An Importer/Exporter Account is required for businesses which import commercial shipments into Canada, or which export commercial goods to other countries from Canada. This account is used on bills of lading and other import/export documents for customs processing, and to expedite movement of goods into and out of Canada.
Please note that issuance of an Importer/Exporter Account can take 2-3 weeks, depending on the government's workload at the time that the application is submitted.