U.S. Importer Security Filing (ISF): Requirements, Deadlines, and Penalties
Last Updated: Aug. 20, 2026
If you import goods into the United States by ocean vessel, you may need to file an Importer Security Filing (ISF), commonly known as “10+2.” The ISF gives U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) advance information about cargo arriving by vessel and helps the agency assess potential security risks before the cargo reaches the United States.
The ISF applies to most cargo arriving in the United States by vessel, with different requirements for bulk cargo, break-bulk cargo, foreign cargo remaining on board (FROB), and certain in-bond shipments. CBP’s Importer Security Filing “10+2” requirements provide an overview of the rule and its applicability.
Failure to comply with the ISF requirements can result in liquidated damages of $5,000 per violation.
What is an Importer Security Filing (ISF)?
The Importer Security Filing (ISF) requires the ISF Importer or its authorized agent to electronically submit advance cargo information to CBP for applicable shipments arriving in the United States by vessel.
The requirements appear in 19 CFR Part 149, which establishes the ISF filing requirements, deadlines, data elements, exemptions, bond requirements, and other compliance provisions.
For cargo intended to enter the United States or be delivered to a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ), the ISF contains 10 data elements. The term “10+2” refers to these 10 importer-provided data elements plus two additional data sets that the ocean carrier must provide:
- Vessel stow plan
- Container Status Messages (CSMs)
The importer or its authorized agent submits the ISF data, while the ocean carrier has separate responsibilities for the additional carrier information.
What Is the Purpose of an Importer Security Filing?
The ISF provides CBP with advance information about cargo before it arrives in the United States.
The requirement originated from the Security and Accountability for Every Port Act of 2006, commonly known as the SAFE Port Act. Congress included the requirement as part of broader cargo security measures.
CBP uses advance cargo information as part of its targeting and risk-assessment processes.
What Are the Requirements for an ISF?
The required data elements include:
- Seller – Name and address
- Buyer – Name and address
- Importer of record number or FTZ applicant identification number
- Consignee number(s)
- Manufacturer or supplier – Name and address
- Ship-to party – Name and address
- Country of origin
- Commodity Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) number
- Container stuffing location
- Consolidator (stuffer) – Name and address
The commodity HTSUS number must be provided at least to the six-digit level. Importers may provide the number at the 10-digit level.
When Must the ISF Be Filed?
For most applicable shipments, the ISF Importer or its authorized agent must submit the required information no later than 24 hours before the cargo is laden aboard the vessel at the foreign port.
CBP’s current ISF filing guidance identifies eight data elements that must meet this 24-hour-before-lading deadline:
- Seller
- Buyer
- Importer of record number or FTZ applicant identification number
- Consignee number(s)
- Manufacturer or supplier
- Ship-to party
- Country of origin
- Commodity HTSUS number
The container stuffing location and consolidator have a different deadline. Importers must submit these elements as early as possible and no later than 24 hours before the vessel arrives at a U.S. port.
For a foreign port that is less than a 24-hour voyage from the closest U.S. port, the regulations provide a different deadline for these two elements. 19 CFR § 149.2 requires the information upon lading at the foreign port.
What If Some ISF Information Is Not Available?
CBP provides flexibility for four data elements when the importer does not yet have precise information:
- Manufacturer or supplier
- Ship-to party
- Country of origin
- Commodity HTSUS number
The importer can submit the best information reasonably available when filing the ISF. The importer must then update the filing when more accurate information becomes available.
CBP’s ISF guidance explains the flexible filing provisions and the applicable deadlines for updating this information.
Importers should establish procedures with suppliers, manufacturers, freight forwarders, and customs brokers to obtain updated information as soon as it becomes available.
Who Is Responsible for Filing the ISF?
The ISF Importer or its authorized agent must submit the ISF.
Under 19 CFR § 149.1, the ISF Importer generally refers to the party causing the goods to arrive within the limits of a U.S. port by vessel.
The specific party responsible can vary depending on the type of shipment. For example, different provisions apply to FROB, immediate exportation (IE), transportation and exportation (T&E), and certain FTZ shipments.
Can a Customs Broker File the ISF?
Yes. An importer can authorize an eligible agent, such as a licensed customs broker, to submit the ISF.
The importer should establish clear responsibilities with its customs broker, freight forwarder, NVOCC, or other service provider for collecting the required information and submitting it on time.
CBP requires ISF information to be submitted electronically. Importers can use ACE electronic filing capabilities, which support the electronic submission of Importer Security Filing data.
What Is the Cost of Filing an ISF?
CBP does not establish a standard fee that customs brokers, freight forwarders, carriers, or other service providers must charge for preparing and transmitting an ISF.
The amount an importer pays depends on the service provider and the services included.
The previous version of this page listed specific ranges of $10-$25 and $50-$100. Those figures should be removed because they do not represent fees established by CBP and may not reflect current service-provider pricing.
Importers should confirm ISF filing fees directly with their customs broker or other filing provider.
Do I Need an ISF Bond?
Yes. The ISF Importer must possess an appropriate bond.
An ISF Importer must possess one of the qualifying bonds specified by CBP, including:
- Basic importation and entry bond
- Basic custodial bond
- International carrier bond
- Foreign Trade Zone operator bond
- Importer Security Filing bond
If the ISF Importer does not have the required bond, an authorized agent submitting the ISF may post the agent’s bond.
The ISF bond requirement therefore should not be described as something that applies only to importers considered high risk. The current regulations establish bond requirements for ISF Importers.
Importers should work with their customs broker or surety provider to determine which bond applies to their circumstances.
What Happens If You File the ISF Late or Incorrectly?
CBP may issue liquidated damages of $5,000 per violation for an inaccurate, incomplete, or untimely ISF.
The agency may issue liquidated damages of $5,000 per violation for an inaccurate, incomplete, or untimely filing.
Importers should maintain procedures that allow their customs brokers or other authorized filers to receive accurate shipment information before the applicable ISF deadline.
Are There Exceptions to the ISF Requirement?
Yes. CBP provides different treatment for certain types of cargo.
Bulk Cargo
Certain bulk cargo is exempt from the ISF requirement.
For ISF purposes, CBP defines bulk cargo as homogeneous cargo that is stowed loose in the hold and is not enclosed in a container such as a box, bale, bag, or cask.
Examples include free-flowing cargo such as oil, grain, coal, and ore, as well as certain uniform cargo that requires mechanical handling.
The bulk cargo exemption applies when the cargo also qualifies for the applicable exemption from the 24-hour advance vessel cargo declaration requirement.
Break-Bulk Cargo
Break-bulk cargo consists of cargo that is not containerized but is otherwise packaged or bundled.
Qualifying break-bulk cargo receives different treatment from containerized cargo under the ISF regulations. Certain break-bulk cargo is exempt from the standard requirement to submit the ISF 24 hours before lading at the foreign port.
For qualifying break-bulk cargo, the ISF must instead be submitted 24 hours before the cargo arrives in the United States.
Importers should confirm that their shipment qualifies for the break-bulk treatment before relying on this different deadline.
Foreign Cargo Remaining on Board (FROB)
Foreign Cargo Remaining on Board (FROB) refers to foreign cargo that remains aboard the vessel while the vessel calls at a U.S. port.
FROB shipments require an ISF-5 rather than the standard ISF-10.
The five ISF-5 data elements are:
- Booking party
- Foreign port of unlading
- Place of delivery
- Ship-to party
- Commodity HTSUS number
The commodity HTSUS number must be provided at the six-digit level.
For FROB cargo, the required information must be submitted before the cargo is laden aboard the vessel at the foreign port.
Immediate Exportation and Transportation and Exportation
Certain cargo moving through the United States under Immediate Exportation (IE) or Transportation and Exportation (T&E) in-bond procedures also requires an ISF-5.
The five data elements are:
- Booking party
- Foreign port of unlading
- Place of delivery
- Ship-to party
- Commodity HTSUS number
For IE and T&E shipments, the ISF-5 must generally be submitted no later than 24 hours before the cargo is laden aboard the vessel at the foreign port.
Does ISF Apply to Cargo Transiting Through the United States?
Cargo does not necessarily avoid ISF requirements simply because the United States is not its final destination.
For example, FROB cargo requires an ISF-5, while certain IE and T&E in-bond shipments also require an ISF-5.
The applicable filing depends on the shipment’s customs status and how the cargo moves through the United States. Importers should confirm the applicable requirements before shipping cargo through a U.S. port.
How Is an ISF Filed?
The ISF must be submitted electronically.
CBP’s ACE filing guidance identifies Importer Security Filing data as information that can be transmitted through ACE electronic data interchange (EDI).
Importers that do not have the systems or resources to file directly can work with a licensed customs broker or another qualified filing service.
Where Can I Find More Information About Importer Security Filing?
Importers should refer to CBP and the Code of Federal Regulations for the latest ISF requirements. The CBP Importer Security Filing “10+2” page provides an overview of the program, while 19 CFR Part 149 contains the governing regulations.
CBP also provides specific guidance on when to submit an ISF, ISF data elements, and ACE electronic filing.
Need Help With Your ISF Filing?
ISF compliance requires accurate shipment information, proper filing procedures, and attention to the applicable deadlines.
If you need help managing your U.S. import requirements or want support with Importer Security Filing, contact GHY International to discuss your shipment and customs compliance needs.
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