43203 – Border services, customs, and immigration officers

Broad Occupation Category

4 – Occupations in education, law and social, community and government services

TEER

3 – Occupations usually require a college diploma or apprenticeship training of less than two years; or more than six months of on-the-job training

Major Group

43 – Assisting occupations in education and in legal and public protection

Broad Occupation Category

432 – Assisting occupations in legal and public protection

Broad Occupation Category

4320 – Assisting occupations in legal and public protection

Border services, customs, and immigration officers administer and enforce laws and regulations related to immigration, customs, and border crossing. They are employed by government agencies.

Let us help you Apply for Canada PR as Border services, customs, and immigration officers

Example 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

  • Apply applicable legislation, policies, and procedure when screening and/or inspecting people and goods

  • 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

  • Operate firearms and use defensive tactics and physical force when necessary in the performance of duties

  • 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.

Immigration officers

  • Determine admissibility of persons seeking entry into Canada by examining documents and conducting interviews

  • Grant landed-immigrant status, admit persons or order detention or deportation

  • Locate and apprehend persons presumed to be infringing on immigration laws

  • Assist in the removal of deported people by seeking authorization from receiving countries and securing necessary travel documents

  • Appear as a witness in cases related to immigration appeals.

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 students officers must complete Control and Defensive Tactics (CDT) training.

  • Completion of specialized government training is usually required.

  • A driver’s license is required.