Importer Security Filing Template
The ten data elements a US importer must file with CBP at least 24 hours before cargo is laden aboard a vessel bound for the United States.
Free downloads · No account required · PDF, Excel & Word
19 CFR 149 — to be filed no later than 24 hours before lading
| Line | Description | 7 Country of Origin | 8 HTSUS Number | Container No. | Quantity | Unit | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The undersigned certifies that the information provided above is accurate and complete to the best of their knowledge, and acknowledges that failure to file complete and accurate ISF data may result in liquidated damages and cargo holds.
About this document
The importer security filing, usually called ISF or 10+2, is a US requirement for ocean cargo. Ten data elements must be filed with customs before the container is loaded at the foreign port. Not before it arrives, but before it is loaded. That is why the information has to be gathered while the shipment is still being prepared.
The deadline is loading, not arrival
The filing is due no later than 24 hours before the cargo is loaded onto the vessel bound for the United States. Miss it and the carrier can be instructed not to load. Penalties for late or inaccurate filings are substantial per shipment. Because the deadline sits at origin, the exporter usually has to supply the data even though the obligation is the importer's.
What the ten elements are for
Seller, buyer, importer of record, consignee, manufacturer, ship-to party, country of origin, tariff number, container stuffing location and consolidator. The list is aimed at knowing who touched the cargo and where, rather than at valuing it. That is why it asks for the stuffing location. It appears on no other document in the set.
It is separate from the customs entry
ISF is a security filing made before loading. The customs entry is a commercial declaration made on arrival. They are filed at different times, often by different parties, and being right on one does not fix the other. Treating the ISF as something the broker will handle at destination is the common and expensive mistake.
Prefer to fill it in on screen? Use the importer security filing generator →
Not sure what goes in a box? How to fill out a importer security filing, field by field →
Keep building your document set
- Commercial InvoiceGoods, values and payment details.
- Packing List — DetailedPackages, weights and dimensions.
- Certificate of OriginThe declared origin of your goods.
- Bill of LadingShipper, consignee and cargo details.
- Shipper's Letter of InstructionInstructions for your freight forwarder.
- Verified Gross Mass DeclarationThe verified weight of a packed container.
Questions
+Who is responsible for filing the ISF?
The importer of record, though it is usually filed by a customs broker or forwarder on their behalf. Responsibility for accuracy and timeliness remains with the importer regardless of who transmits it.
+What does 10+2 mean?
Ten data elements from the importer, plus two from the carrier: the vessel stow plan and container status messages. The name refers to the split of responsibility.
+Does ISF apply to air freight?
No. It applies to ocean cargo bound for the United States. Air shipments are covered by separate advance filing requirements.
+What happens if the ISF is late?
Customs may issue significant penalties per filing, and cargo can be denied loading or held for examination on arrival. Repeated failures attract closer scrutiny of subsequent shipments.
Make a document
Fill in your shipment details and download the document.
Create a importer security filing