GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 23, 2026
Advance Manifest System (AMS)
The Advance Manifest System (AMS) is an electronic pre-filing platform through which ocean carriers, airlines, and freight forwarders transmit cargo and container data to the customs authorities of the destination country before a shipment arrives.
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Source: https://www.cbp.gov/trade/automated/ace-trade-capabilities/automated-manifest-system
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Definition & Explanation
The Advance Manifest System (AMS) is an electronic pre-filing platform through which ocean carriers, airlines, and freight forwarders transmit cargo and container data to the customs authorities of the destination country before a shipment arrives. The best-known AMS is operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP): for ocean freight, filing is generally required 24 hours before loading at the foreign port; different deadlines apply to air cargo. Submitted data includes shipper, consignee, piece count, weight, container number, and port of loading, feeding into risk profiling before the vessel or aircraft reaches its destination. Comparable systems operate in the EU (Import Control System, ICS), Canada, and other jurisdictions, each with distinct filing windows and data requirements. AMS should not be confused with the cargo manifest – a physical document carried on board that lists a vessel's or aircraft's freight but carries no regulatory pre-filing function.
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