How to become a border services, customs, and immigration officer
Official title: Border services, customs, and immigration officers
Also called: Customs officer, Customs examiner, Customs appraiser, Customs collector, Customs inspector, Customs investigator, Immigration examiner, Immigration inspector, Customs baggage inspector, Immigration appeal officer, Border services officer (bso), Customs inspection supervisor
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.
Main tasks
- 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
- 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
- Apply applicable legislation, policies, and procedure when screening and/or inspecting people and goods
How to become one
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 student officers must complete Control and Defensive Tactics (CDT) training Completion of specialized government training is usually required. A driver's license is required.
Ways in
- University: Law & Justice degrees, Offered by 15 universities in Canada
- University: Business & Commerce degrees, Offered by 17 universities in Canada
- College or CEGEP: College or CEGEP program. 32% of workers hold a college or other non-degree diploma (Census 2021). Common fields: Criminal justice and corrections; Criminology; Political science and government.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $78,195 a year The middle half earn $61,991 to $91,670.
- About 14,700 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 15,600 are projected by 2033. (+6.1%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: balance.
Related jobs
- Sheriffs and bailiffs
- Correctional service officers
- By-law enforcement and other regulatory officers
- Operations members of the Canadian Armed Forces
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Questions people ask
How do I become a border services, customs, and immigration officer?
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 student officers must complete Control and Defensive Tactics (CDT) training Completion of specialized government training is usually required. A driver's license is required.
How much does a border services, customs, and immigration officer earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $78,195 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $61,991 to $91,670.
Is a border services, customs, and immigration officer a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 6% by 2033, from about 14,700 to about 15,600 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become a border services, customs, and immigration officer?
Not always. 52% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Law & Justice degrees; Business & Commerce degrees; College or CEGEP program.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03