{"id":6056,"date":"2025-12-07T23:04:52","date_gmt":"2025-12-08T04:04:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/clearit.ca\/canadian-customs-broker-blog\/?p=6056"},"modified":"2025-12-08T08:22:17","modified_gmt":"2025-12-08T13:22:17","slug":"cbsa-holds-explained-document-review-vacis-exams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/clearit.ca\/canadian-customs-broker-blog\/cbsa-holds-explained-document-review-vacis-exams\/","title":{"rendered":"Most Common CBSA Holds Explained: Document Review, VACIS, Exams & Random Checks"},"content":{"rendered":"

For many Canadian importers, having a shipment flagged by the <\/span>Canada Border Services Agency <\/span><\/a>(CBSA) can feel like hitting a wall\u2014unexpected delays, rising storage fees, and anxious customers waiting for updates.<\/span><\/p>\n

But CBSA holds aren\u2019t random punishments\u2014they\u2019re signals that something in your paperwork, risk profile, or shipment triggered additional scrutiny.<\/span><\/p>\n

In 2025, as cross-border enforcement tightens and documentation standards continue to rise, understanding the types of CBSA holds is no longer optional. It\u2019s essential to keep your supply chain moving.<\/span><\/p>\n

This guide breaks down the four most common CBSA holds, why they happen, how long they last, and what you can do to prevent them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Document Review (DR): The Most Common CBSA Hold<\/span>
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\"Document

The CBSA Document Review (DR) hold focuses on validating commercial invoices, HS codes, country of origin, partner-agency documents, and SKU-level product details to ensure accurate customs compliance.<\/p><\/div>\n

A Document Review (DR) is the least intrusive CBSA hold but also the most frequent.<\/span>
\n<\/span>It occurs when officers need to verify the accuracy of your:<\/span><\/p>\n