not your customs broker.
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Match the broker to your commodity and port. A customs broker licensed in CBP’s Chicago district may not be the right fit for a pharmaceutical shipment arriving at Miami International. Use CustomsBrokerIndex.com’s search to filter by both port and specialty simultaneously.
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Confirm experience with your specific HS codes. Ask prospective brokers to walk you through the classification of your primary product. A qualified broker will cite the applicable heading, any relevant exclusions, and whether ADD/CVD orders apply.
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Ask about ACE filing capability. All formal entries in the U.S. must be filed through CBP’s Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) portal. Any active, licensed customs broker will have ACE access. If they hesitate on this question, move on.
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Check for binding rulings on your goods. Search rulings.cbp.gov for any prior CBP rulings on your commodity. A knowledgeable broker will know this database and use it proactively to avoid classification disputes.
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Do not confuse freight forwarders with customs brokers. A freight forwarder arranges transportation; a customs broker files entries. Some companies do both, but only under a separate CBP license. Review 10 Core Duties of a Customs Broker Explained and 10 Key Customs Broker Responsibilities Explained to understand exactly what your broker is obligated to do.
Background Context
The customs broker licensing system in the United States dates to the Customs Modernization Act of 1993 (Mod Act), which significantly updated the regulatory framework under which brokers operate. Prior to that, customs broker rules had been largely unchanged since the Tariff Act of 1930. Today, 19 CFR Part 111 sets out licensing requirements, broker responsibilities to clients, recordkeeping obligations (five-year minimum), and grounds for license revocation.
CBP administers the Customs Broker License Examination twice per year. The exam covers classification, valuation, entry procedures, bonds, and trade agreements. Pass rates historically average between 15% and 25%, making it one of the more challenging federal licensing exams in the trade sector.
The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA) represents licensed brokers nationwide and publishes regulatory updates, model customs broker agreements, and continuing education resources. Importers can use NCBFAA’s member directory as a supplementary source, though it covers only association members rather than all CBP-licensed brokers.
For comprehensive, CBP-verified coverage of all licensed brokers — searchable by location, port, and specialty — browse brokers by state at CustomsBrokerIndex.com. Every listing in the directory is sourced from official CBP records and includes the broker’s license number as a verifiable trust signal. The International Trade Administration at trade.gov also provides resources for importers navigating compliance for the first time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the official list of US customs brokers? The official list of US customs brokers is maintained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) under 19 CFR Part 111. CBP licenses individuals and companies who pass the Customs Broker License Examination and meet financial responsibility requirements. The list is publicly searchable on CBP.gov, though it does not include contact details, specialties, or port coverage.
When was the CBP customs broker list last updated? CBP updates its licensed broker records on an ongoing basis as new licenses are issued, revoked, or suspended. As of July 2026, the agency licenses approximately 11,000 active individual customs broker license holders across the United States. Directories like CustomsBrokerIndex.com sync with CBP data to keep listings current.
Who appears on the US customs broker list? Anyone who holds an active individual customs broker license issued by CBP appears on the official list. This includes sole practitioners, broker agents working within larger firms, and designated responsible officers at brokerage companies. Freight forwarders and 3PLs are not on this list unless they also hold a separate CBP customs broker license.
What should importers do to find a customs broker right now? Importers should search for a CBP-licensed broker by port of entry or specialty using a verified directory. Confirm the broker’s license number against CBP records, check their experience with your specific commodity and HS code, and request references from similar importers. Avoid hiring freight forwarders who claim brokerage services but lack a CBP license.
Where can importers find official guidance on customs broker licensing? Official guidance is available at CBP.gov under the Trade section, specifically the Customs Broker Licensing and Regulation pages. The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA) at ncbfaa.org also publishes regulatory updates and broker standards. CustomsBrokerIndex.com provides a searchable directory of all CBP-licensed brokers with verified license numbers.