Border services, customs, and immigration officers

Example job titles

• border services officer (BSO)
• customs inspector
• customs officer
• immigration agent - government services
• immigration examining officer

Main duties

• This group performs some or all of the following duties:
• Border services and customs officers
• Conduct interviews, using inspections and information-seeking techniques, at border points as part of primary and secondary inspections for immigration, food, plant and animals, and customs program functions
• Inspect baggage to detect undeclared merchandise, or contraband
• Inform manufacturers and shippers of customs and laws and procedures
• Observe fabrication of articles affected by customs laws and conduct appraisals
• Board carriers arriving from foreign countries to determine nature of cargo to ensure compliance with customs and commerce laws
• Inspect goods imported by mail
• Apply applicable legislation, policies, and procedure when screening and/or inspecting people and goods
• May conduct an arrest, detention, or conduct personal search of individuals suspected of having committed a criminal offence under the Customs Act or certain other designated Criminal Code offences until police intervention is possible

Employment requirements

• Completion of secondary school is required.
• A four-week online training and a four-and-half-month specialized training at the CBSA College are required for border services officers.
• Successful pass of the officer trainee entrance exam (OTEE), successful completion of the Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CGSC) and the Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course (CRFSC) is required for border services officers.
• Must pass psychological assessment, physical abilities requirement evaluation (PARE) and medical exam to be a border services officer.
• Border services student officers must complete Control and Defensive Tactics (CDT) training
• Completion of specialized government training is usually required.
• A driver's license is required.