# How to become a licensed customs broker

**The short version:** pass the Customs Broker License Exam, then file a license application (CBP Form 3124) in the eCBP portal within 3 years of passing, with the $300 application fee and a $10 fingerprint fee. You must be a US citizen, at least 21, of good moral character and not a federal employee. CBP runs a background investigation and, if it approves, issues the license. To run your own brokerage you also need a national permit. About 16,170 licensed customs brokers are active in the US ([CBP broker FAQ](https://www.cbp.gov/trade/programs-administration/customs-brokers/frequently-asked-questions)).

## Step 1: pass the exam

The exam has its own, lighter rules: you must be a US citizen, at least 18 and not a federal officer or employee on the exam date ([19 CFR 111.13(b)](https://customsbrokerlicenseexam.com/ref/#cfr/111.13/b)). The fee is $390. See [the exam](https://customsbrokerlicenseexam.com/exam/), the [2027 dates](https://customsbrokerlicenseexam.com/exam-dates/) and [how to study](https://customsbrokerlicenseexam.com/how-to-study/).

## Step 2: check you meet the license requirements

To get an individual license you must, under [19 CFR 111.11(a)](https://customsbrokerlicenseexam.com/ref/#cfr/111.11/a) ([eCFR](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-19/section-111.11)):

| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Citizenship | A US citizen on the date you apply, and not an officer or employee of the US government |
| Age | 21 before the date you apply (the exam needs only 18) |
| Character | Good moral character |
| Exam | A passing grade (75% or higher) on an exam taken within the 3 years before you apply |

So if you pass at 19, you wait until 21 to apply, and you must apply before your pass is 3 years old. CBP counts the 3 years from the issue date on your passing letter ([CBP broker FAQ](https://www.cbp.gov/trade/programs-administration/customs-brokers/frequently-asked-questions)). Miss it and you sit the exam again.

## Step 3: apply in eCBP

- File the application, CBP Form 3124, through the [eCBP portal](https://e.cbp.dhs.gov), signing in with the same Login.gov account you used to register for the exam ([19 CFR 111.12(a)](https://customsbrokerlicenseexam.com/ref/#cfr/111.12/a)).
- CBP does not treat the application as received until the application and fingerprint fees are paid.
- If you will work under a trade name, include proof you may use that name in each state.
- The processing Center may ask for your passing letter, and takes your fingerprints at the interview.
- You may withdraw the application before the license is issued, but the fee is not refunded ([19 CFR 111.12(b)](https://customsbrokerlicenseexam.com/ref/#cfr/111.12/b)).

## Step 4: the background investigation

CBP checks the accuracy of your application and interview, your business integrity and financial responsibility, and your character and reputation, including any links to people or groups that may risk US security or revenue ([19 CFR 111.14](https://customsbrokerlicenseexam.com/ref/#cfr/111.14)). The Executive Director may ask you to appear for more questions. If you qualify and have paid, CBP issues the license and the processing Center delivers it ([19 CFR 111.15](https://customsbrokerlicenseexam.com/ref/#cfr/111.15)).

If CBP denies the application, the notice gives the reasons. You have 60 calendar days to send more information to the Executive Director, then 60 days to ask the Executive Assistant Commissioner for review, then 60 days to appeal to the Court of International Trade ([19 CFR 111.17](https://customsbrokerlicenseexam.com/ref/#cfr/111.17)). You may also reapply at any time, showing how you fixed the problem ([19 CFR 111.18](https://customsbrokerlicenseexam.com/ref/#cfr/111.18)).

## Step 5: a national permit, if you need one

A national permit lets a broker transact customs business anywhere in the US customs territory ([19 CFR 111.19](https://customsbrokerlicenseexam.com/ref/#cfr/111.19)). You need one to run your own brokerage. If you work for a licensed broker and transact business on its behalf, you do not need your own permit ([CBP broker FAQ](https://www.cbp.gov/trade/programs-administration/customs-brokers/frequently-asked-questions)). The permit application includes a supervision plan, a list of employees, the office of record and where records are kept.

## What it costs

| Fee | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Exam | $390 per sitting | [19 CFR 111.96(a)](https://customsbrokerlicenseexam.com/ref/#cfr/111.96/a) |
| Individual license application | $300 | 19 CFR 111.96(a) |
| Organization license application | $500 | 19 CFR 111.96(a) |
| Fingerprint processing | $10 per person | [CBP Customs Broker Fees](https://www.cbp.gov/trade/programs-administration/customs-brokers/fees) |
| National permit application | $100, once | [19 CFR 111.96(b)](https://customsbrokerlicenseexam.com/ref/#cfr/111.96/b) |
| National permit user fee | $190.88 a year from October 1, 2026 (91 FR 48398) | CBP Customs Broker Fees |
| Triennial status report | $100 every three years | [19 CFR 111.96(d)](https://customsbrokerlicenseexam.com/ref/#cfr/111.96/d) |

An individual who passes on the first try and applies for a license pays $700 in CBP fees (exam, application, fingerprints). The permit adds $290.88 in the first year.

## Licenses for companies

A corporation, association or partnership needs its own license, held through at least one licensed officer or member ([19 CFR 111.11(b) and (c)](https://customsbrokerlicenseexam.com/ref/#cfr/111.11)). An individual license cannot be transferred to a company, even one you own outright ([CBP broker FAQ](https://www.cbp.gov/trade/programs-administration/customs-brokers/frequently-asked-questions)). If the company goes more than 120 days without a licensed officer, its license and permits are revoked by operation of law ([19 CFR 111.45(a)](https://customsbrokerlicenseexam.com/ref/#cfr/111.45/a)).

## Keeping the license

Every licensed broker files a [triennial status report](https://customsbrokerlicenseexam.com/triennial-status-report/) with a $100 fee, and individual brokers must certify their continuing education. The next report is due in February 2027. Part 111, the regulation behind all of this, is also the most-cited part on the exam itself: see [broker licensing and duties](https://customsbrokerlicenseexam.com/topics/broker-compliance/).

Sources checked November 15, 2026: 19 CFR Part 111 (2025 edition; the sections cited here are unchanged in the current eCFR), CBP's [broker FAQ](https://www.cbp.gov/trade/programs-administration/customs-brokers/frequently-asked-questions) (last modified November 2, 2026) and [Customs Broker Fees](https://www.cbp.gov/trade/programs-administration/customs-brokers/fees) (last modified September 28, 2026).

Source: https://customsbrokerlicenseexam.com/become-a-customs-broker/ (updated 2026-11-15)